Some say music speaks to the soul. When words fail, music sends a message that touches one’s very core where no word can reach.
Such is the importance of music in the life of Christine Adela White, this week’s Global Filipino.
“Music has been my saving grace during a very difficult time when I lost my sister in 2002,” Christine testified.
Like many achievers, Christine started young and she strived hard to get to where she is right now – enjoying her two greatest passions: music and teaching.
Young Christine
Born to an immigrant mother from Pangasinan, Philippines, Christine learned the importance of hard work and empathy at an early age.
“She instilled a sense of empathy in me at an early age by having me realize and appreciate what I could easily take for granted,” Christine recalled about her mom.
“Nakong, please finish your rice, otherwise the rice will cry,” her mom would often tell her, rehashing stories of how her mom’s family plowed the fields and planted rice back in Pangasinan.
“She is referring to her own difficult experiences planting and harvesting rice from its soggy environment, especially when the weather was merciless,” Christine shared. “It’s these stories that have seemingly shaped my own beliefs – having an appreciation for modesty and an understanding of the value of education.”
Christine earned her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of British Columbia, where she also minored in psychology. Due to her perseverance and great value for education, she was inducted to the Golden Key Honour Society for graduating within the top 15% of her class.
Making Music that Matters
Today, Christine is the director of CW Music – “an education facility that offers private lessons in piano, voice, guitar, drums, bass, theory in a holistic environment” – where she also teaches music.
CW Music also offers music therapy and lessons in recording and mixing, music theory, and preparatory courses for RCM exams.
“Unique to our studio are our ‘combination lessons’ where students will learn to self-accompany themselves on the piano or guitar while singing,” Christine added.
“I am grateful to being doing what I’m doing,” she said. “Teaching music has always been my passion.”
“It has always been a dream of mine to open up an education facility where students are provided with the knowledge and tools to gain a better sense of music appreciation while honing their own ability and skill as a performer and enthusiast,” Christine added, giving thanks to her fellow teachers and therapists who help out by offering services to children and adults with special needs who want to study music.
“We create a non-competitive environment in the studio, and strive for the excellence of each individuals’ musical ability and potential,” she said. “I have been teaching for over a decade and three of my students are now teachers in the studio, which makes me so happy and proud of them.”
The Importance of Multiculturalism
Despite growing up in Canada, the Filipino heritage is greatly engraved in Christine’s spirit. In fact, for her, one of the best things in Canada is living in a community that accepts multiculturalism.
“One of the best things about living in Canada is the proud identity of being [in] a multicultural country,” she said. “Because of our celebration of other cultures, we learn to embrace and respect others’ beliefs and traditions alongside our own, which in turn makes us a more loving and accepting society.”
For Christine, living in a country that accepts different cultures “allows for a coming together of all people for greater causes to benefit all people, no matter their background.”
On Giving Back to the Community
When asked how she incorporates her Filipino background in her daily life, Christine turned to the community who embraced her and her family.
“I am happy to be involved with Filipino events that are selfless and giving to the community,” she shared.
Christine not only involves herself and her family in events for the Filipino community. She also makes sure that her students participate as well. In fact, in collaboration with fellow studio drum/guitar teacher Ricky Barbas, the rock band students performed at the Philippine Independence Day in New Westminster in June 2015.
“We were so happy to contribute to the joy and fun of that day,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the event organizers who invited them and who worked so hard to put the event together.
“I am so proud of my students who help fundraise for the BC Cancer Foundation and other charities, including Bikes for the Philippines,” she said, referring to a charity in the Philippines that supports underprivileged students who dropped out of school.
“My heart is called to be a fundraising activist in our community, as I have cycled 240KM annually from Vancouver to Seattle in the Ride to Conquer Cancer,” she shared. “I do this in memory of my sister who passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and I also cycle in hopes of seeing this disease conquered in my lifetime.”
“With my students, we raise awareness for Bikes for the Philippines, a charity in the Philippines that helps children get to school on bikes… Seeing the success stories of the benefactors of Bikes for the Philippines really warms my heart,” Christine said, even recalling her last visit to the Philippines where she had the honour of attending the graduation ceremonies of some benefactors of Bike for the Philippines.
Christine continues to serve the Filipino community – both in Vancouver and back home in the Philippines – through her music and her passion for teaching, and she plans to keep on serving as long as there’s music in her.
“Music is God’s blessing and I am happy to share my knowledge and skill of the discipline with all those who value music as an instrument of creativity, self-expression and love.”
All photos courtesy of Christine Adela White
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