{"id":55796,"date":"2015-07-17T23:00:28","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T15:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=55796"},"modified":"2015-07-25T18:20:05","modified_gmt":"2015-07-25T10:20:05","slug":"why-music-matters-christine-white","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/07\/17\/why-music-matters-christine-white\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Music Matters: Christine White"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Christine<\/a>
Christine Adela White is now a music teacher and a model. She joined Miss Canada in 2012.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some say music speaks to the soul. When words fail, music sends a message that touches one\u2019s very core where no word can reach.<\/p>\n

Such is the importance of music in the life of Christine Adela White, this week\u2019s Global Filipino.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic has been my saving grace during a very difficult time when I lost my sister in 2002,\u201d Christine testified.<\/p>\n

Like many achievers, Christine started young and she strived hard to get to where she is right now \u2013 enjoying her two greatest passions: music and teaching.<\/p>\n

Young Christine<\/strong>
\nBorn to an immigrant mother from Pangasinan, Philippines, Christine learned the importance of hard work and empathy at an early age.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe instilled a sense of empathy in me at an early age by having me realize and appreciate what I could easily take for granted,\u201d Christine recalled about her mom.<\/p>\n

\u201cNakong<\/em>, please finish your rice, otherwise the rice will cry,\u201d her mom would often tell her, rehashing stories of how her mom\u2019s family plowed the fields and planted rice back in Pangasinan.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is referring to her own difficult experiences planting and harvesting rice from its soggy environment, especially when the weather was merciless,\u201d Christine shared. \u201cIt\u2019s these stories that have seemingly shaped my own beliefs \u2013 having an appreciation for modesty and an understanding of the value of education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christine earned her bachelor\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"CW<\/a>
CW Music students performance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Making Music that Matters<\/strong>
\nToday, Christine is the director of CW Music \u2013 \u201can education facility that offers private lessons in piano, voice, guitar, drums, bass, theory in a holistic environment\u201d \u2013 where she also teaches music.<\/p>\n

CW Music also offers music therapy and lessons in recording and mixing, music theory, and preparatory courses for RCM exams.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnique to our studio are our \u2018combination lessons\u2019 where students will learn to self-accompany themselves on the piano or guitar while singing,\u201d Christine added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am grateful to being doing what I’m doing,\u201d she said. \u201cTeaching music has always been my passion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe create a non-competitive environment in the studio, and strive for the excellence of each individuals’ musical ability and potential,\u201d she said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Importance of Multiculturalism<\/strong>
\nDespite growing up in Canada, the Filipino heritage is greatly engraved in Christine\u2019s spirit. In fact, for her, one of the best things in Canada is living in a community that accepts multiculturalism.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the best things about living in Canada is the proud identity of being [in] a multicultural country,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Christine, living in a country that accepts different cultures \u201callows for a coming together of all people for greater causes to benefit all people, no matter their background.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Christine<\/a>
Christine at ‘Ride to Conquer Cancer’ fundraising campaign in Toronto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Giving Back to the Community<\/strong>
\nWhen asked how she incorporates her Filipino background in her daily life, Christine turned to the community who embraced her and her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am happy to be involved with Filipino events that are selfless and giving to the community,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n

Christine not only involves herself and her family in events for the Filipino community. She also makes sure that her students participate as well.\u00a0In 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were so happy to contribute to the joy and fun of that day,\u201d she said, expressing her gratitude to the event organizers who invited them and who worked so hard to put the event together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so proud of my students who help fundraise for the BC Cancer Foundation and other charities, including Bikes for the Philippines,\u201d she said, referring to a charity in the Philippines that supports underprivileged students who dropped out of school.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy 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,\u201d she shared. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith my students, we raise awareness for Bikes for the Philippines, a charity in the Philippines that helps children get to school on bikes\u2026 Seeing the success stories of the benefactors of Bikes for the Philippines really warms my heart,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Christine continues to serve the Filipino community \u2013 both in Vancouver and back home in the Philippines \u2013 through her music and her passion for teaching, and she plans to keep on serving as long as there\u2019s music in her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

All photos courtesy of Christine Adela White<\/em><\/p>\n

– – – – – –<\/p>\n

Do you know an outstanding member of the Filipino-Canadian community whose story deserves to be told? Nominate the next Filipino-Canadian In Focus. Click here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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