Jennie Holland has been named as the EMTA Volunteer of the Month for December, 2025! We are delighted to share your interview responses with our membership and to have this opportunity to thank you publicly for all that you do to benefit the membership of EMTA and the students of our members. 

1) First share a bit about your teaching:
I started my teaching career in 1992 after earning my BA in Music Performance from SPU. I started teaching for Prosser Piano and Organ (8 years) & took pedagogy classes( 2 years) from Judy Baker in Everett, after joining MTNA, and SCMTA in 1993. (I actually started teaching as a classroom teacher before moving into private lessons.) Then began teaching for Montessori schools and a private Christian School. In Y2K I went solely to teaching out of my home studio in Edmonds. My joy is teaching beginners to intermediate students. I love getting them started on the path to the love of music- making! I love to supplement the method books with classical pieces from my early music training. My degree was in Performance so I love to get students involved in performing! These EMTA recitals are a great opportunity for many students!

2) Tell us how you have volunteered service to EMTA and our students:
I’ve been volunteering as the Community Recital Organizer for quite a few years with a short venture into Honors Recitals and JRB Program then returning to Community Recitals where I find pleasure in hosting the non competitive recitals. We’ve held them at Crista for many years where my husband is employed for 36 years and now our audience has outgrown that venue and we are trying other venues. We started having them as themed recitals or Halloween/ Valentine recitals around 2018-2025. My husband Mark enjoys putting the finishing touch on our EMTA Recital Programs as he has done for many years!

3) Share a memory of your volunteering activities:
I suppose one of the funniest things was hosting at CRISTA when one of the residents started humming and whistling along with the performances completely off key but loving the recital in their own way!! I Love seeing the students glean music choices from hearing their peers perform at EMTA Recitals. I have Loved featuring a variety of Finale performances from some of our very most accomplished musicians!

4) How have you balanced your teaching load with the vast amount of time spent volunteering:
I’ve balanced my teaching load of 35 students by hosting 4 recitals per year often staying up late into the night to finish projects, I do card crafting and sewing student music bags in my spare time! We Love to take time off for some wonderful vacations too!(recently Greece) For a few years, I’ve been enjoying a more collaborative performance volunteering opportunity with playing the keyboards at my church for Sunday Worship at North Sound Center in Edmonds! I find joy in praising God for his wonderful gift of music!

5) What are your personal rewards for volunteering:
My Personal reward for volunteering is sharing God’s Gift of music with others! Volunteerism is a great way to give back to the community that has supported and encouraged my growth as a musician.

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Thank you to EMTA member, Rick Asher, for coordinating the EMTA Volunteer of the Month.