Jessica Martin has been named as the EMTA Volunteer of the Month for September 2026! We offer our appreciation and congratulations to her and thank her for consenting to provide us with this interview. She will receive her certificate of Recognition of Extraordinary Volunteer Service at the September General Membership Meeting.

First, please share with our readers a bit about your teaching.  

I have been teaching piano and singing lessons since 2003. I had been a music education major in college but realized my sophomore year that I was probably not well-suited to working in public schools, so I dropped my education major and added an English degree to my vocal music one. I had never really considered teaching private lessons, but while I was working a regular 9-5 job, I thought I would pick up a couple of piano students for some extra income (student loan payments, you know). I started with 3 piano students and realized quickly that I really enjoyed teaching kids one-on-one and that I was pretty good at it. Within a couple years, teaching became my only job aside from being a mom. My studio fluctuates between 15-25 students.

Please tell us how you have volunteered service to EMTA and to our students. 

My volunteering for EMTA has been on the governance and administrative side. I don’t often have students who participate in EMTA events, and I have a disabling back injury that can make other volunteering roles physically challenging, so I have been glad for the opportunity to volunteer for EMTA in this way! I had previous experience serving on a Board/leading a non-profit choir and I earned my Masters in Nonprofit Leadership and Management in 2024, so volunteering for the EMTA board has allowed me to share my experience/knowledge and keep learning about nonprofit governance. I have been serving on the EMTA Board of Directors as the Communications Chair since 2022 and have also served on multiple sub-committees. Last year, I led the effort to update our foundational documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws). 

How have you balanced your teaching load with all of the time that you have devoted
to EMTA volunteer work?

The time I dedicate to volunteering for EMTA is luckily flexible to schedule! I can do my work and schedule committee meetings in the mornings, so it doesn’t interfere with my teaching hours. 

Is there a special memory about your volunteer activities that you would like to share?

When I look back on the past 4 years, I am so thrilled that I have been a part of the growth that has been happening! The Board has dedicated a lot of time and effort to expanding benefits for our members while creating sustainable practices to help EMTA keep growing into the future. It has just been so special to be a part of something bigger than myself! 

Besides benefiting EMTA members, please tell our readers about any benefits or
personal rewards that you feel that you get from doing volunteer work for EMTA?

Serving on the Board has helped me create friendships with other EMTA memberships that are really meaningful to me. I also get a lot of satisfaction from feeling like I am helping guide the direction of the organization and finding ways to make governance easier for future members. I am passionate about teaching music AND the importance of nonprofit organizations to society – my volunteer work with EMTA lets me support both passions at once.

Is there anything else that you would like to say to our members about volunteering for EMTA?

There are countless opportunities to volunteer and give back to our organization. It’s easy to see the people who do big jobs such as chair event committees or adjudicate events, but there are so many smaller opportunities to give back, and EMTA relies on volunteers to run! 

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