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A Parent’s Perspective: How RDYO Shaped My Son’s Musical Journey
- Peter Cheung
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share my experience as a parent of two RDYO students. My older son, Jonah, has been a part of RDYO for 8 years, and my younger son, Tobiah, has been involved for 4 years. Both of my sons joined RDYO when they were in Grade 5. I owe a special thanks to Mrs. Ryznar, who introduced them to RDYO. As their music teacher, her guidance has made a lasting impact, and I am truly thankful for her influence in their musical journeys.
I want to share Jonah's experience with RDYO, as he has been with the program for a longer period, and this is his final year as a student. Over the past 8 years, RDYO has offered Jonah countless opportunities to challenge himself. These challenges were not limited to music education but, more importantly, helped him grow into a better person, becoming more mature and responsible. Like many other RDYO students, a 10-year-old Jonah auditioned, stood before the conductors, and played music, which was an accomplishment in itself. From there, auditions continued as he moved from intermediate to senior levels, and eventually to the orchestra. RDYO also offered scholarship competitions that not only tested musical skills but also required students to demonstrate consistent good behavior and, at times, lend a helping hand to others throughout the year. Perhaps one of the most significant challenges was the annual concerto competition, which pushed Jonah to work as hard as possible and strive to be the best musician he could be. After months of practice, and even frequent complaints of wrist pain, Jonah accepted that he wasn't the winner—not even in the top three of his group. He was disappointed but not discouraged, and from my perspective, this showed real signs of maturity.
In addition to the concerto competitions, RDYO also gave Jonah the opportunity to play viola, a new challenge for him as a violinist. He eagerly took it on, and his first performance with the orchestra was Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony—a truly challenging piece to keep up with, especially while playing a new instrument.
As you can see, I have focused on the diverse opportunities RDYO provides for students to challenge themselves. I sincerely believe this is exactly what our kids need today. Children now live in a world where comfort is more common than struggle, and they need real challenges to grow, unlock their potential, and become the best versions of themselves. RDYO has done just that, providing an exceptional environment to nurture our children, and for that, I am deeply grateful.
