Thanksgiving Harmony: A Personal Letter on Music, Family, and Gratitude
Dear Tupelo Music Academy M-Tribe,
As I sit down to write this, my kitchen smells like turkey and dressing , and I can hear my boys laughing in the next room and my wife and I talking about how far we come . Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holiday. There’s something about this time of year that strips away all the noise and brings us back to what truly matters: the people we love, the moments we share, and the gratitude we feel for the simple gifts in life.
For me, one of those gifts has always been music and family .
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how music and Thanksgiving are more alike than we might realize. Both are about gathering. Both are about generosity. Both are about taking something ordinary and transforming it into something that feeds the soul. And when you combine the two—when you bring music into your Thanksgiving celebration—something magical happens.
Growing up, music was always woven into our family gatherings. My mother would sing while she made dinner. My father would play his old tapes and break out the VHS Recorder while we set the table. After dinner, someone would inevitably start a song , and before long, the whole family would be gathered around, singing songs we all knew by heart. Those moments didn’t feel extraordinary at the time, but looking back, they’re the memories I treasure most.
Now, as a music director , I see this same magic happening with our students and their families. I watch children light up when they get to share what they’ve learned with their parents. I hear stories about grandparents teaching grandchildren songs from decades past. I see families discovering that they can create something beautiful together, even if none of them consider themselves “musical.” That’s the power of music—it doesn’t require perfection or expertise. It just requires a willingness to participate, to share, to listen.
This Thanksgiving, I want to encourage you to make music a part of your celebration, whatever that looks like for your family. Maybe it’s as simple as putting on your favorite album while you cook together. Maybe it’s asking each person around the table to share a song that’s meaningful to them and why. Maybe it’s pulling out that dusty guitar or keyboard and letting family members take turns playing something, anything, without judgment or expectation.
If you’re one of our students, this is your moment to shine—not in a stressful, performative way, but in a joyful, generous one. Play something for your family. Teach a cousin a simple melody. Show your grandmother what you’ve been working on. These moments of sharing are what music education is really about. It’s not just about mastering technique or acing a recital. It’s about having something beautiful to give to the people you love.
I’ve learned over the years that the best musical moments are rarely the polished ones. They’re the ones where someone hits a wrong note and everyone laughs. They’re the ones where three generations are crammed around a piano, singing off-key but singing together. They’re the ones where a shy child finds the courage to play for their family and receives applause that has nothing to do with perfection and everything to do with pride and love.
Music teaches us so much about gratitude, if we let it. It teaches us to listen—really listen—to one another. It teaches us that harmony requires both individuality and cooperation. It teaches us that mistakes are just part of the process, and that the journey is often more meaningful than the destination. It teaches us that we’re capable of creating beauty, even on days when we don’t feel particularly talented or inspired.
As I think about what I’m thankful for this year, our Tupelo Music Academy community is right at the top of my list. I’m grateful for every student who walks through our doors with curiosity and courage. I’m grateful for every parent who invests in their child’s musical education, knowing that the benefits extend far beyond the notes on a page. I’m grateful for the trust you place in us to nurture not just musical skills, but confidence, discipline, creativity, and joy.
Teaching music has taught me that we’re all students for life. I learn something from every lesson I give, every conversation I have with a parent, every time I watch a student tackle a challenging piece or discover a new passion. That spirit of lifelong learning is something I hope we all carry with us, not just in music, but in all areas of our lives. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to embrace that spirit—to learn something new from a family member, to teach someone something you know, to approach familiar traditions with fresh eyes and open hearts.
This year, as you gather around your tables, I hope you’ll find moments to celebrate the music in your lives. It doesn’t have to be formal or fancy. It doesn’t require special equipment or advanced skills. It just requires presence, participation, and a willingness to share something of yourself. Those are the moments that create the memories we’ll carry with us long after the leftovers are gone.
So here’s my challenge to you: make some music this Thanksgiving. Sing a song together. Share your favorite music with each other and talk about why it moves you. If you play an instrument, play it. If you don’t, find other ways to engage with music—dance, listen deeply, clap along, hum. Let music be part of the conversation, part of the gratitude, part of the joy.
And if you’re willing, I’d love to hear about it. What musical moments made your Thanksgiving special this year? What songs did you share? What did you learn? Your stories inspire me and remind me why I love this work so much.
From my family to yours, I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, laughter, delicious food, and plenty of music. Thank you for being part of our community. Thank you for believing in the power of music education. Thank you for letting us be part of your family’s journey.
With gratitude and harmony,
Terrence Cummings
The Music Master
Tupelo Music Academy
I’d love to hear about your family’s musical Thanksgiving traditions. Share your stories in the comments below.