A Thoroughly Blessed Life

This morning, I received a call from a childhood friend. We have kept in touch over the years. We practically grew up together so keeping in touch with him is very important to me. He wanted me to know that my music teacher from childhood had passed away.

It's difficult to think of anyone in my life who had more influence on my passion for music than Mildred McFadden. In fact, if it wasn't for her influence in my life, I would never have known the great joy of music.

Mom took me to Mildred at that age of 7. Mom thought that I had talent. Of course, every parent thinks their children have talent. And Mildred took me in. I first started with violin, and later piano. As I got more advanced, I would play in the many recitals that Mildred would have at her home. She would have six to eight of them a year. I honestly was ok, but I didn't have a passion for it. It was yet another routine that I went through to keep busy with myself. I worked hard on a Chopin Polonaise. I was working on preparing it for the recital. Mildred said that it was beyond me, that I wasn't ready for it. She wanted me to play a Mozart sonata. I went home that night very angry because I would not be playing the Chopin at the recital. So, I pounded away at the very delicate Mozart sonata as if it were Chopin.

My next lesson came. I started playing the Mozart, and Mildred interrupted me and said, "Let me hear the Chopin." I was shocked because it was the last lesson we would have before the recital. I started playing the Chopin. I was still angry that I would not be playing it for the recital, and I played it with anger. Soon the room was engulfed with the sounds of Chopin coming from this grand piano. At some point during a very agitated part of the Polonaise, Mildred came over, placed her hands on my shoulders and said to me, "Feel the fire of that!" It was the most pivotal point in my music career. The fire she talked of was passion, and I realized that it had taken me over.

She then pulled out the program for the recital that had been printed up two weeks before. It listed me playing the Chopin. She had faith in me and knew how to motivate me, even when I didn't.

Later, when I was in high school, we would drive back and forth to Boise for rehearsals in the Boise Philharmonic. Those were great days. And on our trips over and back, we would share many stories about our experiences.

I last saw Mildred in 2005. She was 94 years hold. She stopped playing the violin, but was still actively teaching students despite the fact that she almost passed away the winter before from pneumonia. I took Kent with me to her home. She told Kent, "Bill was my star student." I didn't know what to say, but I do know what I now wished that I would have said - what I should have said.

I would have told her that she was everything to me. She was part of my family. But more than that, she showed me what life could be like with passion. She once told me, "Never be afraid to express yourself." So in expressing myself now, I want to say, thank you Mildred. Thank you so much for giving me the passion of music.

You have said that you had "a thoroughly blessed life." And you in turn gave that to me, through music. I will miss you.

Mildred Dixon McFadden Mildred H. Dixon McFadden, 97 years old, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at Walter Knox Memorial Hospital, Emmett, Idaho after falling in her home.

Mrs. McFadden devoted her life to her loves of music, teaching, and foreign travel. Mildred was born to Henry and Vinnie Dixon on July 24, 1910 at Beatrice, Neb. Mildred began playing the piano at age eight. By age 17 she was teaching students across seven grades near Red Cloud, Neb. She went on to receive a degree from Neb. Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Class of 1932, with a major in Public School Music and Piano, and a minor in Violin. Following her studies she taught in Neb. for five years before moving to Glenns Ferry, Idaho, where she taught for the next nine years and where she met and fell in love with the late Jim McFadden. The two married in 1942 and in 1946 they moved to Emmett, where Jim had purchased the Gem Market. In Emmett, Mildred further devoted her life to music.

She was hired by Gem County Schools in 1950 to create a music program for the whole county; she taught in the school district for 20 years; she spent 25 years driving back and forth to Boise to play with the Philharmonic; she, until very recently, played with the Meridian Symphony; and she was active in the musical activities of both the Presbyterian and Mormon Churches. In total, Mildred taught music in the public schools of Neb. and Idaho for 35 years, instructing some 1,000 students each week. Although she retired in 1972, she continued to give private music lessons in her home, often without charge to young promising musicians, as she called them, until the time of her death.

Apart from her devotion to music and teaching, at age 45 Mildred discovered a passion for foreign travel. In the years to follow she made approximately 62 trips to some 140 foreign countries on every continent. At the age of 90 she climbed the 200 steps to the celebrated statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Never one to follow-the-pack, as bright and colorful as the clothes and jewelry she was known for wearing. Mildred McFadden will be missed and remembered by the many friends and family who loved her.

She is survived by nieces Alberta Hicks of Superior, Neb. Pat Lyne, of Hastings, Neb. ; nephew Kenneth Hurd, of Superior, Neb. and Rosemary Dixon, wife of her recently deceased nephew, Dr. F.Gene Dixon, of San Mateo, Calif. and their family. Mildred was always thankful for having what she referred to as "a thoroughly blessed life". The family wishes to thank her caregivers for their attention and devotion to her. Funeral arrangements are through Potter Funeral Home, 228 E. Main Street, Emmett, Idaho. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 27, 2008 from 3-8 p.m. Graveside Service will be on Friday, March 28 at 12 Noon at the Emmett Cemetery. A service to celebrate and remember her life will be held Friday, March 28, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church at 212 E. Third St. in Emmett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the First Presbyterian Church in Emmett or to Nebraska Wesleyan University Music Dept. 5000 Saint Paul Ave. Lincoln, NE 68504-2796