"Kids today are under so much pressure with all the academics," says Wely, who has been teaching for 35 years. "Music needs to be something that's relaxing and free."

But there's more to Wely's lessons than just teaching how to play the ivories. She also encourages her students to use their talent toward serving the community.

An example of their efforts is Kids Helping Kids, a 10-piano charity concert on March 5 at Campbell's Heritage Theatre. The event will raise money for the Sunday Friends Foundation, a local organization serving low-income families.

Wely says her students have been practicing hard for the free concert and that the audience--encouraged to donate as they please--can expect to be fully entertained.

But her main goal is to make giving back to others fun and meaningful for her young students. Because community service is a requirement in many high schools, she says, some students may experience it as an extra burden on their already tight schedule. But if young people can give back to the community with something they enjoy, their attitude is likely to change, Wely says.

"I could care less about the hours and credits," says Kipp Trieu, a 16-year-old student at Monta Vista High School, who has been taking lessons with Wely for almost 10 years.

Kipp, who has participated in all the Kids Helping Kids concerts, says each one was rewarding because he was able to use his hobby to help others in need.

"You just have a good feeling inside yourself," he adds. Plus, the concerts help with the youngsters' music education--a common performance is a piece performed by three students on each piano, with a total of 30 children on stage. "It's like synchronized swimming, except drier and with pianos," Kipp says.

Wely and her students put on their first charity concert in 1999. Since then, they have raised a total of $40,000 for various local organizations helping children, including EMQ Children and Family Services, Child Advocates and the children's ward at Sub-Acute Saratoga Hospital.

The last Kids Helping Kids concert, in November 2003, raised more than $12,000, also for the Sunday Friends Foundation. Wely and her students hold these concerts every 18 months.

"That's a significant amount of money for Sunday Friends," says Michael Hobson, associate executive director. "We are a very small organization."

Every Sunday, the nonprofit opens its doors to about 30 homeless and low-income families, giving them an opportunity to engage in various activities such as cooking or gardening. Each family member earns tickets, which by the end of the day can be used to buy items from the "treasure chest." The chest contains various items such as school supplies and household goodies.

The money raised from this year's Kids Helping Kids concert will go toward stocking the treasure chest, Hobson says.

The Kids Helping Kids concert is on Saturday, March 5 at 3 p.m. at the Heritage Theatre, which is located at the Campbell Community Center at 1 W. Campbell Ave. Admission is free.

Staff writer Allison Rost contributed to this article.