by Amy Thomas | Nov 20, 2012
This is the time of year when we look at our lives and evaluate what we are thankful for. At Upstate, I know we as music therapists are thankful for the opportunity to be in this profession. We can always rely on each other to be supportive and offer guidance and help when it is needed. However, we know that this is not the case for everyone. Many parents and families feel alone in navigating life with a child with a disability. Here in Rochester there are a lot of unique support systems for families and we were fortunate to have come across a very special organization, MATT, this year. Managing Autism Together Today (MATT) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization that was founded in 2010 by Connie and Kevin Schoenl and named after their son, Matthew, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This volunteer organization focuses on supporting parents by creating a local network of people that truly understand the unique nature of having children with ASD and to use this network to help each other at every stage of our children’s lives. MATT’s Mission is to make it easier for families to locate, obtain, and use the community resources available to their special needs children in the Rochester, New York area so that these children will be able to live happy, healthy, and productive lives. We hope that spreading the word of this wonderful organization will promote connectivity between families in Rochester and assure them that they are not alone. We are so fortunate to do the work we do and come into contact with organizations such as MATT. Happy Thanksgiving to all our families!
Matt Website: http://managingautism.org/
by Amy Thomas | Oct 9, 2012
As music therapists we rarely get the chance to come together and create music. This may seem ironic but it is true. Working in the school-based music therapy environment we are constantly moving from district to district and providing services to students. Staff meetings are spent discussing reports, research and continuing education opportunities. But…we hardly ever have the chance to play together and enjoy the main backbone of what we all are, musicians. This fall we changed that and decided to put on a concert at Elderwood, an assisted living facility in Penfield around the corner from our office. This concert was beneficial for not only the residents but for us as well. Music provides seniors with the opportunity for memory recall, improved awareness, socialization, and an overall enhanced quality of life. Songs we performed such as “Ring of Fire”, “Love Me Tender”, “Hey Good Lookin”, and “Sunny” became sing along opportunities and the smiles that accompanied these songs revealed the joy the residents felt. This concert was an opportunity for our therapists to work with a different age range and to give back to the community while promoting our own self-care. Many staff members also played instrumental songs ranging from fiddle tunes to “Linus & Lucy”. As the concert ended, we were flooded with positive comments from the residents who shared their own experiences with music and conveyed how much they appreciated our hard work. Music truly has the opportunity to create connections and promote wellness; we look forward to continuing our outreach to area facilities and sharing the joy of music with everyone.
For more information on the benefits of music therapy in Elder care please visit the following links:
by Amy Thomas | Dec 16, 2011
The popular and respected radio program “Science Friday” will devote a full hour this Friday, December 16, from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time to music therapy. Joke Bradt, Connie Tomaino, Andrew Rossetti and Dr. Oliver Sacks will join host Ira Flatow.
Click on
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201112161
for more information.
by Amy Thomas | Jun 10, 2011
Check out what some of the parents have to say about Music Explorers:
“It’s a small group with excellent 1:1 attention. Teachers know what they are doing – organized and creative. They work exceptionally well with kids with special needs…”
“It was a lot of fun. The kids enjoyed singing and making motions. They loved learning and using new instruments.”
“[The therapists] did an excellent job incorporating movements and fun activities with the songs they chose.”
“It was really great. My daughter couldn’t sit still at the beginning of classes and by the end of them she was doing much better.”
Come and see for yourself what a great program Music Explorers is for young children and their parents.
by Amy Thomas | May 6, 2011
Ashley McCulloch is a high school senior from Wayne Central School district. For her senior project she chose to learn about music therapy, as well as to coordinate a fundraiser selling custom designed “Music Heals ♪” bracelets. Ashley chose music therapy because her friend’s brother has special needs and receives music therapy as a related service at school, and she thought that it sounded interesting. Through her research she learned about music’s unique powers of healing, as well as how music can be used to help people with disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and Autism. Ashley states, “I love to listen to music and it always helps me to feel better, but I had no idea that music could help people physically as well as mentally.”
The money that Ashley raised selling her bracelets is going to help several families pay the tuition for their child to enroll in our music explorer’s program this summer. If you are aware of a family who has a child under the age of 3 years old and can benefit from this tuition assistance, please refer them to our website. After completing the registration and adding “seeking tuition assistance” at the top of the form, they should mail it directly to our office. The tuitions will be granted on a first come first serve basis. Proof of financial need will be requested.
by Amy Thomas | Mar 3, 2011
Beginning March 15th, Upstate Music Therapy Center will be offering a 10-week session of Music Explorers, a music program for children under the age of 3, and their parents. This program is specifically designed to help parents learn how to interact with their children musically. It is a great music enrichment program for typically developing children, as well as children with special needs, led by board certified music therapists. For more information, see the “Music Explorer’s” Link on this website, or contact the agency.
