by Amy Thomas | Apr 28, 2015
Music Therapists Erin Valvo, Joel Page and Gina Schuster participated in the 4th annual MATT Fair (Managing Autism Together Today) on Saturday April 18th at the ESL Total Sports Experience in Spencerport. While there, these therapist’s met with other professionals in the special education, health and wellness, and agencies working with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They also were able to meet parents and grandparents and speak with them about how music therapy could contribute to their child’s education; how to get a referral for a music therapy evaluation; and/or how music therapy works in the special education setting. If someone stopped at our table they also were invited to make an instrumental out of recyclable materials such as bottles, cups, paper towel tubes and containers, then jam out to their favorite song. Joel Page even made a drum set out of card board boxes, pots and pans and had kids come by and try it. Overall it was great day and a fun experience for everyone!!
by Amy Thomas | Jan 15, 2013
While we are fortunate in the greater Rochester area to have many opportunities for our school age students with disabilities to receive music therapy services, once students graduate high school those opportunities are greatly diminished. Many older students and adults can still benefit tremendously from music therapy and other creative arts therapies. The need for services for this population is growing, as is the awareness of that need. There are a few local organizations that provide various creative arts therapy services for adults with disabilities, including individual and group therapy, modified music lessons, drama performance opportunities, and day habilitation. Click on the links below to learn more about each of these organizations and the programs they offer.
Trinity Assistance/Blue Ridge Music Therapy Center
Trinity Assistance/Blue Ridge Music Therapy Center is located in the Cross Creek Church at 3527 Vienna Street, Palmyra. The Therapeutic Arts Program is an innovative and comprehensive program for special needs individuals ages 21-30.
Studio 440
Studio 440 is located at 3 Railroad Street, Fairport and offers a unique educational experience in music and theatre arts. The focus of this studio is to instruct, include and inspire the creative instincts of EVERYONE who seeks to discover their performance abilities. Offering opportunities to: Vocalists, Instrumentalists and Actors
Cobblestone Arts Center
Cobblestone Arts and Educational Center is located at 1622 Rt. 332, Farmington and is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with disabilities through Art, Education, and Participation. Our classes in Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Public Speaking, and Media Studies are aimed to help students achieve a higher potential while developing a sense of involvement in the community.
Hochstein School of Music & Dance
Hochstein School of Music & Dance has two locations, 50 North Plymouth Ave, Rochester and 435 East Street, Canandaigua; and offers individual and group music therapy sessions, as well as other various programming, to individuals with special needs.
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 | 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.
