Institute for Music and Health

We are delighted to announce that the IMH had been awarded a grant by Dutchess Arts Council to run a music enrichment program for children with disabilities. The Program, organized by the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) of New York State, will take place at Union Vale Middle School this Fall.  We are deeply grateful both to Dutchess Arts Council for their generosity and to BOCES for their sponsorship of the Program.

We are delighted to announce the IMH will be running a 10-week singing program for approximately 50 children with disabilities at Dutchess County BOCES. The program, which begins in April, culminates in a community concert on the BOCES campus in Poughkeespie given by the students in June. It is run by IMH Director, Peter Muir, Ph.D.

A chorus for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. For pleasure, musical development, and occasional performances.

A unique approach harmonizing people with disabilities and their communities.

Directed by IMH’s Peter Muir Ph.D.

ANNOUNCING SPRING 2012 PROGRAM!

To qualify: Anyone with disabilities who loves to sing with others. No previous musical experience or skills necessary. Ability to read music NOT a requirement. Songs are taught by ear, from recordings, and word or music sheets – your choice.

• Age: 13 and up
• When: 12 Wednesdays 7:00-8:00pm.
  May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
  June 6, 13, 20, 27
  July (not 4) 11, 18, 25
• Where: Institute for Music and Health, Verbank, NY.
• Cost: $144 for 12 sessions
• Caregivers/family members invited to join in for free!

Contact: judith@musichealth.net (845) 677-5871

Want to hear the Songbirds sing their themesong “Take Me Out to the Songbirds”?? It’s specially composed (well, the words, that is – you’ll recognize the melody!)

Themesong

In our recent concert, Songbird’s member Victoria Bechtler sang a solo version of “Over the Rainbow.” Victoria has never had singing lessons and this was the first time she has performed solo in public. It wa a magnificent, heartfelt performance.

Over the Rainbow

For our current repertoire, click here

Angel Rodriquez, teenager with visual challenges, learning drums at the IMH

We invite you to come and meet Peter and Judith Muir of the Institute for Music and Health as they talk about their award winning programs using music to help people with disabilities. These music programs help children and adults with disabilities build confidence, increase musical creativity, and improve social development through connecting with community. To learn more go to: http://musichealth.net/outreach/singoutreachout/.

There are two upcoming presentations on the program:

PEACCE Reach
March 22nd, 2012
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Media Library, at Salt Point Center
5 BOCES Road, Poughkeepsie, NY
RSVP (845) 486-8004

Autism Parent Support Group
April 18th, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Tower Auditorium, at Vassar Hospital
45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY
RSVP Katie Rapp, Case Manager Pediatrics, (845) 454-8500 ext. 72385

The Diamond-Dart Meridian Sequence (DDMS) is a system of movements and affirmations developed by John Diamond M.D. Its main purpose is to raise Life Energy (Chi) through tonifying each of the acupuncture meridians (energy pathways through the body). It is comprised of twelve physical postures integrated into a dance-like sequence that can be used as an active meditation. Over time the DDMS will improve coordination, breathing, flexibility and brain functioning.

The sequence was developed by holistic medical pioneer John Diamond, M.D. From his wide interests and extensive research Diamond discovered correlations between the acupuncture meridian system and the emotions which he wrote about in his bestselling book Life Energy: Using the Meridians to Unlock the Power of your Emotions (1985). Over the years he has discovered over 200 points on the meridians that relate to different emotional attributes, both positive and negative. The whole system is called the Acupuncture Emotional System.

Each of the individual postures in the Diamond-Dart Meridian Sequence are taken from the work of Professor Raymond Dart, (1893-1988) a world famous anthropologist and medical doctor. He devised them to help his son overcome motor co-ordination problems and spacitisities that were caused by a premature birth.

Using twelve of Dart’s original procedures, Diamond found that each related to an acupuncture meridian, and placed them in a sequence that correlated to the developmental stages of the child from birth to upright posture. Although each posture is beneficial when performed separately, it is by moving through the complete sequence that the greatest benefits accrue. The efficacy of this sequence is further enhanced by saying the particular affirmation for each meridian that Dr. Diamond devised, resulting in a powerful healing modality that can be performed in as little as five minutes a day.

For more information about the work of Dr. Diamond visit: www.DrJohnDiamond.com

Upcoming Classes & Workshops

The Diamond-Dart Meridian Sequence
April 21st, 2 – 4 pm
$50
Bard College, Stevenson Gymnasium

The Diamond-Dart Meridian Sequence
April 22nd, 3 – 5 pm
$45
The Living Seed, New Paltz

For more info or to pre-register: (845) 677-5871 or judith@musichealth.net

We’re proud to announce that our work with people with disabilities has been featured in Wednesday’s issue of the Poughkeepsie Journal. This wonderful article, by Sarah Bradshaw, focuses on our student Niklas Watkins and his part in the recent concert of our Singing Songbirds chorus for people with disabilities.

Niklas Watkins, 13, of LaGrange, performs with Singing Songbirds, a chorus for people with disabilities, during a concert Dec. 7 at LaGrange Middle School. / Karl Rabe/Poughkeepsie Journal

The article can be found here, and the associated video is here.

Singing Songbirds, a chorus for people with disabilities, hold a concert Wednesday, December, 7, 2011, at LaGrange Middle School. / Karl Rabe

Want to see more of Niklas singing? Then click here to his very own page on our website.

Want to find out more about our unique music programs for people with disabilities, including the Singing Songbirds? Then click here.

Wishing you Happiest of Happy Holidays!

Our unique Interactive Concert given by our students with disabilities for people with disabiliies at New Horizons in Pleasant Valley on May 17th drew a large and appreciative crowd. Our heartfelt thanks goes out everyone involved: all fourteen of the performers, the staff at New Horizons, who did so much to help and generously allow use of their wonderful resources, and to our staff and assistants. To you all a really big thank you. We hope to do this again real soon!

An appreciative parent emailed us:
“I just wanted to thank you for a delightful evening. There was a great turnout and the audience participation was heartwarming. So many smiling faces; singing and clapping along to familiar songs. Some were even dancing!

The program was so well organized and provided a venue for the many “STARS” to shine! You definitely know the population well: you started and ended right on time and the movement from one talent to the next was managed brilliantly!

This was an opportunity for my daughter and her housemates to share in a fun activity together and create memories. We loved sharing it with them as well .

I have such respect and gratitude for your extraordinary talent and ENORMOUS hearts!!!”
- Gail Saderholm

One of the “STARS” Gail writes about is Michael Brenner, a young adult with disabilities. Here he is at the concert giving a soulful rendition of “Yesterday.”

For more on Michael, see here

IMH Director Peter Muir was appeared on the Manifesting Wellness Internet Radio Show on April 13, 2011, in an extended interview with the shows host, Bente Hansen. Please enjoy the excerpts below, in which Dr. Muir discusses various aspects of the healing power of music.

To listen to the full Manifesting Wellness podcast, please click here.