Institute for Music and Health

The Institute for Music and Health is excited to announce an Interactive Concert given by and for people with developmental disabilities.

When: May 20th, 7 – 8 pm
Where: Parish House, Grace Church, Millbrook
How much: $5

Come raise the roof with us!

Music doesn’t only sound good — it can make you feel good.

The use of music as a therapeutic tool is the life’s work of pianist Peter Muir, who will showcase his musical acumen and the talents of his friends in a series of concerts in Millbrook.

Muir will accompany his wife, Judith Muir, on clarinet and trumpet player Ivan Hunter performing pieces by Brahms and Armenian-American composer Alan Hovhaness at 3 p.m. Jan. 13 at The Fountains in Millbrook at 79 Flint Road.

“The concert will be very beneficial for all those who attend,” Peter Muir said. “We are trying to make everyone feel good through music.”

Read more…

We’re proud to announce that our work with people with disabilities has once again been featured in the Poughkeepsie Journal. This wonderful article, by Lauren Yanks, focuses on our students with autism, such as Michael Brenner, pictured below.

Student Michael Brenner, left, and Peter Muir work during a session at the Institute for Music and Health in Verbank. / Darryl Bautista/Poughkeepsie Journal

The article can be found here.

Want to see more of Michael 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.

Our BOCES music program for primary school students with disabilities finished mid-June, culminating in a concert on June 15 where all 48 students sang.  One parent described the concert as “amazing” adding “Your wonderful work and fantastic demeanor is deeply appreciated.”  Another parent wrote “All of the kids were wonderful and you could see how much they love music.”

And we received the following statement from staff specialist Leah Pollack:

“The music program really enhanced our classrooms as the practices were integrated into their daily routines. The staff and students worked extremely hard to present a program-wide concert and as we reflect on the event, we’re able to see how much our students really accomplished. We’ve seen our students gain in their independence, focus, communication and much more!”

The IMH wishes to extend its thanks to BOCES, and specifically to Ms. Pollack, for their supporting our mission of using music to enhance the lives of those with disabilities.  We hope to do it again in the future!

We’re proud to announce that our work with people with disabilities has been featured in 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.

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.

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.