665

Wow!  Another great drum circle yesterday at Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar!  The circle was attended by an amazing group of both novice and experienced drummers, including a lovely woman who wrote her doctoral dissertation on the healing power of the drum.  The group also included a woman who taught her nonverbal son how to read and speak using music.  This boy scored a perfect 100% on his WASL test!  Another woman who attended wrote the book, Heal From The Heart: Odyssey through Nature, Soul, and Recovery from Multiple Sclerosis.  Another woman brought her darling grandsons, who drummed with the best of 'em!

655

I gave a music therapy presentation today to 31 wonderful members of the Fort Vancouver Lions Club at Bill's Chicken and Steak House in Vancouver, WA.  This amazing, warm and lovely group of people was so receptive to my talk about the power of music to heal, and many stayed after the meeting to share their own experiences with me.  This is the oldest service organization in the world and dedicates its efforts to those with sight and hearing disabilities.   I also spoke with Kathryn, Jackie and Kim at various events in the last couple of days. 

HCR Manor Care Opens!

Check out this beautiful new facility in the Salmon Creek area:
http://www.hcr-manorcare.com/manorcare/salmoncreek

Congratulations!  It is a gorgeous place offering skilled nursing, a 2500 square foot therapeutic gym, private and semi-private rooms, and so much more ~

621

A very successful drum circle yesterday at Gallery 360 added 11 new people to my list!  The drum circle was well attended, with several returning drummers and 11 new ones.  It was a fun, relaxing, yet invigorating time!

611

I am loving meeting new people at networking events in and around Clark County.  I'm adding 9 new folks to my "heard-about-music-therapy" list thanks to a meeting yesterday at Columbia Ridge Assisted Living in Washougal WA.  I knew a few of the attendees, but was excited to meet some new people as well.  I have also spoken with a registered music therapist (the former designation of music therapists before board certification became the standard) living in Clark County considering returning to the field, a former Marylhurst music therapy student also considering finishing her studies. It sure would be great to add a few members to the Music Therapy in Clark County team!!  My twelfth person this week came by to give me a bid on replacing some plumbing fixtures in my daughters' bathroom.  She and I talked quite a while about music therapy and its effect on seniors and children with special needs.

Drum Circles

Drum with me next week! I am leading 2 drum circles and hope you can come to at least one if not both! Bring your own drum or use one of mine. $5 suggested donation will benefit CDM Services Music Therapy Program. Please come!

Tuesday, September 20, 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Gallery 360/Arts and Aging Studio, 111 W. 9th Street, Vancouver

Sunday, September 25, 3:00 to 4:00 pm
Latte Da Coffee House/Wine Bar
205 East 39th Street
25% off all food and beverage purchases during event, www.lattedacoffeehouse.com

599

There's nothing like a good Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce event to get me in touch with my extroverted self!  This afternoon, I attended a ribbon cutting event for New Day Community Dental Clinic.  This new clinic addresses the growing need for dental care among thousands of low-income residents in Southwest Washington.  There are 5 wonderful dentists on staff and a number of dental assistants and hygienists who will offer their services to those in need.  Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing New Day Community Dental Clinic to east Clark County!!  While I was there, I ran into my retired dentist who introduced me to 3 of the dentists and several staff.  It was great to connect with members of the health care community to talk about music therapy.  Earlier in the day, I attended a "Networking for Newbies" event sponsored by the Chamber and talked music therapy with an additional 3 amazing women business owners.  Just one more and I'm at 600!!   Who will it be?   . . .

590

Thanks to a wonderful networking meeting at Fishers' Landing Assisted Living, I was able to share with another 21 new people about the wonders of music therapy!  I even met with the dad of one of my favorite Kindermusik families who now works for a fantastic company that provides medical and social support to the elderly in our community.

"More Science Suggests Music Can Boost Mind and Body"

Great article at www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/well-being

It says that according to new research, music therapy can effect huge changes in the lives of people suffering from mental-hearth issues such as depression.

Lead researcher and professor Christian gold explained, "Music therapy has specific qualities that allows people to express themselves and interact in a nonverbal way.  Even when people can't find the words to describe their inner experiences, the music helps them to open up." 

However, simply giving someone an instrument to play wasn't enough.  "The greatest impact came when there was a coherent explanation of what music therapy does and why the music therapists were there."  said another lead researcher.

So how does it work?  The researchers on this study suggest music therapy is a fresh, less threatening means of getting people to open up, especially those feeling isolated or alienated.  Music helps people connect in a way that conventional counseling may not.

The physical act of drumming can produce a sense of euphoria, researchers said in the article.  These "feel good" hormones are produced when people engage in drumming, which can be an intense cardiovascular activity, and a good workout for the upper body.

An exercise scientist, Dr. Karageorghis, is quoted in the article to say that, "Since the Old Testament depiction of young David curing King Saul's depression with  . . . his harp, we have been aware of the therapeutic effects of music.   . .  but my research has also shown that music is able to achieve an efgogenic effect -- heightening arousal levels, creating positive mood states and distracting attention from perceptions of fatigue."

569

Bob, Carolyn, Kathy, Scott, Shirley, Kelly and John, thanks for listening to my spiel about music therapy!  And to the wonderful parents at the ARC of SWWashington, I loved talking to all of you (12 in all) about music therapy during our Open House.