We can all recognize the profound impact of music in our own lives and in the lives of others. It's healing and therapeutic, energizing, and above all, brings an overflowing amount of joy. But do you know about the transformative benefits of music therapy? Connecting Thru Music (CTM), a 501-C3 organization, is on a mission to provide music therapy and music enrichment services to children and young adults through 22 years old with special needs in Duval County and Northeast Florida. Through these services, benefits include enhanced cognitive, communicative, emotional, physical, and social development, which greatly improves quality of life.
I had the pleasure recently of speaking with Karen Demuth, Founder and Executive Director at Connecting Thru Music. She started CTM back in 2016, after she witnessed how music transformed her son Dante's cognitive and social skills. He had completed three months of music lessons at home through KinderMusic with teacher, Dinah Frilling, co-founder, CTM. Dante was born with Down Syndrome, with hearing and visual deficiencies, and without an esophagus. Karen and her family faced many challenges during the first few years of his life, with NICU care, medical emergencies, and even a one-year stay at Boston Children's Hospital.
The decision to start CTM was certainly an inspired one, and Karen would not only continue to see Dante's progress with music therapy but would see how other special needs children benefited as well. She first made a request to Neptune Beach Elementary (NBE), where Dante attended school, to start a music program. Once she found out that funding was not available, she worked closely with the Beaches community to raise money, and CTM was born. CTM soon expanded, with programs at Mandarin Oaks Elementary (MOE) and throughout Duval County at after school and summer camp programs, thanks to a grant from The Kids Hope Alliance.
Special needs students at Neptune Beach Elementary School currently attend two sessions with a board-certified music therapist (from Upbeat Music Therapy) and one class with a music teacher on a weekly basis. These music therapists have a four-year degree, are board-certified, complete a six-month internship, and many are Master's prepared as well. The sessions and music classes focus on specific social, communication, physical, and cognitive goals, including learning core/vocabulary words. Themes like expressing one's feelings, friendship, sharing, and helping others are taught through interactive songs.
And throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, CTM has been able to pivot and introduce a virtual library of videos created by the teachers and music therapists, so that children could continue learning at home. There's even a few unique CTM original songs, including a special theme song, created and performed by Dinah Frilling. Due to COVID-19, CTM transitioned to a virtual platform for the 2019-2020 school year at their in-school sites. The after-school program was able to continue in person with providers following CDC COVID-19 guidelines. They have since been able to transition all programs back to in-person.
Currently, CTM serves over 400 children with moderate to severe special needs in over 10 school programs and after school programs, thanks to funding from several organizations. CTM previously worked with four music therapists from First Coast Music Therapy for two years and presently, they are partnering with Clinical Director, Minda Gordon MT-BC, owner of UpBeat Music Therapy. Minda has over 35 years of experience as a music therapist, and as an educator in program development in multiple settings. Along with her talented team, she will bring growth to CTM through her clinical expertise, experience, and leadership.
CTM also partners with PossAbilities Plus in Atlantic Beach to create an innovative job skills program taught by board-certified music therapists for young adults with special needs. Along with job training with on-site employment experience at the thrift shop and tea room, as well as social opportunities, music therapists are working closely with these young adults. With a CTM curriculum that focuses on softer job skills, songs cover topics such as time management, communication, and customer service, as well as specific skills such as how to answer the phone. These young adults also participate to help write some songs by filling in the blanks in certain parts. This activity helps them with executive functioning.
CTM has several other community collaborations, including The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, The tag! Children’s Museum, Jacksonville University, and University of North Florida.
I asked Karen how CTM shines its joy, and she provided me with this amazing response:
"Music is a natural gateway to joy, laughter, and happiness. When you combine that with research-based music therapy, music enrichment, and children, especially those with special needs, who go through more on a daily basis than most of us can even begin to imagine, it is incredibly uplifting to see the smiles and the joy on their faces. I've seen how music not only elevates people's moods and transforms abilities, but also connects our community."
-Karen Demuth, Founder and Executive Director, Connecting Thru Music
She further explained that since music and music therapy is multi-sensory, it increases motivation, provides higher levels of relaxation, and improves movement and socialization skills. It can also give a non-verbal child, like Dante, a way to communicate at their own pace while participating in activities that promote creativity.
Karen has experienced more joy since she started CTM. Before Dante was exposed to music therapy, her family faced unexpected challenges with his care and learning development. "Music came in and was so uplifting, and we could feel the joy...it's palpable," Karen says. "Seeing how Dante learns and interacts through music and that he is now thriving and joyful is so precious to me and my family." The way others interact with Dante and her family is inspiring. Even on a usual trip to the beach, with Dante in his big beach chair, playing his instruments, people stop to say hello, or wave as he passes by. And he gets everyone smiling!
Through music therapy and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy, Dante, now 11, is learning to ask for assistance, and is making his own choices, such as picking up the TV remote to ask to watch. Using hand signals, sign language, and cards to communicate, he's very engaged in the world now. He is even starting to make sounds and says, "Mama." Music is Dante's motivator to learn, first and foremost, and he has a profound interest in music and musical instruments.
Karen and I connected on FaceTime recently and I was able to watch a segment of Dante's music therapy session. I observed firsthand the benefits of this personalized, up-close experience between therapist and student. Dante was learning to count through song and with flashcards placed on the floor in front of him. I could see the engagement with Dante and how he was reacting to what he was learning, such as following instructions by tapping his rhythm sticks.
Over the next year, Karen hopes to bring a greater foundation of music therapy, and more music therapists, to Northeast Florida through CTM, expand the payer sources, including insurance companies and state funding, and assist music therapists with their licensure. "Our vision is to continue to expand CTM and to also raise a greater awareness of the benefits and efficacy of music therapy, while collaborating with organizations throughout Northeast Florida to do so.," Karen explains.
Friends, if you would like to support CTM, click here to learn more about the ways you can help. And thanks, CTM, for providing these amazing photos from your website, and for shining your joy!
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