Newsletter Spring/Summer 2011

Volume 22, Issue 1 Symphony

Board of Directors Joanna Cooper, MD Chairperson Sandra Francisco Lynn Jehle Pamela Laesch, MD Dayna Orange Charlie Pollack, MD Stephen Pollack Ellen Whitaker Executive Director Music Therapist Titia Martin-Nagel, MT-BC

Dear Friends, This issue of Symphony includes exciting news about Maya’s Music Therapy Fund’s recent events, as well as a glimpse into our future plans for the rest of 2011. It is only with your support and enthusiasm that we are able to continue to offer our services to a growing number of clients whose lives are impacted by music therapy. Maya’s 22nd Annual Spring Music Festival took place on March 27, 2011 and was a huge success. The Festival is a joyous occasion where our clients showcase their musical talents by singing and playing instruments for family and friends. Over 200 people attended, including the Mayor of Richmond, Gayle McLaughlin, to show their support. Page 3 features a closer look at the Festival, and you’ll find several pictures of the performances in this newsletter. Please log onto our website www.mayasmusic.org to see more pictures and coverage of this and prior years’ Festivals. For 22 years our music therapist, Titia Martin-Nagel, has been providing outstanding, compassionate group and individual music therapy to over 80 clients at no cost, or at a very low cost. She continues to advocate for music therapy for her clients in the RETT clinic associated with Children’s Hospital in Oakland. You can read more about this one-of-a-kind clinic and how music therapy improves these young girls’ lives on page 3, as well as an inspiring profile of one of her clients on page 4. Our education and outreach efforts, highlighted on page 5, have increased dramatically this year. Our music therapy sessions have been visited by international music therapists, as well as by local high school and college students seeking information about music therapy for people with moderate to severe developmental disabilities. As we look ahead, Maya’s Music Therapy Fund is making plans to expand services to an unprecedented number of new and returning clients. Music therapy is typically not funded by health insurance plans or other local entities. You have made a difference! I encourage you to continue your support by making a donation to our small yet very effective non-profit organization. We are unable to continue without your help and participation. You may use the enclosed pre-addressed envelope to mail a check to us, or you can make a direct donation online via our website at www.mayasmusic.org. Thank you for your continued support!

Joanna Cooper, M.D.

Born Free, performed by the adult groups at the

2011 Festival

Denny Abrams Michael Alvarez, M.D. &

Marina Alvarez Randall Ammon, M.D. Matthew & Jennifer Arnold Robert & Judith Bacskai Catherine Baker Jean Bass Bradman Jessica Benson Roberts Ronald Berman, M.D. &

Sibyl Marcus Lisa & Deirdre Bernard-Pearl Diane & Edwin Bernbaum Ronn Berrol, M.D. & Joan Korin Roger & Amanda Black Craig Bloom, D.M.D. & Richard

Berger, D.D.S., & Bryan Krey, D.M.D.

Lawrence Blumberg, D.M.D. & Leslie Blumberg

Niki & Darren Blumberg, M.D. Terry Blumenfeld Benjamin Bonnes, M.D. &

Rachel Perls Ursula Boynton, M.D. Arthur & Sheila Braufman Carol L. Brosgart, M.D. &

Joseph A. Gross Jeffrey Burack, M.D. &

Shelly D. Ball John & Catherine Case Michael Cassidy, M.D. &

Andrea Cassidy Peter Chase, D.D.S. & Sue Chase Sister Rosemary Chinnici Nancy & Frank Clough Michael Cohn, M.D. Jennifer & Colin Cooper Joanna Cooper, M.D. &

Charlie Pollack, M.D. Michael Cooper, M.D. &

Theresa Cooper Steven Crabiel Bruce Cree, M.D. Joan Danesi Kent Daniels Denise Davis, M.D. Rakesh Donthineni, M.D. Kimberly Duncan Malcolm Duncan, M.D. &

Pearl Duncan Christopher Dutra, M.D. Peter & Anne Dybwad Michael Ehrenberg &

Stephen Pollack Alex Espinoza, M.D. Janet Ewing, M.D. Pedram Fateih, M.D. Audrey Ferber Robert Fink, M.D. &

Ilene Dillon-Fink Claudette Fountain

Robert Fox, M.D. Samuel & Ann Freeman Kenneth Fye, M.D. &

Marilyn Fye Erik Gaensler, M.D. &

Shelly Marks, M.D. Sandi Garfinkel Amy Garlin, M.D. &

Richard Royston Mark Geliebter, M.D. &

Robin Keller Drs. Danny & Hilary Goldstine Doug & Carmen Goodin Sproul Howard Gordon &

Jeremy Jacobs Gordon Ernest & Marion Gottlieb Charles Haas Peter Haikalis, M.D. &

Susan Haikalis Christopher Hall Sats Hane Naomi Hartwig James Hirschberg &

Sarah Newlin Ching-Yee Ho Scott & Marilyn Honegger, M.D. Lucinda Hopewell Pamela Hunt Ivan & Yenjean Hwang Richard & Marie Imes Miriam Jacobson Lynn Jehle Craig Johnson Elizabeth & Jeffrey Jones Mary Jones, M.D. Alison Jordan Risa Kagan, M.D. Frances Kalfus, O.M.D. Karen & Scott Kalkowski Andrew Kayser, M.D. &

Mary Ann Kayser Neil & Judith Kellman Vicki Kelman &

Rabbi Stuart Kelman Diana Kienle Jeanne King Pat Kirkpatrick &

Sid Wolinsky Robert Knight &

Donatella Scabini Susan Kramer, LCSW Charles & Sharon Krueger Neil & Leah Kuluva Tara Kurland Pamela Laesch, M.D. Annie Lai & Wilfred Tang Claire Lavery &

Michael Ricks Valerie M. Lawson Linda Lazare Peter & Evelyn Lee Aharon Levy

Yehudit Levy Georgia Lindsey Sarah Liron & Sheldon Kahn Richard & Judith Litwin Timothy Lo, M.D. &

Catherine Leung Lo Richard & Anne Long Andrew Luchansky &

Elisabeth Reed Jillian Dougal MacKinnon, M.D. Gary Marcus, M.D. &

Lois Marcus David Marinoff, M.D. Mathias Masem, M.D. Amy & Wayne Matecki David & Diane Matsumoto John McHugh & Laura Miller Karen McLellan Gloria McNab Guy Micco Linda Mohrbacher Virginia Morrison Denise Navellier, R.N. &

Scott McCormick Edith & Walter Nagel Kim Nguyen Danute Nitecki Angela Noel Christopher & Victoria Nolan Frank L. Oaks &

Marianne Hane Jewel Okawachi Richard Oken, M.D. &

Judith Oken Dayna Orange &

Joshua Kuluva, M.D. Harriet Orange Andrew Osugi, M.D. &

Muriel Osugi Susan Ott David & Sandra Padilla David & Deanna Pankow Theresa Pedemonte Ellis &

Richard Ellis David Perlada, M.D. &

Maury Perlada Joel Piser, M.D. &

Jing W. Hsieh David & Betty Pollack David & Betty Powell Leonard Price, Ph.D. &

Katina Price Barbara Ridley Ronald Robinson, M.D. &

Trang Pham-Robinson Phillip & Daphne Ross Richard Rudd, M.D. &

Diana Harris Deborah Droker Sandberg Amarjit Sandhu, M.D. &

Narender Sandhu Jacques & Barbara Schlumberger

Simon Shaham, M.D. Jennifer Sherman James & Marjorie Shultz Michelle Shute-David, M.D. &

Herve B. David Stanley & Pearl Siegel Gary & Susanne Sjöberg Carl & Rocio Smith Joanna Smith Michael Reed Smith Roland & Catherine Smith Drs. Lionel, Andrew, &

Robert Sorenson James E. Starr, M.D. Julie & Michael Steinbaugh Gondica Strijkers Joan Sullivan Beatrice & Chris Teng William Tennant, D.D.S. Elaine Tombari Barbara Towner-Winchester Rick Trautner, M.D. &

Tracy Flanagan Marsha Treadwell Arnie Turrentine &

Sandra Francisco Renee & David Van Hoy Claire Verbinski Paul Vojta Alina Walasek Edward Waller, M.D. &

Susan Waller Helene Walling Joanna Weinberg & David Levine Juliet Welch James Wesson Carl & Ellen Whitaker June Whitaker Jeffrey Wieder, M.D. Sara Wildavsky Naomi Wolman Brad Wrubel, M.D. &

Kathleen Morris Edward & Sandra Zaritt Neil Zelin & Carol Murota Philip L. Zemansky, M.D. &

Barbara Zemansky Theodore Zukin Calvo Fisher & Jacob, L.L.P. Frank A. Campini Foundation Friends of Disabled Children The Law Offices of Brian Laird, P.L.L.C. Sandra & John Boeschen in honor of

Titia Martin-Nagel Nancy Hughes in memory of

Anna Whitaker Barbara Lawson in memory of

Robert Whitaker The Ossendrijver family in honor of

Edith Nagel-Ossendrijver

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Many Thanks to our 2010-2011 donors

These are the images of joy: Performers and their families. Performers and their aides. A young girl concentrating. A man in a hat singing with abandon. A five-year old joining a seasoned performer participating in Maya’s Music Festival. The announcer who grew up with the program. The drummer sharing his phenomenal talent as he has done in the past. Small groups of performers. Soloists. The young girl playing a frog instrument. Large groups of performers. Myriads of sounds produced by multiple types of instruments. Devoted aides accompanying performers. Many come on their day off — a true testament to the unique bond between aide and student. Titia Martin-Nagel, gifted music therapist, performing, coordinating, supporting, inspiring, exemplifying both patience and excellence. The twins returning, as they do each year since graduating from the program, first sitting in the audience and then participating in the finale on stage.

The Mayor of Richmond, Gayle McLaughlin, not just speaking to honor the participants, but staying on to listen to their performances. With a theme inspired by our recently published book, Making a Joyful Sound – Portraits in Music Therapy, over 60 performers were joined by families, friends, and the public for Maya’s Spring Music Festival 2011. (See page 5 for information on how to purchase a book.)

After a three-month pilot project, Maya’s has begun a formal collaboration with Children’s Hospital Oakland to provide music therapy to children with Rett syndrome, an extremely rare and severely disabling genetic disorder that affects only girls. Because it is often difficult for children to get evaluation and treatment in their local communities, these girls come from across California and the Western U.S. to Katie’s Clinic at Children’s Hospital Oakland. While attending the clinic, they are seen by a team of physicians, a nutrition specialist, and occupational, physical, and speech therapists for evaluations and ongoing treatment plans. Our talented music therapist, Titia Martin-Nagel, has become an active team member of the clinic and provides music therapy to the girls. Because the families often come from far, their music therapy sessions have a different focus than our traditional ongoing therapy. Parents or care-givers sit in on these sessions to learn more about music therapy materials and methods that they can use and implement when they go home. Rett syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system that leads to developmental reversals, especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use. Girls with Rett syndrome often experience normal development until 6-18 months, when reversals begin. Through the use of adapted musical instruments, rhythm exercises and other methods, we have found that the girls often make extraordinary efforts to participate in making music and expressing themselves through music. The act of reaching for an instrument or hitting a drum are both large accomplishments and a source of emotional joy and satisfaction for the girls and their families. Research has shown, and we concur, that girls with Rett syndrome are especially responsive to music therapy. Dr. Mary Jones, Medical Director of Katie’s Clinic, is a staunch supporter of music therapy and believes that it is an integral part of the girls’ treatment. Titia therefore encourages the families to implement, either at home or in the school environment, much of the written and verbal instructions given to them at each session.

Symphony Page 3

Maya’s Spring Music Festival 2011: A Joyful Sound

Rett Clinic

Alexis plays on the buffalo drum with Titia

The DPRC-TIRP group performs Stand By Me at the

2011 Festival

At our Festival this year, we experienced the skilled work of the Master of Ceremonies for the event: Brandon Crowl, a long-time participant of Maya’s programs. With poise and confidence he announced each performer. He had to be flexible, because sometimes the order of the program needed to be changed quickly. Brandon managed all of that and more, while remaining calm, professional, and friendly. Brandon’s success story this year as Festival MC goes back many years.

In 2004, Brandon had prepared a solo song for the Festival, but then felt that singing by himself in front of a large audience was actually not so easy. He just couldn’t get himself to do it. In 2005, Brandon thought that maybe — if he didn’t have to be up there all by himself — he could perform. So Titia suggested that he perform a piece with his twin sister right beside him, clapping a supporting beat to his song. His performance brought down the house! That was also the year that a puppet, Kermit the Frog (voiced by Maya’s co-founder, Michael Cooper), did the honors as MC. Brandon was sitting in the front row, completely fascinated with the little green amphibian. The next year Brandon advanced his ability to perform in spite of his shyness; he conducted Titia while she played the piano. And since the conductor always faces the musicians (and not the audience), it was a little easier to be on stage. Kermit was again the host of the show.

In 2007, we learned that Kermit would be unable to make an appearance. When the kids at DPRC were told that sad fact, suddenly one of them stood up and said in a perfect Barney the Purple Dinosaur voice: “Perhaps I can help out.” That was the start of a very successful three-year run as co-Emcees for Brandon and Barney.

The story doesn’t end there! In 2010 Brandon introduced us to a new friend. He had created the voice and personality of his own puppet, Charlie, and together they hosted the Festival. But the best part came this year. When Brandon was asked if he and Charlie would like to be MC again, Brandon thought for a moment and then confidently said: “I don’t think I need Charlie anymore; I would like to do it by myself!” It has been inspirational for all who know Brandon to see him change from a shy little boy into a confident young man. From a boy standing with his back to the audience into the young man who sang What A Wonderful World with a warm voice and lots of expression. From a boy enthralled with puppets into the solo MC at our 2011 Festival. And all along the way, music was with him, helping him become who he is today. Brandon now has the self-confidence to conduct, to sing solos, and to connect self-assuredly with an audience of over 200 people!

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Participant Profile: Brandon Crowl

2006 Festival Brandon conducts Titia

2010 Festival Brandon and Charlie are MC

2011 Festival Brandon is solo MC

We are contacted on a regular basis by people interested in learning more about music therapy. Often the requests for information are from high school or college students who are writing research reports. We gladly offer them an opportunity to observe and experience a therapy session, and then interview our music therapist, if they wish. We find that this is an excellent way to spread the word about the methods, materials and benefits of music therapy to a generation of people who may choose to work in the field when they complete their studies. In addition to students, we have also had the pleasure of hosting several experienced, credentialed music therapists from countries such as Scotland, Hungary, and Australia. It is rewarding to see that our small organization is known outside the U.S., as this gives us an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and information about our programs with people from other countries. Use of the internet has aided this effort tremendously in recent years, as has the fact that our therapist, Titia Martin-Nagel, herself is a native of the Netherlands. We were also pleased to hear that one of our participants wanted to educate her attendants about music therapy. For that purpose, she used a picture of herself playing music with Titia. Our best advocates are those who experience first-hand the benefits of music therapy! As a donor or an interested party, you are welcome to contact Titia at info@mayasmusic.org if you would like to arrange to observe a group therapy session. Even better, join us at next year’s Spring Festival, so you can see the power of music therapy on display.

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Education and Outreach

Laura used this picture to educate her staff about what

she does during her music therapy sessions.

“I just wanted to thank you once again for inviting me to come into your sessions and allowing me to experience something so special!”

— Angela C.

Katie performs the Frog Song at the 2011 Festival.

Still available:

Making a Joyful Sound — Portraits in Music Therapy

A book with beautiful black and

white photographs by Misako Akimoto, featuring many of Maya’s participants while engaged in music therapy.

$50 – Hardcover $30 – Paperback

To obtain a copy contact our office or order via our website

www.mayasmusic.org

Maya’s Music Therapy Fund (“Maya’s”) develops and sustains music therapy programs for people with developmental disabilities. These programs improve participants’ physical, social, and cognitive skills, while enhancing their emotional well-being.

Maya’s was established in memory of Maya Cooper, a severely disabled, non-verbal child who used music to communicate most fully with the world around her. After her death in 1988, her parents started the non-profit fund in her name, so that other people with disabilities — particularly those who could not otherwise afford it — might experience the life-enriching benefits of group and individual music therapy.

Maya’s offers a unique music therapy program for people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, hearing and vision impairment, ADHD, Rett syndrome, and others. Our collaborative partner agencies include Ala Costa Adult Community Training, the City of Richmond (at the Disabled People’s Recreation Center), Community Access Program at Hilltop, Consensus, East Bay Innovations, Inclusive Community Resources, Katie’s Clinic at Children’s Hospital Oakland, and Toolworks.

History and Mission Statement Maya's Music

Therapy Fund

1731 Carleton Street Berkeley, CA 94703

PHONE:

(510) 845-6693

E-MAIL: info@mayasmusic.org

We’re on the Web! Visit us at:

www.mayasmusic.org

MAYA'S MUSIC THERAPY FUND

1731 Carleton Street Berkeley, CA 94703