December
2023
Hello –
As we find ourselves entering the winter holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the mixed emotions that many of us may be experiencing. While this time of year is often associated with joy, celebration, and togetherness, I know that for some, it can also be a time of sadness, loneliness, and reflection.
The holidays can serve as a reminder of loved ones who are no longer with us, of relationships that have changed or ended, and of the challenges we may be facing. It is important to recognize and honor these feelings. There are also national and global issues we can't control, leaving many of us grappling with grief, isolation, and uncertainty.
At NMTS we want you to know that we are here for you. We understand that the holidays may not be filled with the usual cheer and festivities for everyone, and we want to create a space for people to come together, express emotions, and offer support to one another. We also encourage you to reach out to your friends, family, and social networks. Share your feelings, memories, stories, and songs with those who understand and empathize.
While the holidays may not be joyous for all of us, don't forget about the strength and resilience of our community. Together, we can support one another, find moments of peace and reflection, and emerge stronger on the other side.
Wishing you joy and peace,
Manal Toppozada, Executive Director and Founder
Thank You!
Thank You!
Giving Tuesday 2023 Was A Success!
On Tuesday Nov. 28, we asked anyone who felt inspired to donate and help us reach our Giving Tuesday goal of $10,000. We are very happy to say that we reached that goal in just two days! And, with our two generous donors willing to double match your donations, we raised a total of $30,081 for Note-Able Music Therapy Services. That is incredible.
We’d like to extend a big thank you everyone who decided to become a monthly donor and say welcome to the Music Maker club! Your donation keeps us running throughout the year and we couldn't MORE without you.
And don’t worry if you missed the Giving Tuesday deadline! You can still become a monthly or one time donor by clicking the link below.
We highlighted four monthly donors this Giving Tuesday. Watch to learn what donating means to them.
In cased you missed it:
BOWLING FOR CHORDS!
Did you know students can learn valuable skills while...bowling? Read about how this game translates into learning from NMTS's instructor Nate Eng, below!
"As an adaptive music instructor at NMTS, my job is to make learning fun and accessible to everyone. Many times this means looking at a traditional way of teaching and switching it up to connect more with our participants depending on where they are that day, mentally and/or physically. In my electronic music group, we have been discussing chords. My group consists of adolescents and young adults with autism, so sitting down and explaining chords with sheet music does not really excite them. I wanted to come up with a fun and exciting way to engage them and that's where bowling for chords came from.
This activity is pretty much just bowling with elements of music sprinkled in. For the bowling ball, we use an electronic bouncy ball called an 'ODDBALL' that makes a fun noise every time it bounces. For the 'Pins' we line up 'Boomwhackers' which are color and size coordinated to a specific note in the chromatic scale. Everyone takes a turn bowling for notes and whichever notes/pins are knocked down, another participant plays those notes as a chord on the piano.
Besides making learning fun and engaging this activity helps build skills like these:
-Fine motor skills
-Eye-hand coordination
-Balance
-Social skills
-Music theory
-Technology skills
Adaptive lessons have a different way of looking at "success". By prioritizing accessibility and engagement, learning becomes fun! Participants are empowered to learn. This promotes problem-solving and positive reinforcement while dissolving the fear of failure or not being good enough. After the bowling for chords activity, I heard, "We should do this every week in class" and "This was a lot of fun", which is SUCCESS!"
You can see more videos like these and stay up to date with what’s happening at NMTS by following us on all our social platforms!
Are you ready to have the Holly-est, Jolly-est, time? This year the NMTS Holiday Party will take place on December 20th from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. There will be snacks, music, dancing, and overall FUN! And, of course, Santa will be there to hear your holiday wishes. Feel free to wear your favorite holiday clothes! We can’t wait to see to you there.
While we’re waiting to celebrate with each other again, let’s look at how much fun we had at last year’s party!
Mark your calendars:
Note-Able Music Therapy Services Annual Holiday Party is Coming!
Thank You
Jeanine & Pauline
for
24 AMAZING years at NMTS!
You will always have a place in our hearts and a home at NMTS.
Goodbyes are the hardest but we want to make sure Jeanine and Pauline have a part of NMTS they can always come back to and remember all of the beautiful connections, friends, and memories over 24 years!
Please share your memory and gratitude with Jeanine and Pauline so they can listen back for years to come by following the button below.
Join us Wednesday, January 3rd from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm to say goodbye in person to Jeanine and Pauline.
Staff Song Picks
Music is important to ALL of us! Here is a playlist of songs our staff picked for you! These are songs that we have been resonating with recently and have been playing on repeat.
Manal - Biko | Peter Gabriel | Playing For Change | Song Around The World
"And the eyes of the world are watching now." This song by Peter Gabriel burrowed into my soul when I first heard it decades ago. It was the first time I really understood the role of music in protest and activism. This version is beautiful and haunting and as powerful as the original - and the words are as relevant now as ever. "You can blow out a candle, but you can't blow out a fire. Once the flames begin to catch, the wind will blow it higher." These words helped bring international awareness to the realities of South African apartheid, which ended in the early 1990s. Music really can help change the world!
Imani - MALAMENTE - Cap.1: Augurio - ROSALÍA
This is the first song in a truly life-changing album. Rosalia weaves a story of love, lose, and the best version of feminine rage in this song and the subsequent ones. She is such a great artist that , even if you don’t understand the language, you can still understand what she’s trying to say. Can’t recommend this song enough!
Elizabeth - Avalanche - Leonard Cohen
I've been trying to learn this song on guitar for a year...I think it will take me another ten years to get it! I love the passion and angst in Leonard Cohen's voice and lyrics.
Sharon - There’s Still My Joy - Indigo Girls
This song was just done at the Bella Voce concert - arranged for choir. It speaks to the sorrow and even pain that can be present during the holidays and yet we also always have joy and hope.
Sam - Dawn” from the “Pride & Prejudice” soundtrack - Dario Marianelli & Jean-Yves Thibaudet
A piece I consistently listen to is “Dawn” from the “Pride & Prejudice” soundtrack by Dario Marianelli and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. This piece, for me, supports focus and mindfulness. It is something I listen to multiple times a week to set myself up for success.
Eric - I Blame the Piano - Rikard From
I love the way this artist plays the piano. With this song I particularly enjoy the way he has a jazzy wandering melody that gets held together by moments of beautiful harmony. Frantically moving through the keys but still finding time to really share and show off the beauty of the instrument.
Nate - The Mist - Charlesthefirst
This song was created by my friend who passed away 2 years ago around this time in December. He was one of the most genuine and caring people I have ever met. His music spoke to me on a dimension I had never heard before and he paved a new path for an entire scene in EDM. I was able to share this with him when I first met him, I told him that the sounds he curated made me feel like I was in the mountains, coming out of the trees and reaching the peak, feeling the brisk wind in contrast with the warm sun whispering on your skin. His music as well as Crown The Foundation which was started in his honor will continue his legacy.
Cony - Lo Poco Que Tengo - Ricardo Arjona
I love this song because it talks about riches and the meaning of having everything earn you have nothing. The meaning of everything is nothing!
Sarah - VOCES8: Lully, Lulla, Lullay - Philip Stopford
‘Tis the season of choral music and there is no choir in the world that I love more than Voces8. This is a modern arrangement of the very traditional Coventry Carol. It’s austere and haunting, perfect for quiet snowy nights.
Alice -Thank You For The Music - ABBA
The song I want to share is Thank You For The Music by ABBA since Thanksgiving just passed, and music is what we do here, so I am thankful for it.
Wendy - Carol of the Bells - Lindsey Stirling
I've been trying to learn this song on guitar for a year...I think it will take me another ten years to get it! I love the passion and angst in Leonard Cohen's voice and lyrics.
November Thank Yous
Thank you to our November donors: Lisa Angius, Donna Aslan, Rosalind Bedell, Shannon Beets, Kendra Bertschy, Susan Boner, Ruth Buffa, Sara Danta, Denise Davis, Conn Davis, Theresa Desautels, Sally Duffy, Susan Duncan, Cheryl Eckert, John and Wendy Firestone, CeCe Gable, Rachel Gattuso, Carrie Harding, Kathi Harris, Judy Harrison, Michael and Stephanie Hix, Suzanne Klena, Lucille Knight, Doug and Kim Lanning, Cissy Lee and Peter Lenz, Cynthia Lu, Brad Lund and Trudy Miller, Joe Macaluso and Chris Middleton, Lynda Mahorter, Jeanette Martin, Sophie Moeller, Lee Moran, Carol Parkhurst, Holly Pennington, Pam Pinjuv, Alice Robertson, Becky Saltenberger, Doug Snyder, Jeannie Steinman, Joanne Stockman, Laurel and Dean Sweigart, Geilan Toppozada, Amr Toppozada, Ken and Doreen Vogel, Gay Warner, Jonathan Wilson and Manal Toppozada, David Wolfe
Extra thanks to our monthly giving crew: Barb Anderson, Shannon Beets, Susan Boner, Dodie Bryant, Michelle Burke, Jody Call, Skyler Dillon, Leslie Doukas, Tiffany Dunseath, Cheryl Eckert, MaryLee Fulkerson, CeCe Gable, Heather Gage, Rachel Gattuso, Mary Jo Gieseke, Karen Golonka, Carrie Harding, Beverly Hennen, Jonathan Hickox-Young, Andy Hughes, Dina Hunsberger, Sandy Jacob and Mel Minarik, Ana Johnson, Nadia Khan, Lucille Knight, Michael Lahnala, Deanna Lyons, Pam Macy, Lynda Mahorter, LuAnn Miller, Jeanine and Pauline Mooers, Meghan Ochs, Rikki Powers, Lisa Rizzoli, Jake and Rachel Steinman, Jeannie Steinman, Judith Stewart, Sharon Hickox and Jennie Tibben, Sarah and Nate Toney, Ken and Doreen Vogel, Jonathan Wilson and Manal Toppozada, Tim Young and Jodie Barker, Sandra Young
Thank you volunteers: Reyna Aguinaldo, Kendra Bertschy, Jeff Bloyd, Cheryl Eckert, Mark Geeson, Mike Hix, Andy Hughes, Aaron Kirkpatrick, Michael Lahnala, Gaby Lope, Astri Lopez, Laura Matushek, Greg McNie, Diana Medina, Sophie Moeller, Jeanine Mooers, Jordan Nakao, Pat Ragains, Greg Raymond, Patti Rodriguez, Becca Shipley, Jake Steinman, Dave Stockman, Ken Vogel, Sanjeev Wagner, Ethan Ware, Hiroka Winter, Shiho Winter, and Tembra Wright-Hay
