September 2024
Hello –
September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, which is an important time for us to think about how we talk about suicide and mental health. Our words can have a big impact, and it's crucial to be understanding and caring when discussing these topics. The Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention has chosen "Changing the Narrative on Suicide" as this year's theme. They have created a helpful toolkit that can be found here.
At NMTS, we aim to create safe spaces where people can talk about and prioritize their mental health. We encourage individuals to find ways to manage stress. Music is one of the top strategies we promote at NMTS, because research shows it has many benefits for mental health.
If you're looking for ideas on how music can help with stress, depression, or anxiety, you can visit the American Music Therapy Association. We are also here to be a resource, so feel free to contact us by phone or email. Our music therapists are ready to talk with you and provide support.
Manal Toppozada, Executive Director and Founder
Caregivers . . . We’re Here to Help
Caring for a loved one is a profound and often challenging responsibility, one that can be both emotionally and physically demanding.
For many caregivers, the journey can feel isolating, with few places to turn for understanding and advice. That's where caregiver support groups come in.
These groups offer a vital lifeline, providing a safe space for caregivers to share experiences, gain practical tips, and receive emotional support from others who truly understand the complexities of caregiving.
Through these connections, caregivers find not just solace, but also the strength and resilience to continue their essential role with renewed hope and confidence.
We will be restarting our Caregiver Support Group, every Tuesday at 5:30pm beginning September 10th.
This free group is designed to provide stress relief for those who provide care for others. There will be a chance to make connections in new and creative ways. A music therapist leads participants in discovering strategies for self care using a familiar tool: music.
There will also be an onsite music group so that caregivers have some respite and can focus on their own needs while knowing that their loved ones are safe and having fun.
Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival
2024
The Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival returned to the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts August 16-18, on the E.L. Cord Plaza stage. This outdoor performance event featured a different program each night and starred a wide range of northern Nevada based dance companies while spotlighting the great work of the SPCA of Northern Nevada.
NMTS was thrilled to be invited to participate for the second year in a row. NMTS dance instructor, Wendy Firestone, worked with a small group of dancers to create a new work for the festival. The NMTS Electronic Music class recorded the voices you hear on the track and mixed the three songs used in the piece.
A performance of "I Am" at the 2024 "Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival" at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
-
10:00a - 11:00 pm at NMTS
Come join your fellow music lovers in an informal jam session! All levels are welcome. Feel free to bring your own instruments or borrow one of ours. Open to all ages and ability levels!
-
5:30 pm at NMTS - FREE
All caregivers welcome at this FREE music therapy group. And you can bring your loved one! NMTS will provide fun music activities for them while you focus on YOU for an hour.
We hope to see you there!
-
5:30 - 7:00 pm at NMTS
Put on your hat and boots, we have a live caller coming to teach line, circle, square, and contra dancing!
Everyone is welcome to join, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The event is free with a suggested donation of $5.
-
NMTS is always looking for people who enjoy spending time giving back to their community. If you are interested in learning more about our programs and volunteer opportunities, please register for our next Volunteer Orientation (12-1pm on the 4th Friday of each month) by contacting
or calling 775.324.5521.
-
5:30 - 6:45 at NMTS - Free
Put on your boogie shoes and get ready to dance the night away. September's Fun Friday edition will be another fabulous Dance Party!
FREE with a $5 suggested donation.
All ages welcome, 18 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. All pick ups must be by 6:45pm.
See the full Calendar of Events by clicking below:
Staff Playlist
September 2024
September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, so this month’s playlist highlights some “essential” Hispanic/Latino music selected by our own Cony Linarez.
Tito Puente - “Oye Como Va” “Oye Como Va,” one of the most famous Latin jazz songs of all time, was written by Tito Puente as early as 1956. However, it was first recorded in 1962, when it was included on his album El Rey: Bravo, which referenced his popular moniker as the King (el Rey) of Mambo. (Jazziz.com)
Celia Cruz - “Por Si Acaso No Regreso” A Cuban singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century, Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera de Cuba.” In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her contributions to Latin music. (Wikipedia)
José Alfredo Jimenez - “Si Nos Dejan” José Alfredo Jiménez was a Mexican singer-songwriter, whose songs are regarded as the basis of modern regional Mexican music and rancheras. During his lifetime, he wrote over a thousand songs, which have been covered by various artists. (Wikipedia)
Selena - “Amor Prohibido” Selena was an American singer. Referred to as the "Queen of Tejano Music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. In 2020, Billboard magazine put her in third place on their list of "Greatest Latino Artists of All Time", based on both Latin albums and Latin songs chart. (Wikipedia)
Juan Gabriel - “Amor Eterno” Juan Gabriel was a Mexican singer-songwriter and actor. Colloquially nicknamed Juanga and El Divo de Juárez, Juan Gabriel was known for his flamboyant style, which broke norms and standards within the Latin music industry. Widely regarded as one of the best and most prolific Mexican composers and singers of all time, he is regarded as a pop icon. (Wikipedia)
Ricardo Arjona - “Lo Poco Que Tengo”: Ricardo Arjona is a Guatemalan and Mexican singer and songwriter. He is one of the most successful and best-selling Latin American artists of all time, with more than 20 million records sold. His music ranges from ballads to Latin pop, rock, pop rock, Cuban music, and more recently a cappella performances and a mixture of Tejano music and Norteño music, and Latin sounds. (Wikipedia)
Juan Luis Guerra - “Ojala Que Llueva Cafe” Juan Luis Guerra is a Dominican musician, singer, composer, and record producer. He has sold 15 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists. His popular style of merengue and Latin fusion has garnered him considerable success throughout Latin America. He is also credited for popularizing bachata music on a global level. (Wikipedia)
Carlos Gardel - “Golondrina” Carlos Gardel was a French-born Argentine singer, songwriter, composer and actor, and the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was one of the most influential interpreters of world popular music in the first half of the 20th century. Gardel is the most famous popular tango singer of all time and is recognized throughout the world. (Wikipedia)
Caetano Veloso - “Alegria Alegria” Caetano Veloso is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicália, which encompassed theatre, poetry and music in the 1960s, at the beginning of the Brazilian military dictatorship that took power in 1964. He has remained a constant creative influence and best-selling performing artist and composer ever since. (Wikipedia)
Carlos Santana - “Samba Pa Ti” Carlos Santana is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the rock band Santana. Born and raised in Mexico where he developed his musical background, he rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States with Santana, which pioneered a fusion of rock and roll and Latin American jazz. (Wikipedia)
Shakira - “Wherever Whenever” Described as "one of the most influential and beloved artists of all time,” Shakira has been credited with opening the doors of the international market for other Latin artists. With over 100 million certified records sold worldwide, she is the best-selling female Latin artist of all time in the United States and worldwide, as of 2023, according to Billboard. (Wikipedia)
August Thank Yous
Thank you to our August donors:
Sabine Beach, Kendra Bertschy, Wendy & John Firestone, Michael & Stephanie Hix, Melinda Kuhn, Nancy and Brian Kuhn, Cynthia Lake Personal Trust, Cony Linarez, Chris & Parky May, Michael & Charlene Barefield, Sophie Moeller, Michael Petty, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Kelly Schuermann, Anonymous Friend of NMTS, Bert & Chris Wells
The NMTS monthly Music Makers giving crew:
Barb Anderson, Susan Boner, Susan Boskoff, 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, Sharon Hickox and Jennifer Tibben, Daniel Hickox-Young, Jonathan Hickox-Young, Andy Hughes, Dina Hunsberger, Sandy Jacob and Mel Minarik, Ana Johnson, Nadia Khan, Lucille Knight, Michael Lahnala, Brad Lund and Trudy Miller, Deanna Lyons, Pam Macy, Lynda Mahorter ,Olga Mesina, LuAnn Miller, Pauline and Jeanine Mooers, Sallie Moore, Lee Moran, Meghan Ochs, Rikki Powers, Lisa A Rizzoli, Pam Miller Russell, Cindy Sabatini, Jake and Rachel Steinman, Jeannie Steinman, Judith Stewart, Julie Sulahria, Sarah Toney, Ken and Doreen Vogel, Lori and Don Welsh, Gina Wertz, Jonathan Wilson, Sandra Young, Tim Young and Jodie Barker
Thank you volunteers:
Kendra Bertschy, Jeff Bloyd, Bev Carpenter, Cheryl Eckert, Sierra Foos, Mark Geeson, Mike Hix, Andy Hughes, Jamie Jepson, Kailin "K K"Kellerman, Breanne Knight, Michael Lahnala, Tony Martin, Mary Ann McCauley, Kaiyahna Meeks, Olga Mesina, Mary O'Dell, Whitney Pomi, Lisa Rizzoli, Veruka Saiki, Becca Shipley, Jake Steinman, Dave Stockman, Grace Tibben-Lembke, Marci Tiffee, Indigo Walenta, Ken Vogel, Pat Ragains
