Music Therapy Open House in Ontario Oregon!
(for Anyone with a Barrier to Communication, Learning, or Wellness)

 How Much? 

FREE!!  The idea is to raise awareness about music therapy and how it can help people - so even if you are just a little curious (or maybe just bored on a Friday night), come and check it out! Plus, light refreshments will be provided. Free food and live music, you can’t beat that!

Why?

Because Music Makes Connections. The benefits of music therapy are numerous, but include empowering people with a variety of barriers to engage with others in a fun and nonthreatening way, develop strong relationships, manage emotions, improve memory/cognition, and to learn things about music and about themselves in a unique and powerful way.

When?

Friday, June 1st from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Location:

THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 

(click the link to see a map)

212 SE 10TH STREET

ONTARIO,  OREGON

Who?

Anyone with a barrier to communication, learning, or wellness should be there (and their families can come too =).  Examples of people who find music therapy beneficial include those with autism, developmental/cognitive delays, dementia/Alzheimer’s, hearing loss/cochlear implantation, mental illness (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc), chronic pain, stroke-related deficits (especially those with aphasia), Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders, and people struggling with addiction.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please RSVP so we can know how many to plan on (but feel free to stop on by anyway even if you don’t- we are always up for a surprise  =).

music therapy with stroke patient with aphasia in Boise

It has been fun working with a stroke patient with aphasia.  Aphasia is a very frustrating condition where they can understand everything that is happening, and they know what they want to say, but they just can't form the words.  Because of the way that music is processed in the brain, people are able to form words when singing before they can form words through speaking.  It is an exciting moment when we are doing music and she is singing and suddenly she forms a word.  The look of excitement and almost surprise is priceless.

I am doing some more work for people with aphasia in June through the Idaho State extension with a pilot program.  If you know anybody who might be interested, please let me know.

Radio Podcast

Please check out me on the radio on a program called Piece of Mind.  Here is the podcast:http://pieceofmind.me/ftp___pieceofmind.me/Podcast/Entries/2012/5/12_Matthew_Jordan_Music_Therapist__Music_as_Medicine.html

In the podcast I talk about music therapy and play some of the music that I have done with people.  It was interesting to be on the radio.  I've never been in a radio station before.  I don't know how much sense I made because I was really nervous.

Smiles through music therapy

Great things in life happen in small moments.  One of my favorite things while doing music therapy is seeing the smiles.  Smiles for most people is a regular occurrence, but for some people smiles rarely happen.  They are stuck in confusion through dementia or frustration because of a stroke.  Sometimes it just difficulty connecting with people.  It is amazing when I see these people smile.  I just love being able to see a change from frustration, confusion, pain, or disconnection to eye contact and a big smile.  Smiles are a thing that most people take for granted, but I have seen smiles that were miraculous.

Music Therapy in Boise

It is really true that music makes connections when nothing else can.  I was working with a young girl with Asperger's for the first time.  She was hesitant to engage, but once the music started she became much more animated she began telling me of connections that she had to different music.  The more we did music together the more she began to smile and began to interact with me.  At the end her mother came and told me that she does not talk to anyone, and she was amazed with how much she talked with me.  It is moments like that which makes me glad that I am a music therapist.