GOOD MUSIC

15

Back to School Edition 2016

BlueRibbonNews.com

Local board-certified music therapist Jenny 
Attardi knows the valuable impact music 
can have on the lives of special needs youth. 
However, she’s also aware that opportunities 
for those with special needs to play and 
learn the music they love within a social 
environment come few and far between.

This summer, Attardi and Rockwall School 
of Music formed a chime choir camp for a 
group of local special needs youth, bringing 
them that rare opportunity to make music 
with others in a social learning environment.

Attardi said the members of her chime 
choir love making music but often have 
difficulties finding chances to participate 
in music-oriented activities. Wanting to 
address this issue, she and Rockwall School 
of Music Owner and Director Russ Porter 
began discussing a way to make learning 
music more accessible to children and 
young adults with special needs. 

“My main motivation for forming this choir 
is to bring special needs kids together in a 
group to make music,” Attardi said. 

Offering remedial music lessons has always 
been a passion of Attardi, who has practiced 
music therapy for the past 23 years. She 
provides private music therapy to folks 
around Rockwall, usually giving sessions 
right inside her clients’ homes, and works 
with people of all ages teaching rhythm 
instruments, keyboard, and guitar. 

The six total members making up the chime 
choir are all clients of Attardi, who also 
teaches adapted music lessons for people 
with special needs. 

“My greatest joy is seeing them feel 
successful at something,” Attardi said. 

The chime choir uses special instruments 
known as tone chimes, which are easy to 
play despite limitations. Porter owns seven 
tone chimes and offered their use for Attardi 
and her choir members. Chris Kirk – a friend 
of Attardi’s – also plays piano for the group.

What makes music such an effective 
therapeutic activity, Attardi said, is that it 
addresses three important life skills – motor, 
cognitive and social skills.

“Music has structure, so it helps with 
cognitive skills needed to help learn 
something new,” Attardi said. “It’s also 
motivating for individuals to want to 
try new skills. It gives opportunities for 
improving hand-eye coordination, and 

instruments can also be adapted for the 
person’s ability. On the social side of it, 
music can help people to have a sense of 
belonging and to learn patience.”

According to Attardi, because music 
therapy exists as one of the lesser-known 
career avenues available in the modern 
working world, she’s more than happy 
to discuss how to get started in the field. 
Anyone interested in pursuing music 
therapy as a career may contact Attardi via 
email at jennyformusic@hotmail.com.

Rockwall School of Music celebrates 20 
years as the music school of choice for local 
musicians of all ages throughout the county. 
Founded in 1997 by a group of music 
instructors who wanted to share their love 
of music with the community, Rockwall 
School of Music harbors a remarkable staff 
of university-trained teachers dedicated 
to growing Rockwall’s music culture and 
inspiring generations of music students. For 
more information visit rockwallmusic.com/.

Story and photos by Austin Wells, 
Blue Ribbon News editor.

(972)771-2418 • 5 miles East of Rockwall

5574 Hwy 276 • Rockwall, TX 75189

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Music therapist, music school band together 

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749 Justin Rd. • Rockwall • 972-722-6874

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