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.
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