Cleveland Rocks!

Some of you may have caught the "Women Who Rock" exhibit currently on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; maybe you saw the documentary with the same name on PBS within the last couple of weeks.

Alongside the "Women Who Rock" documentary, WVIZ/PBS ideastream produced a wonderful mini-documentary called "Artistic Choice" about the arts scene in Cleveland. Keep your eyes peeled around 4:10 for some footage of Toddler Rock!

Watch it here.

A Time to Say Thanks

MTEC is so thankful for all the families that enjoy our services at our office in Westlake, OH. Here is what these families shared with us this holiday season:

I am thankful for:

(here's what the kids said)

"My family"

"God"

"My family and friends"

"My family, friends and my piano teacher."-Emily Caral Nee

"My family and friends, and most of all . . . God and Jesus!!"-Anya Krumbine

"Happiness, freedom, love!"-Bridget

"My Mom and Dad for providing food for me."-Alex Babinski

"My family!"-Allison Nee

"Mommy"-Matthew Alspach

"My new baby cousin, Tatum and how special MTEC is to us!"-Claire Woodruff

"Toys, food, clothes, drink, bed, house, family, friends, people, trees, clouds, sun, moon, grass, animals, bugs, God, school, teachers, Mom, Dad, sisters"-Ava Ernst

"The Earth, my family and my friends and my teacher."- Ashley Alspach

(here's what the grownups said)

"My family-an awesome husband and three beautiful girls!"-Lacie Ernst

"The Staff at MTEC and my daughter Cynthia's teacher Sarah Tobias for inspiring our family to be creative and enjoy the arts and simple pleasures that life brings. Happy Thanksgiving!"-Neena Newton

MTEC is thankful for . . .

You may have noticed the "A Time to Say Thanks" forms in MTEC's lobby.  We appreciate everyone who has shared their thoughts! As the last few forms come in, the MTEC staff would like to share what we are thankful for this Thanksgiving season:

"I am thankful for my family and the gift of music." -James

"I'm thankful for the opportunity to share the power of music with my clients!" -Erin

"I am thankful for my wonderful clients and coworkers who continuously renew my passion and drive for music therapy." -Sarah

"I give thanks for all the parents, teachers and staff that support music therapy and music education and allow MTEC to share music with their child, their students and at their facilities." -Kara

"I give thanks for the wonderful staff at MTEC who not only give of their time and talents, but who give of their whole heart!" -Alane

"I am thankful for the ability to work with a team of music therapists.  Having many therapists to consult with, bounce ideas off of, and learn from makes my practice stronger!" -Jaime

This Just In: Music Therapy in the News

Read and watch how music therapy was instrumental (no pun intended) in helping Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords rebuild neurological pathways to regain her ability to speak.

Check out the article here.

Take a look at the video here.

Our Lady of the Wayside Sing and Sign Choir

MTEC is a proud partner with Our Lady of the Wayside (OLW), a not-for-profit agency that serves the Developmental Disabilities community throughout Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties.

Just recently the OLW Sing and Sign Choir, directors Sarah Tobias, MT-BC and Kara Phipps, MT-BC recorded their first CD, Everybody's Here. They had a CD-release party and performance to celebrate.

Here is "It's a Beautiful Day," from Everybody's Here:

It's a beautiful day,
So happy to be.

It's a beautiful day,

So happy to be.

Here we are,

Rockin' and-a Rollin'

Just singing,

It's a beautiful day.

This song describes perfectly how MTEC feels about its clients: everyday is more beautiful when we come together and make music!

Learn more about Our Lady of the Wayside here.

Learn more about the music therapy program at OLW here.

Staff Profile: Erin Shoemaker

You may have seen a new face around the office . . .

Welcome to Erin, who became a part of the MTEC team this fall!

Hometown: North Olmsted , Ohio

Education: Bachelor's of Music Therapy from Eastern Michigan University

Music Therapy Internship: Lincoln Park Public School System in Lincoln Park, MI

Instruments: Voice, guitar, piano, flute, piccolo

Professional interests: Using sign language with song, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and Parkinson’s Disease.

Music Therapy Philosophy: I believe that music has the power to change people’s lives. When live music is tailored to meet a client's specific needs, music therapy can help them not only reach goals in a therapeutic setting, but also apply those skills to real world living.

What do you do outside of MTEC? I love to do local theatre! I’m currently in rehearsals for Joseph and the Amazing Technocolored Dream Coat at the Beck Center for the Arts.

Did you know? I did a polar plunge out in Ann Arbor Michigan for the American Heart Association.

Hugs 'n Harmony

Hugs 'n Harmony is back at the Rocky River Recreation Center!

Children ages 18-36 months and their caregivers are welcome! You do not have to be a resident of Rocky River to participate.

This class builds musical experiences around a weekly story and an animal. Each week caregivers will learn techniques and receive handouts to encourage the love of music at home.

The class will be held Wednesdays Nov. 16-Dec. 14 from 10:30-11:00 AM (no class Nov. 23). $58-member/$62-resident/$66-non-resident.

Call 440-895-2599 to register today!

*Please register by November 10.