In Remebrance

The music therapy world was saddened to hear of the passing of music therapy pioneer, Dr. Clive Robbins on Wednesday, December 7th:

"Dr. Clive Robbins, CMT/RMT, DHL, DMM, one of the world's pre-eminent music therapists, passed away on December 7, 2011. He was 84 years old. Dr. Robbins was a co-originator of the approach known as Creative Music Therapy and the Founding Director of the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. He worked with developmentally and multiply disabled children for over fifty years." (Nordoff-Robbins Center)

To read more about Dr. Robbins' work and achievements, please go to the Nordoff-Robbins website by clicking here.

Extra! Extra!

Take a look at this article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer  featuring MTEC's James Chance and his band pOUT. The article follows the band as they record their first CD. 

"Chance's lead guitar, with its beautiful syncopated riffs serving more like dressing on an audio salad, heightening but not hiding the tasty melodies and lyrics"


Read the article here.

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.