The power of music can change lives. Let’s use it to help those in need by giving hope, health, and happiness through the healing art of music.
Please join us however you can in making music therapy and education more available. Donate $, instruments, musical equipment, an item to auction, an in-kind service, sponsor an event, or volunteer! Every little bit helps!
DONATION ANNOUNCEMENT 6-10-2013!
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO LOU ADLER AND THE MONTEREY INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL FOUNDATION FOR THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR EFFORTS IN MAKING MUSIC MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE IN NEED. THEIR DONATION IS MADE ”ON BEHALF OF THE ARTISTS THAT APPEARED AT THE FEST AND TO FURTHER THE SPIRIT THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER IN 1967….MUSIC AND LOVE.” WE ARE HONORED TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF PAST RECIPIENTS SELECTED BY SOME OF THE ARTISTS WHO PARTICPATED IN THE CHARITY EVENT. THIS HISTORICAL FESTIVAL THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER DIVERSE ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD (LIKE OTIS REDDING, RAVI SHANKAR, THE WHO, HUGH MASEKELA, MAMAS AND THE PAPAS, AND JIMI HENDRIX) WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN AMERICA AND MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE WORLD. NOW ITS SPIRIT LIVES ON WITH US! THANK YOU MIPFF FOR YOUR LOVE! http://montereyinternationalpopfestival.com/festival/
Thank you to everyone who helped make our first benefit concert a great success! Check out our events page for details about the unforgettable night.
As a thank you to The Who for the gift of a song to the Foundation in our fundraising campaign video, we decided to honor them in our first fundraisng concert. Here is a recap of the night WHOotenanny 2012!
Here is our promo video with the face of the Foundation and the inspiration behind it. Thank you to The Who for giving us permission to use their song “Join Together” in our campaign and supporting us in our efforts!
It has almost been one year since we launched our fundraising campaign to get MMMF off the ground. It is has not been an easy task to take on something so challenging as raising money for what most people assume is already accessible. I have learned through this process that people’s misconceptions of what music therapy is and how it can impact people’s lives can be the toughest aspect of it all. I cannot stress enough the need for music therapy and education. It is a scientifically-proven method used by the entire world, yet places like Oklahoma and Texas do not recognize it as a state board-certified practice. This in turn makes it almost impossible to access because insurance will then not cover it if it is not regulated by the state. Those who get their degree in music therapy then move elsewhere because there are no opportunities here. Public schools’ Arts programs have been cut at an alarming rate and there is also nothing in place for children receiving special education to access any sort of music related therapies by trained professionals. The more I reach out, the more need I discover, and I am saddened at the lack of support in our community for such a powerful, natural method of learning, healing and recovery. SO, we march on with more fire to light the way.
We have worked hard this past year raising funds and awareness, reaching out to the community, and building relationships with partners who share our vision. We have established a firm foundation to grow upon and feel more inspired than ever. The year ahead will be filled with more efforts to raise neccessary funds for services and programs, as well as developing better avenues for income streams to keep us moving. So far, we have managed to make an impact in our area with the help of volunteers and a very small budget. We want to cover a lot of ground because music can benefit so many people for such a wide array of issues – from brain injuries, to developmental disorders, to life-altering diseases, to post-traumatic stress, to at-risk teens or recovering individuals - we must think big or go home! It will be done, little by little, it will be done.
As Founder and Director of the MMMF, I am committed for life on this, it is my purpose and my passion. I personally witness the healing powers of music everyday with my own son and I want to offer that same opportunity to others that need it. Together with our involved Board of Directors, wonderful volunteers and contributors to the cause, we can help those who are in need. When you give or get involved, it is both an investment in people’s lives as well as in the local economy. Please join us in our efforts to make this happen! And to those who have contributed, volunteered, and shared our story - we are moving that mountain! We love you!–JF
The power of music can change lives. Let’s use it to help those in need by giving hope, health, and happiness through the healing art of music.
Mission Statement: Music Moves Mountains Foundation is a perpetual series of projects, programs, and services utilizing the scientifically-proven powers of music to change and improve the quality of lives. The Foundation is being established as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that uses tax-deductible donations to facilitate these efforts. Our goal is to offer free or affordable services to those in need of music therapy, education, and community outreach.
Whom It Will Serve: Children and adults suffering mental, emotional, or physical illnesses, developmental disabilities or disorders, depression or loss, trauma or stress. It will also provide the community a resource to educate, empower, and support its underserved and at-risk citizens in need while employing local artists, teachers, and therapists.
Reach: Based in Central Oklahoma and Texas, the Foundation will begin regionally, but hopes to maximize access and growth nationally with the support of patrons, sponsors, and giving-institutions. Priority will be given to underserved individuals and communities based on availability of funds.
Need: In America, there is a lot of support in the Northeast and on the Westcoast for Music Therapy. There is a vast gap in services and programs everywhere in between. For example, as of 2013, Oklahoma and Texas in particular do not recognize Music Therapy for state board certification which is needed in order for local insurance companies to cover it. Oklahoma is also one of only seven states in the nation who does not require insurance companies to cover therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders (1 in 88 children are diagnosed) among other disorders. So, for many seeking Music Therapy for these types of issues, it can be too costly. Cuts in public funding for arts programs and special services in schools keep increasing, while healthcare costs go up. Even if some therapeutic efforts are covered by insurance, many are considered alternative and can be hard to qualify for. We want to fill that gap by making music more accessible for those in need.
Examples of Services:
Music therapy by a Board certified MT for an individual, hospital ward, or group
A performance or music access at a nursing home, V.A. center, or hospice center
Musical mentors and workshops for at-risk or recovering individuals
Musical outreach and education in public schools and community
Proven Results Include:
Recovery and development of speech, memory, and mind/body coordination for victims of stroke, brain injuries, amnesia, Tourette’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Relief and healing progression for Cancer and life altering diseases
Improved communication, regulation, and behavioral skills for Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome/ADD/ADHD/Sensory Processing Disorder /Down’s Syndrome/Developmental Challenges
Restored purpose, hope, strength, connection, and discipline to those fighting physical or substance abuse, depression, trauma, stress, grief, anxiety, or low self-esteem
Repaired speech, attention, sensory, and equilibrium impairments, or rhythmic balance for seizure sufferers
Programs:
“All Abilities Rock” - Community music workshops, musical mentorship, and sensory-friendly concerts for children and adults with disabilities or special needs
“Play It Forward” - A cooperative effort using donated musical instruments and lessons to low-income or at-risk individuals who commit, in return, to donate their time and talent to the next candidate
“Song Power” - Songwriting workshops or mentorships for at-risk youth, war veterans, victims of violence, depression, addiction, disaster, and support groups of life-altering diseases
“Feeding The Soul” - A series of musical performances at hospitals, nursing homes, VA Centers, rehabilitative centers, and hospice care
WHY MUSIC AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Music moves people in many ways – and I don’t just mean your body, I mean your mind, heart, and soul. It heals, it strengthens, it unifies, it educates, it connects, it represents, it empowers, and it saves. And greatest of all, it is natural.
Physiologically, music has a powerful effect. Its energy instantly changes the biorhythm of neurons in the mind and body, organizing neurological impulses. Music has been scientifically proven to increase endorphins and serotonin levels as well as decrease cortisol levels. It slows down and balances brain waves, equilibrium, heart rate, and blood pressure. It can elevate mood and control temperature and temperament. It enhances learning ability, memory, immune systems, endurance, coping, motivation, and productivity. It has been used as therapy for stroke and brain injury victims, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease sufferers, Epilepsy, Autism, developmental disabilities, and issues such as depression and grief. Music, as a memory muscle, has been proven to trigger the development or recovery of language and its emotional significance. Dr. Oliver Sacks (“Awakenings” and “Musicophelia: Tales of Music and the Brain”) reports that patients with neurological disorders who cannot talk or move are often able to sing, and sometimes even dance, to music.
Darwin wrote that music evolved as a social connection. It seems to be a basic natural instinct at birth. It has been used to document and preserve cultures and events in history. It educates and creates understanding. Music can connect the world with one song. But more importantly, it has been used to make us better. Ancient Egyptians believed that music could heal and purify souls. Ancient Greeks believed it could heal bodies. For centuries, music has been embraced as a means to heal the mentally ill. Music therapy was officially adapted in modern times after WWI when V.A. hospitals noticed a substantial boost in spirit and recovery, both physically and emotionally, when music was present. There is no doubt that the effects are powerful.
Speaking to the power of music, it is hands-down one of the greatest resources in life. It is an art and a science. It can transport one into an altered state of being. Just a few notes of a song can immediately spark emotion and mood, and take you back to a specific moment in place and time. It can calm the beast in all of us or it can fuel rage or angst. It can allow us to release emotion and speak the unspoken. It has been the voice of a generation and a synonymous chant of a movement. It is a ceremonious tool to celebrate, grieve, and show appreciation. It has served as a form of spiritual praise and worship and has transformed souls. It has given meaning and substance to many. It can bond people to one another regardless of differences. It is a universal language that has no boundaries. It can make you feel a part of something bigger than yourself.
Imagine how one song changed your life or got you through a tough time. Think about how music has shaped your life and relationships. Now consider how it has affected the rest of the world and the importance of its role in our survival. Music is something we must preserve and nurture, but most of all, it is something we must continue to hold sacred and use in a positive way. Let’s spread that power to give hope, health, and happiness to one another.
