Every Kid Healthy Day and Music Therapy

at CMF's Family Fun Day - photo by Jonathan Vickburg, Fresh Focus Photography

Content by Alaina LeBlanc
Every Kid Healthy week is held annually during the last week of April. It is a great way to recognize and support health and wellness achievements of young people across America. This week focuses on the links between nutrition, physical activity, and learning. It teaches students to think independently, learn self control, and how to actively be a healthy individual from a young age on.

Music therapy has had the privilege of playing an active role in promoting physical activity during this special week. Some of the ways music is incorporated includes; promoting the physical rehabilitation benefit of music therapy; upholding the wellness contributions of music therapy; and managing stress.

As a patient participating in music therapy you actively have the opportunity to join in team efforts in the group settings with activities such as marching, holding instruments, or participating in a dance party.

Furthermore, the many wellness advantages of music therapy consist of reducing anxiety, expressing feelings through song building, songwriting, and drum beating. Music therapy also reduces stress and fear by guided musical imagery. It has a unique way of encouraging a healthy lifestyle by creating a fun and safe environment for kids to explore and learn from.

Nowadays, there are still numerous children who are dealing with multiple health issues and it is very important for them to set aside time to participate in this special day and continue on with incorporating Music Therapy in their daily lives. Dr. Raffi Tachdjian states, 

“Children in and out of the hospital do so much better when using music therapy to overcome their pain, fear and anxiety. Music therapy is a natural remedy, with side effects that include joy, melody, and empowerment!”

For more info on Healthy Kids Day visit here

Join us on the mission to show support and tell the benefits of music therapy! Help us to connect patients with our incredible team of music therapists by donating or volunteering today. Visit www.theCMF.org for more information.

Today’s Patient, Tomorrow’s Music Therapist- A CMF Testimonial

Artwork by Sienna Holmes

Contributor: Cierra Gordon; Content by Josh Pineda

We here at CMF are motivated to show support and tell the benefits of music therapy, and what better way than to share stories of music therapy in action! The following testimonial is one special example of music therapy at work, using musical treatments to reach wellness, personal, and social goals. Meet Cierra, 21 year old who has been a patient at the UCLA Chronic Pain Program since the age of 9. In her patient perspective, she tells us how her treatment inspired her to pursue a music therapy career. As a former patient who benefited from music therapy as part of her treatment plan, she is now motivated to continue the mission of “healing through music!”

We asked Cierra to tell us how music therapy has benefited her, and what she hopes to accomplish as she works her way to become a music therapist:

“Music has been an escape when I have been sad or in pain.  When I feel that way, I can sing,  play my flute, guitar or piano. The enjoyment of the music makes the pain temporarily go away.  Becoming lost  in the music takes my mind off of anything else. I would love to be able to share this passion with others. As a music therapist, my focus group will be children with special needs and/or older people with Alzheimer's. Through my research, I have learned music brings a variety of responses from people in both of these populations. Writing music has also helped me relax which consequently reduces pain and stress.  I want to share my passion for music with others while helping them overcome physical, emotional and mental issues.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Cierra experienced all the benefits of music therapy firsthand, including how musical treatments serve as tools for stress-management, self-soothing, and communication. Having seen how valuable the effects were to her own treatment, she’s now dedicated to help others through the same means. In addition, at the age of 19, Cierra auditioned and was accepted to be a part of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera under the direction of Linda Jackson. After completing her first opera with Ms. Jackson, Cierra passion for music has become even stronger. CMF believes Cierra is well on her way to become a fantastic future music therapist.

Music therapy is a valuable practice in helping to build healthy individuals and communities, all through the power of musical performance and expression. Just like Cierra, join us on the mission to show support and tell the benefits of music therapy! Help us to connect patients with our incredible team of music therapists by donating or volunteering today. Visit www.theCMF.org for more information.

CMF Playlist: Intro to Shana Halligan

Last week we announced that acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Shana Halligan is now the official spokesperson for Children's Music Fund! We thought that we should introduce you to some of her amazing songs from her career as a solo performer, in order to welcome her into the CMF family. Stream a playlist of songs off of her albums and EPs below, and prepare yourself for an awesome night out in support of music therapy!

Everyone will get their first will get their first glimpse at the partnership between CMF and Shana Halligan, when Shana headlines our next benefit concert at the Teragram Ballroom, Saturday June 25th, 2016. Tickets on sale soon. 

About Shana Halligan:

Most well known as the lead singer​/songwriter of pop group Bitter​:Sweet, Shana Halligan stepped out on her own a few years ago, and recently released her second solo album, “Back To Me” on Plug Research Records.  Halligan has sold more than 500,000 records and has accumulated over 70 album credits to her name. Other releases from Halligan include her solo debut EP “Paper Butterfly” and 2012 album “Richmond Parade.” Additionally, her music has been featured in numerous films, television programs and ad campaigns, including: Flesh & Bone, Sex and The City, The Devil Wears Prada, Bright Eyes, Focus, Cars 2, The Blacklist, Orange Is The New Black, Entourage, Nip/Tuck, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Korbel and Victoria’s Secret, just to name a few. Currently, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is using the Bitter:Sweet song “Dirty Laundry” which Halligan co-wrote and co-produced for its first international TV ad campaign in over a decade. She’s also collaborated with many major acts, including writing and recording with Serj Tankian of System Of A Down and Thievery Corporation (co-writing and performing their biggest hit in recent years “Depth Of My Soul”), and has performed at several celebrated venues across the globe, including the Hollywood Bowl, the Royal Albert Hall (London), the Bowery Ballroom (NYC) and the Hotel Cafe (L.A.). Outside of her own music, Halligan also writes for other artists and is developing a TV project that combines her love for music and passion for cooking.  

Music Therapy Benefits on Individuals with Autism

Content by Alaina LeBlanc

                                                                                                                                      Photo by John Franzen

April is Autism Awareness Month, so we wanted to share how music therapy can help children on the Autism spectrum, such as 8 year old David (above). 

Through music therapy, David hopes to increase his communication skills, reduce stress, and use rhythmic techniques to reduce hyperactivity and increase focus.

Research has shown that individuals on the Autistic Spectrum respond positively to Music Therapy. Additionally, many people on the spectrum have demonstrated an inborn ability to identify and recall pitches by enhanced music processing.

According to the American Music Therapy Foundation, “Because music is processed in both hemispheres of the brain, music can stimulate cognitive functioning and may be used for remediation of some speech/language skills.” Music therapy can also give a voice to those who are completely non-verbal. 

Music can also add stability to an individual’s multi-sensory stimulation system. The rhythmic component of music can serve as an overall organizational tool for the complex sensory system. Additionally, Music therapy can assist in stabilizing balance and coordination issues. Rhythm plays a key component to providing structure and predictability for an individual’s gate or walking stride that may otherwise be completely unpredictable.

Music Therapy for Autism also encourages a sense of appropriate identification and expressing of emotions. By listening to an emotional piece of music, a student can then mirror the emotion they hear by practicing facial expressions in the mirror. Being able to visually see the emotion drawn out of a piece of music helps identify a range of emotions that are otherwise hidden.

Help support music therapy programs that aid children on the Autism spectrum reach their treatment goals. Donate or volunteer via www.theCMF.org

Singer/Songwriter Shana Halligan named Spokesperson for CMF

Shana Halligan

Los Angeles, CA (April 5, 2016)

The Children’s Music Fund (CMF) announces acclaimed singer/songwriter Shana Halligan as its official Spokesperson. The CMF, whose 14 years of service leads the mission to provide the healing power of music to child patients affected by chronic and life-altering illnesses, identified Halligan because she herself celebrates how music helps to reach wellness goals for children both in and out of the hospital. Ara Oghoorian, CFA, CFP®, Chairman of the Board for Children’s Music Fund states, “We are thrilled to have Shana Halligan as the spokesperson for the CMF. Not only is Shana an accomplished musical artist but an extraordinary human being. I look forward to a long fruitful relationship between Shana and the CMF.”

As the music spokesperson, Shana will help raise awareness about music therapy and the natural healing effects it provides for chronically ill children suffering with pain, anxiety and fear. "I’m so excited and honored to be named the spokesperson of the CMF and to be able to lend my support in its efforts to provide music therapy to those unable to afford it. From a young age, music has played an influential role in my life and now as a new mom I am thrilled to have the opportunity to make a difference in children's lives.”

Healing through music therapy has always been founder Dr. Raffi Tachdijan’s mission in helping his patients. Dr. Tachdjian, a musician, allergist and pediatric pain specialist, found CMF in 2002 while he was an intern at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Tachdjian found inspiration in one of his teenage patients, who had failed multiple experimental protocols for the treatment of his bone cancer. Knowing the patient was a virtuoso guitar player, Dr. Tachdjian was determined to find an instrument to help his patient focus on something other than his disease. Finding none in the hospital, Dr. Tachdjian set out to raise funds to bring instruments and later music therapy to help his patients sooth. About CMF’s spokesperson, he adds, “It's amazing that we have Shana Halligan as the spokesperson for CMF. But the most important thing is that she has a heart of gold, and wants to improve the lives of sick kids through music therapy!”

Everyone will get their first will get their first glimpse at the partnership between CMF and Shana Halligan, when Shana will headline a benefit concert at the Teragram Ballroom, June 25th, 2016. Tickets on sale soon. Located in the Westlake district of Downtown, The Teragram Ballroom is the West Coast counterpart to the iconic Bowery Ballroom located in New York. It is the premier new venue for intimate rock and alternative shows, just having opened its doors late last May. Join us June 25th for a night of stellar music at a leading LA venue, all for a great cause. About Shana Halligan:

Most well known as the lead singer​/songwriter of pop group Bitter​:Sweet, Shana Halligan stepped out on her own a few years ago, and recently released her second solo album, “Back To Me” on Plug Research Records. Halligan has sold more than 500,000 records and has accumulated over 70 album credits to her name. Other releases from Halligan include her solo debut EP “Paper Butterfly” and 2012 album “Richmond Parade.” Additionally, her music has been featured in numerous films, television programs and ad campaigns, including: Flesh & Bone, Sex and The City, The Devil Wears Prada, Bright Eyes, Focus, Cars 2, The Blacklist, Orange Is The New Black, Entourage, Nip/Tuck, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Korbel and Victoria’s Secret, just to name a few. Currently, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is using the Bitter:Sweet song “Dirty Laundry” which Halligan co-wrote and co-produced for its first international TV ad campaign in over a decade. She’s also collaborated with many major acts, including writing and recording with Serj Tankian of System Of A Down and Thievery Corporation (co-writing and performing their biggest hit in recent years “Depth Of My Soul”), and has performed at several celebrated venues across the globe, including the Hollywood Bowl, the Royal Albert Hall (London), the Bowery Ballroom (NYC) and the Hotel Cafe (L.A.). Outside of her own music, Halligan also writes for other artists and is developing a TV project that combines her love for music and passion for cooking.

St. Patrick's Day: Healing Through Holiday Music

Content by Josh Pineda; playlist adapted from Apartment Therapy

CMF wishes you a happy St. Patrick's Day! Celebrate the day with this kid friendly playlist of traditional Irish Folk songs, perfect for searching for shamrocks and feeling the luck of the Irish!

Music Therapy in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Content by Alaina LeBlanc

            Hospital settings can be notorious for generating loud and unpleasant noises. The positive and negative effects of noise contribute to an individual’s overall state of mind, physical, and mental health. 

           A premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), can hear a large range of sounds. Babies in the womb can hear their mother’s heartbeat and the low register sounds her parents’ voices. They can also hear the delicate whooshing sounds of their mother’s womb before they emerge into the world. After their birth, they hear high register beeps of machines and other babies crying and those become their first sounds of their new world.

             Music therapy has the ability to generate calming noise to counteract the influences of a loud, jarring, and unpredictable environment such as a hospital setting. It has the unique characteristic to create harmony, balance, and tranquility to a newborn baby.

              When working with infants in the NICU,  there is the unique opportunity to build a positive experience with sound from the ground up. Introducing these tiny babies to music therapy is a wonderful first step in creating a positive and peaceful environment in which to build a strong musical foundation.

              Infants who are fortunate enough to reap the benefits of music therapy are then accustomed to it as a practice and can therefore positively respond to it in years to come.

             Music therapy encourages a peaceful state of mind, while also tapping into the creativity of music as an art form. When children hear the articulate sounds of a melody from a young age they become familiar with music and can then connect on a higher emotional level.

       “The PATTERNS (Preventive Approach to Traumatic Experience by Resourcing the Nervous System) NICU music therapy model optimizes the auditory and dynamic environment as a critical component in the treatment protocol for neonates (Stewart 2009). As a preemptive treatment program to prevent and treat potential trauma incurred by neonates during their time in the NICU, a prime objective is to avoid heightened arousal and the complications that accompany it. PATTERNS recognizes the complex circumstances that affect the infant, family, and staff as a cohesive whole; deconstructs the events and factors that could lead to trauma; and designs a prevention protocol. Because, in this model, the challenge of noise and the use of music are integrated into the whole experience of the infant, family, and staff, music is used to soothe and mask, whereas noise is avoided or at least minimized.” 1  

1   Stewart, Kristen,  Music and Medicine, “PATTERNS - A Model for Evaluating Trauma in NICU Music THerapy: Part 1 - Theory and Design”  Volume 1, Number 1,  July 2009, 29-40  Print.

A CMF Therapist Testimonial

Music Therapy: Healing Through Music 

Contributors: Brooke Sinang, MT-BC; Content by Josh Pineda Children’s Music Fund (CMF) therapists are continually motivated to help children heal through music. We here at CMF want to share some stories of music therapy in action, from the perspective of our certified and outstanding therapists The following is one example of music therapy at work, using musical treatments to reach wellness goals. CMF therapist Brooke Sinang shares an experience she had with one of her teenage patients who used songwriting to both work through her problems, as well as set up a path for her future: "I worked as a music therapist with a 16 y/o female who was struggling with addiction to marijuana and mental health issues. She was born to an abusive family and eventually was adopted by a caring woman who then became terminally ill. Her adoptive mother was actively dying during the time she was in treatment. She had a lot of anger, grief, identity issues among other social-emotional difficulties. I worked with her using music therapy songwriting techniques to allow her to find her voice and express her emotions. This young woman was not yet ready to process the loss of her mother at that time, but instead was able to process fears about college, finding a job and staying sober after her mom was gone. I helped her to find a reggae beat inspired by one her favorite artists Bob Marley, and taught her the chords on keyboard. We wrote lyrics together outlining her fears, goals and dreams, she sang and played several tracks until she was satisfied with the finished result. We then verbally processed practical steps, such as internships and volunteer work, which would enable her to get where she wanted to go. After the recording was finished, she smiled and expressed that she couldn't believe she had written a song. Her sense of worth, and feelings of empowerment was palpable and she no longer seemed overwhelmed with anxiety about the future. She had been able to use the music to process and validate her current feelings, and also create a future using tangible goals and a plan of action. All of this created a song that she felt proud of. " In this amazing case of therapeutic methods in action, music therapy techniques helped to rehabilitate and emotionally heal a teenager and put her on the right path towards success. Using an effective personalized approach, Brooke Sinang was able to help her patient cope and reach her goals, in way that was truly inspiring and influential. Our music therapists are trained to provide this quality of care and investment, delivering support to children in need. Music therapy is a valuable practice in helping to build healthy individuals and communities, all through the power of musical performance and expression. Help us to connect patients with our incredible team of music therapists by donating or volunteering today. Visit www.theCMF.org for more information.

Therapeutic Techniques of The Trade

Contributors: Brooke Sinang, MT-BC, Jessica Brizuela MT-BC, and Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH, Content by Josh Pineda.

Illustration by Sienna Holmes

Children’s Music Fund (CMF) continually strives to promote the powerful ways that music can help heal through Music Therapy. What most people don’t realize is that you can adapt these therapeutic exercises to your daily routine, as a means of stress-relief and meditation. The American Music Therapy Association notes that music therapy targets seven treatment goals: overall wellness, stress management, expression of feelings, communication, improvement of memory, and physical rehabilitation. As CMF promotes, there are many ways to use music to treat non-musical goals, including the following simple practices suggested by our own CMF therapists.

As our founder and president Dr. Raffi Tachdjian notes, “Music therapy provides that reassurance, self-acceptance, and empowerment of the developing personality. With proper and adequate use of music therapy, [patients] can achieve great heights in the physical, psychological, and social aspects of his or her daily life.” Music therapy is both a healthful practice and an invigorating experience, which helps anyone cope with their problems through the power of musical engagement and performance.

Not only is it energizing exercise but music therapy is also an excellent means of self-expression and discovery, especially for youth. “Often teens have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally, and lyrics can help them to find the right words to express and relate to their emotions,” states CMF therapist Brooke Sinang. “Many times I hear adolescents say that they can relate to music that is dark, depressing or angry. It can be extremely validating and therapeutic for teens to be able to process these emotions and learn more about themselves in order to effectively change.” For these adolescents, music provides them with a means of communicating their emotions at a point in their life when feelings are confusing and generally inarticulated. By finding and listening to music that mirrors one’s emotions, music therapy becomes a comfortable way of working out problems and discovering one’s passions.

There’s easy ways of integrating effective music therapy techniques into your daily regimen. As an accessible daily practice,CMF therapist Jessica Brizuela suggests using lyrical interpretation as a stress-relieving tool. In one example, she notes a contemporary song that serves as a great therapeutic exercise—Stressed Out by the duo Twenty-One Pilots: “It is great for teens to relate to as it lists all the worries in the verses, then the chorus validates those stressed feelings, "wish we could turn back time to the good old days when our mommas sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out." Teens can integrate music therapy techniques by creating their own lyrics (lyric substitution) to the verses, writing out their worries. Sometimes, it's good to just let them out - writing or saying it so that they are not left inside.” It’s amazing how these simple exercises can prove so incredibly beneficial in aiding patients self-sooth. 

Music therapy has incredible effects, not just on individuals, but their surrounding community as well. Our founder puts it best: “The power of music therapy can be used as a tremendous positive impact for teenagers, their families and friends, and society in general. Their story building (imagery) through music therapy becomes their voice and their words. Their musical instrument delivers the notes and lyrics that make up that story that needs to be communicated: Therein lies the 'therapy’.” 

Music is a cultural process and by helping children heal and express themselves through listening and playing instruments, music therapy helps improve the community one child at a time. Help us on our mission of healing through music by donating or volunteering today. Visit www.theCMF.org for more information.

Children’s Music Fund hosts ‘Laughter is Medicine’ 8: CMF in CHOC

Irvine, CA (January 19th, 201)–On Monday, January 25th, the Children’s Music Fund (http://thecmf.org/) (CMF) will hold its 8th annual Laughter is Medicine charity event at the Improv in the Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine,  California. The event will feature comedians Eric Schwartz and Debi Gutierrez.

Eric Schwartz (also known as "Smooth-E") is an American comedian, musician, and actor from Thousand Oaks, California known for his energetic blend of stand-up comedy, music, and video. Eric's viral videos and parodies have earned him international media attention and he has been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Showtime, BET, TMZ, and The Huffington Post.

Besides her many television appearances, Debi Gutierrez is best known for being an explosively funny comedian who takes her audiences on a high-energy, heart-warming roller coaster ride through the perils and delights of life, relationships and marriage.

The Laughter is Medicine event is one of the primary fundraisers for the CMF, which was established in 2002 by Dr. Raffi Tachdjian, an allergist and pediatric pain specialist.

“Laughing, like music therapy, releases endorphins, which relieving pain and anxiety,” says Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH, President and Founder of CMF.”

Last year, CMF teamed up with Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC)  to bring a Board Certified Music Therapist into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to help these tiny babies leave the NICU faster.

"Premature babies respond amazingly well to positive stimuli. These include a parent's voice, rhythmic and soft melodic music, and human touch. These are all things that Music Therapy can provide", says Dr. Raffi Tachdjian.

The event is sponsored by Aire Medical, ACap Asset Management, Axelacare, and MedicoRX

Proceeds from Laughter is Medicine 8 will go to the continued support for Music Therapy in the NICU at CHOC. Tickets can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/1ZwYJwf