Foundation For Music and Healing and Yamaha Pianos Bring Music Into Exceptional Students' Lives
BUENA PARK, Calif. Dr. Chris Robinson became a piano teacher in 2001 and one of his first students was a 20-year-old woman with cognitive challenges. "Others didn't know what to do to help her," says Robinson. "I did some research, started her off with music in the easy-play genre, and studied her difficulties. My background is in music, sociology and communication; I became her student, she became mine, and after a time we experienced some success."
More referrals followed a teenager with cerebral palsy, a young girl who had had a stroke and soon Robinson had a dozen South Bend, Indiana area students with varying special needs. He organized a local study group of parents and community leaders, and, in 2003, they created a non-profit organization, The Foundation for Music and Healing, Inc., to serve students and their families in a larger way.
Shirk's Music and Yamaha provide pianos at five teaching studios for student lessons as well as for community recitals, music festivals and educational presentations. At the Foundation's new intake, evaluation and teacher training facilities at Memorial Hospital, the Health Discovery Center and the Leighton Center, respectively, staff observe and videotape students, their families and teachers while they interact and play a brand new Clavinova CVP-204 digital piano and a Disklavier® piano. "Yamaha has been a huge supporter from the very beginning. And, our growing partnership with Memorial Hospital has elevated our process and offerings to a new level of professionalism," says Robinson, who also offers community education programs in conjunction with medical staff and program participants.
The Foundation uses Clavinovas, Disklavier upright pianos and a variety of concert and conservatory grand pianos to expose students and their families to the entire line of Yamaha pianos. "The students love the sound effects and voices on the Clavinovas, and the smooth touch that's so responsive to different needs of the music," says Robinson. "When students perform at our community concerts and events, they are naturally drawn to the grand pianos, even though they've greatly enjoyed exploring all the 'bells and whistles' during their regular lessons on the Clavinovas. It's a delightfully positive choice."
The Foundation has now taught music to more than 60 exceptional students, ages two to 59 years of age. "We offer a total environment of support, and are somewhere in between music therapy and traditional music instruction," says Robinson. "We're pioneering something new here, music instruction that has some health benefits too."
"We're known for taking the difficult cases, and the results are sometimes miraculous," he says. "You never know when students will step out of their situation and into the beautiful world of music. Sometimes it can take a year, and all of a sudden things burst forth and we're underway. You can hear the joy in my voice when I talk about this, and all our teachers experience the same feelings. The students are so earnest, and crave music, and are delighted when they figure it out."
Learn more about the Foundation and its work at www.musichealing.org/home.html.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 The Foundation has now taught music to more than 60 exceptional students, like Kari Skeens. According to Dr. Chris Robinson, "We're pioneering something new here, music instruction that has some health benefits too." Credit: Steve Lowe |
Shirk's Music and Yamaha provide pianos at five teaching studios for student lessons as well as for community recitals, music festivals and educational presentations. At the Foundation's new intake, evaluation and teacher training facilities at Memorial Hospital, the Health Discovery Center and the Leighton Center, respectively, staff observe and videotape students, their families and teachers while they interact and play a brand new Clavinova CVP-204 digital piano and a Disklavier® piano. "Yamaha has been a huge supporter from the very beginning. And, our growing partnership with Memorial Hospital has elevated our process and offerings to a new level of professionalism," says Robinson, who also offers community education programs in conjunction with medical staff and program participants.
 Shannon McNeer plays an Upright Disklavier performance reproducing piano. Credit: Steve Lowe |
The Foundation has now taught music to more than 60 exceptional students, ages two to 59 years of age. "We offer a total environment of support, and are somewhere in between music therapy and traditional music instruction," says Robinson. "We're pioneering something new here, music instruction that has some health benefits too."
"We're known for taking the difficult cases, and the results are sometimes miraculous," he says. "You never know when students will step out of their situation and into the beautiful world of music. Sometimes it can take a year, and all of a sudden things burst forth and we're underway. You can hear the joy in my voice when I talk about this, and all our teachers experience the same feelings. The students are so earnest, and crave music, and are delighted when they figure it out."
Learn more about the Foundation and its work at www.musichealing.org/home.html.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.