#familyjamsession

[mackygl]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝓜𝓪𝓬𝓴𝔂 ♥️ self love advocate (@mackygl)

Creo que si me hubieran dicho que un día, aunque sea por diversión, iba a estar tocando junto a mi mamá y mis hermanos @blackjewel0710 @sebas_24gl @tus_nalgas2811 me hubiera costado creerles, estos momentos me hacen muy feliz 🥰 . Estudio de @cocograbado invadido hasta por los 5 perritos y el gato de la familia 😍 . . . #familia #familiamusical #musica #music #givemeonereason #tracychapman #ericclapton #family #musicfamily #rehearsal #brothers #sisters #mom #bestmoments #familyjam #familyjamsession #familyjamhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/CBjnvSbgyn4/?igshid=bg4kvglsj9n6

[upstandersnotbystanders-blog]

The first Upstander in this series is Adam Christoferson of Musical Intervention based out of New Haven, CT. Adam has been working closely with clinical and community based social service organizations for years using music as a medium to encourage and empower people to “Explore the Song” in themselves. The goal of Musical Intervention he says is to “help people write, record and perform original music while promoting empathy and transforming lives”. 

The headquarters, located on Temple street, serves as not only a drug and alcohol free safe space for all community members to congregate and exchange ideas and learn from each other but also as a fully functional recording studio, performance space and educational learning environment. After receiving a grant though the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and the National Endowment of the Arts in 2015, Adam began working with Liberty Community Services in the homeless population and provide songwriting, recording and a performing platform that typically underserved and disenfranchised peoples wouldn't have access to in order to “be creative, productive and connect with the broader community”. 

I spent an afternoon with him and his base of “regulars” at the headquarters and within those few hours, it was clear that something special is happening on that small stretch of Temple Street where historically, only empty space, chewed up gum and flipped restaurant after restaurant have existed. The flow of people in and out of the building, the interaction of so many different people all sharing, learning, and inspiring each other made me think that I was then and there witnessing how culture begins. When people are allowed to come together and exist in spaces of creativity and understanding, it is clear that one can only step back and watch what happens. 

The best part of the entire experience was watching everyone in the room coming together for a “family jam” session on stage with whatever instrument was in arm’s length that lasted a good 15 minutes. I absolutely sang along. Musical Intervention is a recipient of one of the New Haven Arts Council 37th Annual “Arts awards” for 2017. 

Learn more about his organization and what he does here: https://musicalintervention.com/ Contact Adam Christoferson for collaboration: Info@MusicalIntervention.com Connect with Musical Intervention on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicalintervention/

These images will hang as part of the "Upstanders, Not Bystanders" portrait project in the New Haven City Wide Open Studios event on October 14th & 15th, 2017. Please considering helping support with printing and installation costs using the gofundme link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/upstanders

[justamomandakeyboard]

Music Therpay

I forgot about a therapy!! Not sure how but: Music Therapy! It’s Mr. G’s favorite of all of the therapies he participates in, and is one I wish we could schedule more of. Unfortunately, at this time state funding for music therapy is still very limited and therapists are expensive!! I get it. After all that schooling, your time in valuable and you have to make ends meet as much as I do. The clinic we use charges very reasonable rates all things considered. But weekly sessions even in a group can still cost you ~$100 a month in a five week month, and that’s a lot of money! So, right now he only goes once a week for 30 minutes, and that’s it. Eventually, we hope to increase it and perhaps get him a private tutor to teach him to play instruments. Why?

Because Mr.G loves music. 

As a baby, if I sang (and I can at least carry a tune) he would stop crying. At least long enough for me to get through the usual list of suspects for the crying. (Wet or dirty? Hungry? Uncomfortable? Tired? Etc). He has fallen asleep to music for most of his life, and continues to consistently prefer toys and experiences that allow him to listen to music. He frequently chooses to use his iPad mini as an iPod. He doesn’t care about the video or the game, he just wants to listen to the music play on a never ending loop. One of his favorite ‘us’ things to do is he climbs in my lap and I sing through a list of his favorite songs. He participates in some of them, mostly he just listens. 

Now, I am aware that loving music doesn’t necessarily mean he is going to want to play an instrument some day. I get that. But, all parents have dreams for their kids, and this is one of mine: family jam session! My mom, sister and I play piano. My sister and I also play guitar. My favorite instrument to play, though, is bass guitar. I have also played flute, baritone, and violin (by which I mean I spent at least a year or more practicing regularly and participating in some sort of group or band with it). So getting to jam with my son on whatever instrument he wants to learn to play and having that connection with him is absolutely a dream of mine! It might not happen, and I will do my best to accept whatever life path he chooses for himself. But, just sayin’...it’d be pretty sweet. :)

Back to what this post is actually supposed to be about. Music Therapy: why is it important? Oh, so many reasons. I don’t have time to list them all, because I rambled about other things, but science has proven that music can stimulate the brain in very interesting and amazing ways. It can help us learn and understand math. It can help make emotional connections between people. It is universal in a way very few other things are. It is such a versatile creative outlet for anyone, even those not disabled, that I wish a higher priority were put on it in schools in general. Of course, I wish schools put a higher priority on all the arts in general, so...but I digress. 

Mr. G loves his music therapy time, and I love that he loves music! Hopefully, our loves will meet in the middle, and our house will be full of family music! And if not, that’s ok too. :)

~justamomandakeyboard

[lovingneve]

Evening deck jams! Miss Neve didn't want to miss the party or listening to Daddy and Uncle Mike play! #burrlake2017 #familyjamsession

[loveurbia]

Missin these family moments today... Morrows, lets make it happen! #familyjamsession #wrightsvillebeach #jammin #bluegrassjam #northcarolina (at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina)

[sptonthe23]

@a.kid.from.yesterday and I just slaying with #oompa no big deal... #slayfest #familyjamsession #fenderguitars #fenderbasses @fenderguitars #lovefest #lovemyniece #lovinglife (at Centennial Hills Park)

[unchainedemporium]

Made with #Pixlr Ah! The #scent of #guitarstrings! There's nothing quite like a #familyjamsession. 😁🎤🎼🎵🎶🎹🎸 We missed you, @kenpachizaraki268 ! (at Kittles Clan Headquarters)

[thatguyaden]

#familyjamsession #ftm #transdad #fathersontime My kid has already started his own band lol

[loveandobscenities]

My new toy!!!!!! #Ukulele #familyjamsession #newobsession