Frequently Asked Questions

Answered by Our Team of Music Therapist and Music for Wellness Experts

What is Resounding Joy?

Resounding Joy is a public-benefit, California non-profit 501c3 music therapy corporation, dedicated to providing supportive music to adults and children through the creation of a healing music environment. A fixture in San Diego music therapy since 2005, Resounding Joy partners with community-based and faith-based organizations to train volunteers in the practice of supportive music.

How Has Resounding Joy Impacted Music Therapy?

Barbara Reuer, PhD, NMT-F, MT-BC, originated the concept that blossomed into Resounding Joy after thirty years of experience in the practice of music therapy and the development of music therapy programs. Dr. Reuer came to the realization that a sustainable volunteer program, which allowed volunteers to share and practice supportive music activities within their community, failed to exist.

Thus led to Dr. Reuer's foundation of Resounding Joy, a sustainable music therapy model that works with adults and children, both individually and in groups, training volunteers in the practice of music for wellness.

Learn more about Dr. Barbara Reuer and see her long list of accomplishments in the field of music therapy here.

What Are Resounding Joy Primary's Objectives?

Resounding Joy's Objectives:

• Provide High Quality Training to Volunteers.
• Provide Resources to Strengthen and Expand Supportive Music and Music Therapy Services.
• Grow and Maintain Partnerships and Alliances within the Community.
• Duplicate its Sustainable Supportive Music Model Across the United States.

How Are Music Therapy and Supportive Music Different?

Music therapy uses music provided by a board-certified music therapist to address specific non-musical goals, such as physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning. Music therapists are trained musicians, with a degree in the practice of music therapy.

Supportive music uses the principles and approaches developed from the work of music therapy adapted in a way that enables non-musician volunteers to utilize the recreational practice of making music for wellness.

Does Resounding Joy Train Volunteers to be Music Therapists?

Resounding Joy's music therapists train Volunteers, Joy Givers, in the practice of supportive music. Resounding Joy does not provide academic training in music therapy.

Resounding Joy structures its Joy Giver training model to be supportive and sustainable providing non-musicians with the resources to create a supportive music environment.

What Are The Requirements to Become a Joy Giver?

There are no prior training requirements to become a Joy Giver. Resounding Joy trains Joy Givers in basic group and rhythm facilitation principles. Aspiring Joy Givers must love spending time with and sharing the comfort and joy of music with others. In order to achieve the best results Resounding Joy asks that Joy Givers volunteer for at least four hours a month for a year long period.

What Can I Expect During a Typical Joy Giving Session?

During a typical 45-to-60-minute session, Joy Givers divide percussion and rhythm sessions into four components in order to offer all participants a wide variety of experiences and to establish session boundaries.

The four components include the following:

1. Sharing (warm-up)
2. Group Focus (community building)
3. Rhythm and Drumming Activities (skill development)
4. Structured Song or Activity (closure)

The primary purpose of Joy Giving is to give the joy of making one's own music, sharing music-making techniques, including singing, drumming, and other percussion and melodic instrument playing.