Children give back through music

It all started with a news article.

As part of an assignment from her teacher, Cathie Hays, Carmel Del Mar School third grader Stella Roth told her class about an article the local music therapy organization Resounding Joy. This led to an all-third-grade school assembly, which in turn led to a new community service group being formed at the school.

Much as musician notes connect to form a catchy song, Roth’s report to her class led to this wonderful string of events. And now third graders will have the opportunity to use music therapy techniques to reach out to the Carmel Valley community as the Junior Joy Givers, their own special way of giving back.

To stress the importance of reading the newspaper, Hays has her third graders give a report on something they’ve learned from a newspaper article.

Roth selected an article that appeared in this newspaper about Resounding Joy, the organization run by Carmel Valley resident Barbara Reuer. Reuer and her volunteers called Joy Givers, bring the healing powers of music to people in need of a little joy, from patients in hospitals to the homeless.

The Carmel Valley Del Mar Junior Joy Givers will use the same kind of music therapy techniques, such as playing in drum circles, playing instruments and singing. The Junior Joy Givers will meet after school for twelve weeks starting on Feb. 27. Their first outreach will be to Brighton Gardens, a senior community in Carmel Valley.

“It will be great to see how this model works,” said Reuer, who hopes the club could expand to include more grades and eventually have clubs start up at other Carmel Valley schools.

The third grade students learned what kind of things they would be doing as Junior Joy Givers at their assembly on Feb. 20. Carmel Del Mar’s special day class students joined the third graders for the music-filled event.

Resounding Joy interns Kym Tindall and Noelle Pederson talked to the kids about what they do in music therapy.

“The coolest thing about my job is I get to work with any age, the littlest, tiny babies to older adults,” Pederson said.

They asked the kids what they liked about music and how it made them feel.

“I listen to music when I feel grumpy or something,” said one third grader.

Another said he liked listening to Weird Al Yankovic to make him laugh, another said they liked the good vibrations.

Tindall taught the kids how they can make music without instruments by clapping their hands, patting their legs, snapping their fingers and of course by using their voices. The kids were all given drums and shakers so they could form their own drum circles as Pederson sang a song about stinky feet. Reuer said it was good to see the special day students getting engaged in the music – waving their hands, using their instruments and best of all, the huge smiles on their happy faces.

The Junior Joy Givers will be doing the same kinds of activities they did that day with the seniors at Brighton Gardens. Tindall said that a lot of the seniors don’t get a lot of visitors and having the children come will help make their day and hopefully make them smile.

“It’s amazing how much the kids can learn,” said Tindall. “And the music really brings everyone together.”

As Carmel Del Mar lets out early on Wednesdays, the third grade Junior Joy Givers will meet at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the music room. Students need to be able to have their own transportation when they go out on outreach events. If interested in learning more on become a Joy Giver, visit resoundingjoyinc.org