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Resounding Joy wanted to expand the possibilities of its mission by adding an intergenerational component to providing recreational and supportive music. And children and older adults seemed a natural complement to one another.
In the spring of 2008, a third-grade class from Carmel Del Mar School, in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego, became the springboard for the Junior Joy Giver program. With parental consent, eight elementary school students met with a MusicWorx of California music therapist intern after school, once a week for a period of 12 weeks. Training over the 12 sessions included Junior Joy Giver team building and group cohesion techniques as well as learning songs, playing instruments, and practice working with older adults. Upon completion of training, the Junior Joy Givers participated in six music therapist-guided community service sessions with older-adult residents of Brighton Gardens, also in Carmel Valley.
The pilot Junior Joy Giver program proved such a success that Resounding Joy is seeking on-going financial support to enable more children opportunities to learn how to use musical interventions. “In all 25 years I’ve been here, we’ve never had anything like this,” said Carol Pisnieski, activity director at Brighton Gardens. “It’s a whole new ballgame for us.” Read entire article.»
Local sponsors can help to underwrite the cost of Junior Joy Giver training, including equipment, creative arts supplies, and compensation of a professional music therapist / trainer.
See Junior Joy
Givers in action.» |
