• Home
  • Bio
  • Teaching
    • Private Lessons
    • Group Study
    • Workshops
    • Recommended Repertoire
  • Performing
  • Writing
  • Fischer Family Jazz
  • Store
  • Scheduling
  • Contact Us
  Piano Inspirations

The update

Recreational Music Making Distinctives

1/21/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Last week, our new RMM program was given a nice article in a regional newspaper. The article was well-written and gave a great description of our program, but the headline bothered me a lot. "In the Key of Fun" read the headline with a subtitle "...aiming at a wider audience by making [piano lessons] fun." 
​
It left me with the question, "So traditional piano lessons aren't fun?" 

I'm sure I used the word "fun" in the interview and am therefore the reason for that headline, but I also remember using the word "joy" many times, yet that wasn't highlighted in the story. Why is it that we crave "fun" but are mistaking a momentary emotion like "fun" or "happy" be what we are looking for when deep inside, we crave release, freedom, relaxation, all of which I feel are better encapsulated in the simple word, "joy." 

Recreational Music Making has some distinctives that I am going to highlight today.

Musical expression is one of these and the greatest benefit of musical expression is a general sense of accomplishment. This improves life, builds self-esteem, increases confidence, and gives us joy.

A 2003 study by Barry Bittman, MD that was published in Focus on Caregiving showed that patients who participated in an RMM program were able to decrease the need for doctor visits due to stress. A 1998 study by Frederick Tims, Chair of Music Therapy at Michigan State University showed that elderly participants in RMM programs had increased levels of human growth hormone. Masatada Wachi published a study in the Medical Science Monitor 2007 showing workers who participated in RMM programs had less burnout. RMM has enabled companies to have less employee turnover and has proven to be an excellent team building exercise.

Those of us who are musicians understand this "joy" and this "fun." We know it is much deeper than just fun, but it helps to see actual studies that show specific benefits and improvements in those participating in a Recreational Music Making program. 

That is one of the primary reasons that as we launch this new program, three of the four sessions are for adults. We know the benefit is there and hope this new class contributes to the better wellness of people in our community. 

http://www.themusictherapycenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/provider_magazine_article.pdf
https://millerps.com/making-music-fun-and-good-for-you/
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/17261984



Comments

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All
    Christian
    Classical
    Features
    FischerMusic
    Great Pianists
    Inspiration
    Jazz
    Performance
    Practice
    Recent Projects
    RMM
    Skills

    RSS Feed

Piano Inspirations: Moved by the art of playing the piano...


Home
The Update
Musicianship
My Music
Publications
Contact
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Teaching
    • Private Lessons
    • Group Study
    • Workshops
    • Recommended Repertoire
  • Performing
  • Writing
  • Fischer Family Jazz
  • Store
  • Scheduling
  • Contact Us