MUSIC THERAPY

Music is Always Medicine

The staff and clients at Penrith Farms are exceedingly fortunate to have someone of Mila Gilbert’s caliber as a human being, performer and educator. He brings over 35 years of extraordinary professional and creative accomplishments: original compositions for Columbia Ballet Theater, Civic Theater and modern dance companies of Spokane, Washington and Ylana’s Yoga program on PBS. He and his wife currently perform as a duo known as Mad Mama Moon. Their music airs on KPBX Public Radio and NPR’s Thin Air. His teaching experience spans thirty years.

Mila has had the privilege of employing music therapy not just as a teacher but also as a musician. He’s brought music to a variety of venues: senior homes, assisted living and other residential settings. Through these experiences Mila has witnessed music’s therapeutic impact.

Mila owns great compassion for the various ways our minds work; so, he strives to devise an environment in which each individual student can communicate emotions through their musical creations. His experience grants him the ability to acknowledge that there are many ways to learn, as well as, the skill to recognize what methods to employ in order to reach success. Success for Mila means establishing in our students the confidence and ability to express the spectrum of their emotions through the musical medium of their choice.

Mila is that teacher or mentor many of us had who discovered in us something far greater than we ever imagined for ourselves. He is an explorer of sorts. Yes, of course he is an amazing musician, but teaching enters a whole different realm of expertise. It is the ability to translate what one knows so well into a language others can and want to understand that makes one a teacher. Mila is a teacher.

Music therapy, unlike academics or talk therapy, is non-threatening; therefore, it meets with no resistance from the student. The only possible resistance is self-doubt. Mila’s inspirational manner gently guides students through personal disbelief into self-confidence. Mila sees great potential in every student and his faith in the client inevitably leads to their discovery of personal greatness.

He is a visionary for Penrith Farms’ music therapy program: expanding from string instruments and keyboards to drums, jam sessions on the farm, beginning a vocal group, and incorporating community service. Offering so many elements increases the therapeutic possibilities of the program for the students, staff and community as musicians and audiences benefit from the music.

As our program progresses from string instruments and keyboards into percussion, students will encounter the possibilities of improved balance, hand-eye coordination, rhythm, sequential and linear thinking. One reason for the transformation could be linked to neurons creating new pathways if asked repeatedly to complete a task where the original pathway for that particular task completion is injured. For instance, the act of hand drumming equally involves both sides of the brain and body. Despite past difficulty with hand-eye coordination, a student practicing drums could greatly improve theirs. Other possible ability amplification could occur in the areas of improved balance, coordination, rhythm or sequential thinking. The act of hand drumming also centers and balances excessive energy, testosterone and anger.

Jam sessions create a space for musicians to explore themselves: what they want to communicate through their instrument and how to communicate it. Group improvisation is a musical conversation. As musical conversation skills advance so can verbal social skills as they operate in the same manner. Successful collaboration provides a sense of personal value and responsibility within a team. In addition, it is a realm where students are not only allowed to step out-of-the-box, unconventional expression is actually encouraged.

Vocalizing encourages voice identity and self-trust in public or social speaking. Sustaining tones holds meditative value. Holding a tone can produce a hypnotic state for a vocalist, providing non-medicated relaxation and improved sleep. As a vocalist refines their own voice, hearing awareness develops. Hearing awareness aids anyone through increased comprehension and improved ability to interpret implied meanings within conversations ultimately resulting in enhanced communication.

Vocal groups build confidence and cooperation by valuing individual strengths but melding them together for the greater good of the compilation. Mila hopes the group will then share their sound with residents in nursing homes, hospitals and other healing settings promoting the humility, spiritual expansion and perspective that can only grow out of service to others.

Mila’s music program promises to seek out and recognize the value in each student regardless of diagnosis, then to empower the musician to use their unique sound to foster self-growth and healing in others.

Needs and issues that may benefit from music therapy:

• ADHD
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Poor social skills
• Unfocused creativity
• Limited ability in sequential thinking
• Undeveloped physical coordination
• Lack of courage
• Stress
• Anger
• Trauma

It’s as Mila says, “Music is always medicine.”