​The positive effects of staying active to boost neurological health has been a general understanding for a lengthy time now, but new research proposes that dancing specifically can have anti-aging effects on the brain and improve behavior and balance.
 
The hippocampus plays a key role in learning and memory, and is the area of the brain associated with causing dementia symptoms and impacting balance. In a recent published group study, half of all elderly volunteers were assigned an 18-month weekly course of dance routines (altered bi-monthly) and the other half were given endurance and flexibility training (repetitive exercises). Was one type of exercise better than the other?
 
With an average age of 68, it was more challenging with varying genres and routines to remember the movements under pressure, but these extra struggles proved useful when balance and behavior improved; thus, strengthening the hippocampus and reversing signs of aging in the brain. 

What if my loved one is confined to a wheel chair? Well grab your dancing wheels and bring them to the closest community center. Therapies for those suffering from Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other forms of dementia are becoming more popular in adult education course selections across the country! Of course dancing can be scary, especially when one does not feel comfortable with their physical abilities to perform as well as the next person, or when one’s physique itself is causing a mental obstruction to perform. Myself included, we all question our looks and abilities, but adding a cognitive delay on top of all those insecurities can feel stiffening, which is why removing fear and inserting music is the key.
 
We know music enhances our emotional health, and as discussed in previous blogs, the amygdala acts as chief officer of the limbic system (where we process emotions). This area of our brain remains untouched by various forms of dementia, so as long as we can respond emotionally as human beings, we can respond to music. If we can always respond to music, then there are physical ways to act out enhancing our experience through dance:
“Right now, we are evaluating a new system called “Jymmin” (jamming and gymnastics). This is a sensor-based system which generates sounds (melodies, rhythm) based on physical activity. We know that dementia patients react strongly when listening to music. We want to combine the promising aspects of physical activity and active music making in a feasibility study with dementia patients.”  -Dr. Kathrin Rehfeld
(Source: “Dancing can reverse the signs of aging in the brain.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 25 August 2017. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825124902.htm)
 
Neat concept, and one that could improve our brain health while having fun!
 
As always, I invite you to contact me with questions, or with any requests for presentations on Music & Memory, Writing, Book Signings, or Book Club Events. Also, if you've been trying to purchase a book, please be patient as I am working with a new publisher for book 1 and book 2. Thank you for your support and see you in December!
 
#Alzheimers #Dancing #Music #BrainHealth #Dementia #PreventingDementia #NeuroHealth #Exercise #AntiAging #EndAlz #Parkinsons

Good day friends! Here's a featured flyer for my August presentation dates at the St. Louis County Libraries. Please attend if possible as this may be one of the last opportunities to hear me speak on Music & Memory for a long time. I'm in the midst of editing IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE with a new publisher to be released as a 2nd edition with fresh endorsements and Foreword later this year. Book 2 entitled PLAY ON should be ready for release in 2019!

Thank you for your unwavering support, and we'll see you in September for a fresh blog!
#EndAlz #MusicandMemory #Musicians #StLouis #StLouisCountyLibraries

Happy June, my friends! I am extremely happy to introduce George as a guest blogger today, and appreciate his persistence in seeking out means to spread such an important mesage!

Due to the reality that Alzheimer's is the only disease among the top 10 in the U.S. causes of death to have no cure, no treatments, nor pathways for slowing down progression, one of the questions often asked in my Music & Memory presentations is, "What can I do to help slow down the onset if I have one of the genes responsible for Alzheimer's?" After explaining that testing positive for one of those genes does not automatically mean one will ever show symptoms of the disease itself, I am also happy to inform my audience of a few health tips learned via symposiums or conferences from top neurologists and clinical professionals over the years:

1. Exercise 30+ minutes daily with plentiful cardio to keep your body and blood moving!
2. Eat a healthy diet (Mediterranean style) consisting of a colorful palette high in antioxidants, omega-3, amino acids, folic acids, et cetera.
3. Yes, enjoy that glass of red wine! Highest in antioxidants and resveratrol are pinot noir (number 1), merlot, malbec, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and shiraz. A fabulous tasting "brain cocktail" combines 4 ounces of cabernet with 4 ounces of straight pomegranate juice on ice - what a delicious dessert!
4. Avoid sugar... I know it's incredibly difficult, but sugar is a toxin to our brains and increases risk for Type 2 diabetes. 
5. Keep your brain active with stimulating games like Sodoku, crossword puzzles, trivia, and fun apps that challenge your brain!

Here's our friend, George, to provide more information on several fantastic apps that will keep your brain active and healthier.

As per the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 in 9 people in the US over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. There are a number of factors that contribute towards the development of this disease; however, saying that you cannot do anything to potentially delay onset would be wrong. You can use different exercises to improve your brain health, thereby reducing your risks of developing dementia and other related disorders.

This is the technology generation, and almost all of us have a tablet or a smartphone. So why not use these devices to your advantage? Use one of the various brain-training apps and improve your brain health anytime and anywhere. The four best apps that help train your brain include:

1. Lumosity
Lumosity is not only the oldest brain training app, but also the most popular one used by more than 85 million people across the world. The games inside this app help you work on core cognitive abilities like problem solving, memory, processing speed, attention, and adaptable thinking. Once you download this app, you will be asked to give a brain fitness test. This test is mainly done to show your standing against the others in your age bracket. The developers of Lumosity strongly believe that just one session of three games daily will help boost your mental skills. Available for both Android and iOS devices, this is a free app. 
 
2. Peak
One of the highlights of this app is that the games inside it are developed with expert inputs from Yale and Cambridge. Both Android and iOS devices can download this free app. Peak offers you games that emphasize problem solving, coordination, emotional control, memory, attention, language, creativity, and mental agility. You will also get your very own virtual Coach, who will go through your results and give tips on how you can improve. Playing games on Peak will never feel monotonous because it offers you enough variety. 

3. Elevate
If you want a brain training app that deals with practical everyday activities, then Elevate is perfect for you. Most of the games deal with everyday tasks such as calculating a tip or writing an email to your loved ones. This app is known to improve your communication as well as your critical thinking skills. In fact, a study found that people who used Elevate improved their performance by 69 percent as opposed to the non-users. 
 
4. Brain Fitness Pro
Brain Fitness Pro is one of the best brain training apps in the market. The focus of this app is on improving your IQ as well as your memory. This is a paid app, but the amazing user interface totally makes it worth it. Developers of Brain Fitness Pro guarantee that you will see great results, when you use this app continuously for 20 days, and spend at least 30 minutes on it daily. 

Download these brain training apps on your smartphone, and you be the judge of whether they are truly effective or not!

(Photos courtesy of Pixabay) 
#EndAlz #Alzheimers #Brain #BrainApps #Dementia #BrainHealth #Health #MindHealth #HealthyMind #Lumosity #Peak #Elevate #BrainFitnessPro

"As you come to recognize the power of your consciousness, that what is behind your eyes, so to speak, holds more power than what appears in front of them, your inner and outer perceptions change. You cannot become compassionate with yourself without becoming compassionate with others, or with others without becoming compassionate with yourself. When you are compassionate with yourself and others, your world becomes compassionate. You draw to yourself other souls of like frequency, and with them you create, through your intentions and your actions and your interactions, a compassionate world. 

"As you come to seek and see the virtues and strengths and nobilities of others, you begin to seek and see them in yourself also. As you draw to yourself the highest-frequency currents of each situation, you radiate that frequency of consciousness, and change the situation. You become more and more and more consciously a being of Light." -Gary Zukav, The Seat of the Soul

Happy March, my friends! It certainly has been a busy last three months, filled with meeting hundreds of new faces and friends alongside several personal and professional changes. While I am far from stopping my Music & Memory series for this year, I thought it best take a moment to send out an invitation to share with your St. Louis friends for April (more libraries to come in August).  

While I have been the primary speaker at these presentations, it has been my pleasure to learn from the fine human beings sitting before me who seem to genuinely connect with the content. Shared stories always creates an opportunity to infuse a memorable and meaningful form of compassion amongst the groups, and posed questions are as intriguing as ever. One anecdote begets the next, and it is a true joy to synergize the energy of our collective experiences across the room. I am both awed and in awe of the people who opt to seek information on a topic under the radar, but one so crucial in its' perpetual advocacy for maintaining Arts education in our schools. Seeking meaningful ways to connect with our loved ones through music, when words and all else fails, is absolutely invaluable to any societal structure. And, if you are a musician, please join us this spring in sharing your gifts with those who need it the most! Join Team Musicians for Memories by playing or singing with your groups at a local assisted living facility! #musiciansformemories

While I am fortunate to continue this advocacy work on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association, I am currently searching for a new publisher who will support and propel my mission by printing IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE. If you currently have a copy of the work, please hang on to your first edition! A second edition may be on the way from a company who understands the vision for how this special historical fiction can help so many affected by Alzheimer's Disease. 

In the meantime, I hope you stay tuned to future quarterly blogs to stay up to date with current research on practices for using a prescribed music repertoire to help your loved ones gain access to lucidity, if only for moments. See you in June!

#musiciansformemories #EndAlz #musicians #musicadvocacy #ArtsEducation #musiceducators #musicandmemory #musicforall #SLCO #StLouis #musictherapy 

"When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel." -Eleanor Brownn, Author & Speaker

No, I'm not done writing or being an author! Quite the contrary, it's simply time to redirect my efforts to the flip-side of my mission in educating our community on the power of music and memory in the brain. Once again, I'm ecstatic to continue the Music & Memory series at our local St. Louis County Libraries, and will be representing the St. Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association in every engagement as well. I humbly appreciate your support and would love to see you at one of 12 presentations throughout the St. Louis area. You are welcome to share this event with friends, family, co-workers, and the like who may need to hear about helping their loved ones through music. 

During these next few months, my return to research and drafting of Play On (sequel to IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE) will also be a top priority. I will only post quarterly from now on, but may revisit several key blogs if relevant. 

Again, I want to thank everyone for your unwavering support, and ask that you continue to create, shape, and share your life's playlists with those you love, as one never knows when they might need it most in the future. 

Musically Yours,
Denise

@ElamDauw @slcl @ALZSTL @musicians @musiceducators #musicandmemory #EndAlz #stlouiscountylibrary #musiceducators #caregivers #musicians #alzheimers #dementia #musicandthebrain #StLouis #StLouisCountyLibrary #StLouisCityLibrary #StCharlesLibrary #StLouisBusinessMagazine #StLouisBusinessJournal #StLouisEducators #StLouisRadio #StLouisNews #StLouisLocal

November is a time to reflect on gratitude for many, and the blessings I've been fortunate to encounter are plentiful. While I wrap my head around all the doors and opportunities afforded to me over the last 6 years on my journey, I cannot help thinking how it all started with one word: Grief. My family watched an amazing human being deteriorate for over 10 years from a disease which still has no cure, no treatment, nor means for slowing down. Music was a common bond among our family, but an afternoon's experience singing at her hospital bedside provided an epiphany and personal mission worthy of discussion and awareness. I am exceedingly thankful for what that enlightening revelation has brought about in my life personally, but also how it has shaped my mission to educate people everywhere on the power of music in the brain, provide a scientific foundation for how we are always able to respond to music, and provide caregivers with ideas for a prescribed repertoire for their loved ones. To quote the lyrics of Bernie Taupin and Elton John, "I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do..." 

From my grandmother's loss, I became hopeful of making a difference beyond my role on the podium as a music educator. An incredibly intelligent person, let's call him Hemingway, once instructed us: "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know," which is what I decided to do from my own grief. Speaking with family, interviewing doctors, and pouring myself into countless hours of Alzheimer's research created the best opportunity to make a difference in the most commercial way possible. My goal was to spread awareness through a historical romantic fiction, but little did I know where my efforts would eventually lead me when the novel was finished. 

From the time my first full draft was printed and during months of peer editing in 2012, my liaison with the Alzheimer's Association - St. Louis Chapter started solidifying. Every encounter with the professional staff was remarkable, and the kindness shown to me from the beginning was stellar. One introduction led to another, including several of the world's leading experts in Alzheimer's Disease research and renown neurologists (resumes too long to list). Dr. John Morris and Dr. Randall Bateman assisted in affirming a scientifically sound plot line, and informants of various details were Dr. Eric Reiman, Dr. David Holtzman, and Dr. David Carr to name a few. My goal all the while was to stay abreast of all updates, scientific research, and developments that could impact the validity of my story while waiting for publication, and it remains relevant today as a proud volunteer. 

​​To this point, I never expected to engage as a volunteer with the Alzheimer's Association in the way I have over the past several years. From a Young Ambassador, to Walk to End Alzheimer's Team Captain, to The Longest Day Team Captain, to music meet-up volunteer, to new AACE (Community Educator), to Music & Memory speaker, I am exceedingly proud, humbled, and honored to be a part of an organization that works tirelessly to eliminate this disease. With every moment and each effort to raise funds toward research and awareness, we are inching closer to a world without Alzheimer's. 

While I have a great deal of love and thanks for those who have helped from the Alzheimer's Association, I also need to thank the countless members of the St. Louis Writer's Guild, The Writer's of St. Charles, The Writer's Lens, local bookstores, markets, and businesses, among numerous other community members for shining a great deal of light on my mission, the novel, and Music & Memory work. I cannot thank each of you individually, but I am humbled beyond words to have become your friend through the literary world, through our musicianship and/or educator roles, or by word of mouth means. The support and care you all have shown has been sincerely invaluable, and I can't begin to convey my appreciation. 

I've been fortunate to personally meet wonderful people (thousands by now), celebrities included, who have listened, heard my mission, and spoken with me about their own experiences with Alzheimer's, but I am most proud how my district, my school, and my students have personally tapped into how powerful music can be for those who need it most. These students selflessness and willingness to volunteer to play music for those with dementia has brought as much extrinsic reward to others as it has intrinsically enhanced their own hearts. I am exceedingly happy to provide a continual mission of hope through The Longest Day campaign with Team Musicians for Memories! #musiciansformemories

While I've maintained an overwhelmingly busy professional life the past decade without regret on that front, it has come at great personal costs, and it is time to step back as I dive into presenting more Music & Memory lectures this winter at a dozen St. Louis County Libraries. December 2016 will wrap up over two and a half years of solid monthly blogging for which I am proud; however, I am committed to a quarterly entry as I begin focus on the sequel to If Music Be the Food of Love entitled, Play On. 

I want to thank the hundreds of return readers, who eagerly await the end of the month to catch the latest writing. Your support has meant the world to me. Check back in December for information on upcoming lecture series dates, or visit the EVENTS tab for more information. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! 

#EndAlz #musicians #musiceducators #musicandmemory #IfMusicBeTheFoodofLove #authors #StLouisWritersGuild #WritersofStCharles #StLouis #StLouisCountyLibrary #StLouisCityLibrary #StCharlesLibrary #caregivers #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAssociation #AllWriteFestival #MozingoMusic #DreamHouseandTeaRoom #ParcProvence #Bethesda #Westview #Brookdale #FountainsofWestCounty #RotaryClubofStLouis #WomensEthicalSociety #StLouisBusinessMagazine #StLouisBusinessJournal #StLouisEducators #Rockwood #BarnesandNoble #StLouisMarkets #MusicandtheBrain #WritersLens #Publishing #Screenwriters #StLouisRadio #StLouisNews #StLouisLocal

“Music is so naturally united with us that we cannot be free from it even if we so desired.” –Boethius
 
Why do we need music? In analyzing music to the function of society, Darwin wrote, “As neither the enjoyment nor the capacity of producing musical notes are faculties of the least use to man… they must be ranked among the most mysterious with which he is endowed.”
 
Regarding survival necessities, Steven Pinker said where “biological cause and effect are concerned, music is useless… It could vanish from our species and the rest of our lifestyle would be virtually unchanged.” Concerning the lack of adaptive function of the arts, “They may be by-products of two other traits: motivational systems that give us pleasure when we experience signals that correlate with adaptive outcomes (safety, sex, esteem, information-rich environments), and the technological know-how to create purified and concentrated doses of these signals,” Pinker notes.  
 
Despite our lack of need for music, it remains a fundamental, vital, and pivotal feature to human beings in every culture. We can all sense musical features as our brains are hardwired to work muscles in every cortex, region, and sub-region due to how it is processed. It promotes activity unlike any other human experience, from analyzing beat patterns, tempo, melodic phrases, oscillations, to recognizing complex patterns, repetitions, timbres, sequences, et cetera. Our auditory and nervous systems are equipped naturally with the circuitry to perceive music and create both a logical and emotional response. Because of our desire to be stimulated in this complex way, we yearn for a connection to music inherently, and will go to great lengths to find it and be a part of the listening experience. It has the power to stir imagery, to elicit memories, and forge bonds between individuals in meaningful ways. 

​How do you grow musically? As with any other language, the brain seeks to decode exposure through acculturation and form the synapse connections necessary to communicate with other human beings. The same is true for musicians. Because music is in a constant state of evolution, performers and teachers alike tend to feel a natural pull toward those who may enhance their vocabulary and understanding for music as a language. Absorbing new information to enhance skill development, from either a technical or musically aesthetic perspective, will be an innate passion for those who accept the evolution of our culture and society’s preferences for music. Even the common populous, while not highly educated in music pedagogy, seeks to find others who share similar tastes in music preferences. Relationships are forged when comfort is found as consumers of like-music who enjoy the same live performance settings. Why? Our limbic systems, where we process emotions, are wired in a similar capacity, which draws us closer together in a faster, more meaningful way.
 
Exposing our daily lives to other musicians can feed our soul in ways we never imagined. The conversations that lead to personal and musical growth can end up becoming the most momentous, critical, and direction changing exchanges of our lives.
 
Do you share best practices with your music peers?
The evolution of humanity must coincide with growth as musicians (especially educators). We are all practicing educators and musicians; therefore, we do not have every answer, and we certainly must yield to the changing times in every element of exposure to education and in music. If we refuse to evolve, set higher expectations, and new goals for technique and pedagogy, then we cannot continue to communicate music in an open, honest way.
 
Do you discuss pedagogy?
Technique and music aesthetics pedagogy are two polar opposites.
 
Regarding technique, sharing your experiences with those who play your instrument verses discussing topics with non-like instrumentalists can be just as rewarding. Eyes can be opened to trying various equipment or preferred brands you may have avoided earlier in your career, and depending on the style of music performed, can end up changing the complete sound of the music itself. For non-like instrumentalist or vocalist concepts, new perspectives can be gained by simply listening to musician’s thoughts that typically experience the ensemble setting from an opposing side.
 
When considering aesthetics, an entire world of possibilities can be opened up by remembering one thing: “Soulful human beings create profound music, regardless of their level of musical achievement. Such music is, at the same time, honest and direct, and speaks in the most direct way to all that hear it.” –James Jordan
 
As mentioned in previous blogs, musicians are often held up by the technical, when honest music is authentically made up of the trust and belief of oneself and others, and love of self. Vulnerability of expression is the only way to make music, alone or with others. One must choose love over every other emotion whenever the baton, the instrument, or the voice is lifted to perform; otherwise, humanity in the sound is absent all together.
 
Are you a connoisseur and consumer of music?
Being an excellent musician does not always necessitate you actually taking the stage to learn. Professional conferences, concerts, operas, and special live musical events are where one may learn the best performance techniques. Watch, listen, and absorb! Whether inferior to your own skill-set, something positive can be taken away from every musician. Listen, and listen more to build a better understanding of quality and non-quality performances, which includes soulful musicianship.
 
Are you willing to evolve?
Because vulnerable performances must stem from love of self and others, being a quality musician also indicates you are an upstanding individual. From personal experience, one cannot possibly appreciate a musical product when the individuals creating said performance are not kind, respectful, nor do they care how their performances are perceived. In reference to Mr. Jordan’s quote above, we are in the business of human aesthetics, and creating great music requires an established, meaningful connection with your ensemble and your audience. The truth remains that ‘people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care,’ and the same principle rings true for performing artists.
 
Being a respectful, humble learner in all facets of musicianship allows for more growth, even when you learn what NOT to do from other musicians. Likewise, avoid allowing others to influence your understanding of fellow musicians, ensembles, or pedagogical ideals until you have met, witnessed, or tried certain ways for yourself.  However, beware of preconceived notions as well. For example, ratings at state contests are not always indicative of a well-rounded music education being facilitated in appropriate ways within a program. These performances are simply snapshots of student learning over 2-3 selections, and not a representation of the teaching going on outside those selections.
 
Finally, what one may deem as “failures” may end up fueling the finest successes of our lives; therefore, keeping an optimistic 'uplook' (as opposed to outlook) is crucial to understanding that berating oneself for mistakes is pointless and irrelevant. Miles Davis said, “In improvisation, there are no mistakes,” and is that not the point? We are all improvising at life, and to deem a single error as a “failure” is a false sense of inferiority when change is inevitable to avoid the same issue later. To remain stagnant is the greatest mistake of all; therefore, we evolve with an open spirit and a passionate, eager, and brave heart!

A special thank you to Mr. Joseph Gilbert, for his enduring and unwavering companionship (and musicianship) the last 3+ years to provide feedback for this blog. Many beverages, dinners, visits, and discussions later, we continue to evolve and grow, and ours has been one of the most significant friendships of my life. Thank you, Joe.  

#musicians #musiceducators #performers #honestmusicianship #band #orchestra #choir #musicteachers 

For those of you who are late to the blog party, I wanted to take a moment to categorize and highlight topics that may be of relevance. Maybe a particular month was missed, or curiosity on a specific subject is more prevalent than before. Regardless, navigating the information is easier now and I encourage you to seek out information on whichever topic may be of importance at this time.
 
My deepest and utmost gratitude to the hundreds of people who check in at the end of every month to read (and hopefully be inspired by) what I have to share. Alzheimer’s Disease is a growing epidemic that will not subside, has no survivors, will not slow down, has no treatments, and no cure. Alongside my goal to spread awareness of Alzheimer’s since the publication of IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, has been my mission to help musicians understand their superpower, the science behind music in the brain, the role of music in memory, and enable a willingness to listen to the call to serve the greater community by using musical gifts and talents. Through music therapy themes, techniques were provided to further assist caregivers in their approach to helping nurture loved ones at home through a prescribed repertoire. Another goal has been encouraging inward reflection in personal approaches to teaching, music education, performing music, and advocacy by revealing approaches to honest music making, teaching, and overall musicianship. 

Stay tuned for information on 12 Music & Memory presentations at branches all over St. Louis County this winter! (Locations here: www.denise-elam-dauw.com/events)

Click on the archives to the right to view topics of interest. Thank you so much for reading and all your support! 

​Alzheimer’s Disease & Advocacy
September 2014 – Alzheimer’s Awareness
January 2015 – Tick-Tock…
February 2015 - #StillAlice
March 2015 – The Longest Day
July 2015 – Music & Memory: A Gateway to Lucidity
August 2015 – Walk On…
November 2015 – Have a Brain? …You’re at Risk
March 2016 – Musicians for Memories #musiciansformemories
June 2016 – Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
 
Dementia Related Music Therapy Themes
November 2014 – Where Words [and all other options] Fail, Music Speaks…
March 2015 – The Longest Day
April 2015 – Proof
July 2015 – Music & Memory: A Gateway to Lucidity
September 2015 – A Tribute to Dr. Oliver Sacks
October 2015 – Life’s Spiral for Musicians
December 2015 – Emotional Responses to Music
January 2016 – Music: The Superpower, Part 1
February 2016 – Music: The Superpower, Part 1
March 2016 – Musicians for Memories #musiciansformemories
August 2016 – Shedding Fear & Enabling Love (Through Music), Part 2
 
For Music Educators, Performers, & Advocates
November 2014 – Where Words [and all other options] Fail, Music Speaks…
December 2014 – The Microwave Norm Phenomenon
March 2015 – The Longest Day
April 2015 – Proof
May 2015 – Honest Musicianship
June 2015 – Nature v. Nurture
July 2015 – Music & Memory: A Gateway to Lucidity
September 2015 – A Tribute to Dr. Oliver Sacks
October 2015 – Life’s Spiral for Musicians
December 2015 – Emotional Responses to Music
January 2016 – Music: The Superpower, Part 1
February 2016 – Music: The Superpower, Part 1
March 2016 – Musicians for Memories #musiciansformemories
May 2016 – In Pursuit of Truth: Education & Performance
July 2016 – Shedding Fear & Enabling Love, Part 1
August 2016 – Shedding Fear & Enabling Love (Through Music), Part 2
 
For Educators
May 2014 – Heroic Teachers
July 2014 – The Call to Serve
August 2014 – The Lucky One
December 2014 – The Microwave Norm Phenomenon
June 2015 – Nature v. Nurture
October 2015 – Life’s Spiral for Musicians
May 2016 – In Pursuit of Truth: Education & Performance
July 2016 – Shedding Fear & Enabling Love, Part 1
 
For General Inspiration & Mission Philosophy
April 2014 – Music: A Gateway to Lucidity (A Short Story)
July 2014 – The Call to Serve
October 2014 – Loss
April 2015 – Proof
June 2015 – Nature v. Nurture
July 2015 – Music & Memory: A Gateway to Lucidity
September 2015 – A Tribute to Dr. Oliver Sacks
March 2016 – Musicians for Memories #musiciansformemories
April 2016 – Anniversary Blog!
 
A Complete Index
April 2014 – Music: A Gateway to Lucidity (A Short Story)
May 2014 – Heroic Teachers
July 2014 – The Call to Serve
August 2014 – The Lucky One
September 2014 – Alzheimer’s Awareness
October 2014 – Loss
November 2014 – Where Words [and all other options] Fail, Music Speaks…
December 2014 – The Microwave Norm Phenomenon
January 2015 – Tick-Tock…
February 2015 - #StillAlice
March 2015 – The Longest Day
April 2015 – Proof
May 2015 – Honest Musicianship
June 2015 – Nature v. Nurture
July 2015 – Music & Memory: A Gateway to Lucidity
August 2015 – Walk On…
September 2015 – A Tribute to Dr. Oliver Sacks
October 2015 – Life’s Spiral for Musicians
November 2015 – Have a Brain? …You’re at Risk
December 2015 – Emotional Responses to Music
January 2016 – Music: The Superpower, Part 1
February 2016 – Music: The Superpower, Part 1
March 2016 – Musicians for Memories #musiciansformemories
April 2016 – Anniversary Blog!
May 2016 – In Pursuit of Truth: Education & Performance
June 2016 – Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
July 2016 – Shedding Fear & Enabling Love, Part 1
August 2016 – Shedding Fear & Enabling Love (Through Music), Part 2

#EndAlz #alzheimers #dementia #musicians #musiceducators #performers #musictherapy #musicandmemory #educators #musicadvocacy

​“We simply have to do a better job speaking to our students, learning who they are at their cores, and genuinely care more about their progress as young people. We must stop hiding from our own stories and choose to share the vulnerability that makes us all human beings. All musicians and directors should try to perform music for music’s sake again, void of ego and all the extra weighted nuances (politics) that tends to coincide with our position, and pursue the innocence and joy of making music once held as eager children. When we decide to shed the cloak of protection surrounding our souls, we can truly make meaningful connections, and as artists, convey the intended emotion or story people so desperately yearn to feel more in this life.” –D. Elam Dauw, May 2016 Blog
 
I bring up this crucial quote to set the premise for this month’s sentiment. Why do we teach music in our schools? Why is music basic to our civilization and considered a core class? (Goals 2000: Educate America Act, Clinton Administration)
 
From the earliest times in human civilization after music was found to serve purposes in distant tribal communication, it then became the core of many sacred and religious rituals. Later, music became relevant within societal systems for celebration, and by adding crafted, authentic tribal instruments to the manipulation of vocal chants (call) and responses, music was converted into entertainment, cementing itself into the psyche of release. Within a short amount of time, music was referred to as ‘rational medicine,’ playing roles in healing, religious rites, and helping the emotionally disturbed. In the medieval and renaissance periods it served as a remedy for ‘melancholy’ people, or what we know to be depression (and madness) today. Music was prescribed as ‘preventative medicine’ to enhance emotional health. We now know that music releases endorphins, which is the chemical in the brain that tells us we are happy. Current research proves that music is the only activity that activates both the left and right hemisphere of the brain, but not just that, it activates every region and nearly every subsystem, including the limbic system where we process emotions. Music is key to the human experience. 
 
To a related point, you may have used a common phrase with your students or ensembles at one point or another: You get out of something what you put into it. Another version? You reap what you sow - nothing more, nothing less. Might it be possible that ensemble efficacy, alongside the opportunity for students to create meaningful connections through music, is being missed by none other than the director? Is it possible that the reason performances are void of emotive qualities is due to a lack of purposeful creativity?
 
What many directors fail to remember in delivering their curriculum is that music is not simply meant to be performed for scheduled concerts and festivals (a school vaccuum). Our curriculum, whether band, choir, or orchestra, is the vehicle used to teach students the art of humanity and character, and consequently (hopefully) inspires a life-long love and appreciation for music. Sharing music with others is vital to the human experience, but even more important that it serves a purpose for the greater good. Meaningful work begets a meaningful life, and as mentioned in Part 1, we all yearn to feel a sense of childlike wonder and profound connection to that which inspires deep growth in our essence. There is an inherent desire within our souls to be good and do good for others by means of our personality, but we must be given the choice. Of course students enjoy performing for family and friends at concerts; however, we are missing the bulls eye completely when not providing students an authentically empowered and intrinsic emotional experience by sharing our music in performance with those who may need it most in this world.

​I challenge you today to step outside your comfort zone of planning your routine performances, trips, and rehearsals, and make time for service learning. Whether a performance at a nearby children’s hospital, an assisted living or retirement facility, a bank, a bookstore, or local school for the blind, anything and everything to enable personal growth through selfless acts is of utmost value to the development of our students in creating newfound human connections. The difference between community service and service learning is that the students create these options for growth, and ultimately, they come up with a project, assist in the planning process, and then end with reflection to evaluate what they might do better next time and what they learned about themselves and as a team by completing the project. It’s a win-win philosophy of enabling a dynamic of love, generosity, and kindness within your ensemble, and one that will set the stage for human growth and emotive, honest music-making. A sense of reverence and peace for their individual gifts will be the end result, propelling their desire to continue making musical connections with others throughout their lifetime. 
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#music #musicians #musiceducators #soulfulmusicianship #musicservicelearning

​​At present, five books are rotating through my hands in a given summer week, some new and others old. One previously read selection called The Seat of the Soul never tires for me, and continues to broaden my state of awareness and personal evolution on this planet. As I reach the given relevance of said book, allow me to first divulge some personal journal writing to set up my point for July:

When I was a child, I yearned to understand my own path in this life. I was in awe of the Earth, moon, sun, flowers, the wind blowing through the trees – and I took in every movement as a sign of what was to come. I would lie on the grass and beseech the skies for answers to questions using my inner voice: Will I find true love? Will I be happy? I found it miraculous when the wind would then blow harder through the trees, or a cloud changed shape as it drifted by in response. Did God just answer my question? I searched for meaning in every detail. In my mind, I would contemplate actions of others and visualize my response, or concoct a potential future filled with various imaginative scenarios. It was and still is in these times of deep intuition that I have become a part of my being, and of my soul. Whether stubbornly hopeful, or curiously delusional in personality, I tend to think (and over think), question (and over question), and feel as if I may be a vessel for other great things in this life yet to be determined.

​When we are young, we are stubbornly curious to explore our five senses, and as children, I believe our extended senses allow us to create a unique world based on our personalities. We hunger for knowledge, to emulate our elders, to be heroes, to live a life catered to our own curiosity, but then something happens: Fear.
 
“Each choice of fear – anger, jealousy, vengefulness – is a choice to evolve unconsciously through the painful, destructive consequences that fear creates.” –Gary Zukav, The Seat of the Soul
 
Fear is a learned behavior in childhood. Some fear is of utmost value and quality, created to protect us from a hot stove, a busy intersection, falling down stairs, or evading strangers. It is the learned non-quality fears, however, creating the exact same feeling of angst, at a catastrophic detriment to the souls of our children into adulthood. Examples include fearing those in diverse economic statuses, fearing other races, fear of the police, fearing other religions, fear of power (or having no power), fearing the elderly or people who look different, fear of politicians; and ultimately, fear of anything we might lose, like a sporting event, money, a home, a car, our body, our mind, our beliefs, and even love.
 
The misconception that teaching fear, whether directly or indirectly (intended or unintended), is of greater consequence or value than instilling a love of self in our children is truly disheartening, and ultimately responsible for a lack of soulful children who will later need to learn how to unmask their vulnerability in this world in order to truly love. Why would we (and shamefully how could we) knowingly place our children in a position to later shed all these overwhelming, learned fears? Instead, let us embrace the innocence of their questioning, and allow them to fill in the gaps by asking their thoughts on a subject. Avoid suggesting your own ideas by enabling them to engage their own intelligences, their own intuitions, and their own beliefs, thereby creating a higher level of consciousness, wonder, and beauty within their souls. 

“Our deeper understanding leads us to another kind of power, a power that loves life in every form that appears, a power that does not judge what it encounters, a power that perceives meaningfulness and purpose in the smallest details upon the Earth. This is authentic power. When we align our thoughts, emotions, and actions with the highest part of ourselves, we are filled with enthusiasm, purpose, and meaning. Life is rich and full. We are joyously and intimately engaged with our world. This is the experience of authentic power.” –Gary Zukav (p. 11), The Seat of the Soul
 
Admittedly, I was not as comfortable with elders as a child (relatives excluded), and certainly a majority of adults would state the same upon reflection. Due to the community involvement encouraged by both my high school choir director and my mother, I not only shed all traces of fear after exposure performing for assisted living facilities as a teenager, but flourished. It is this same sense of eager enlightenment that provides that childlike feeling of wonder each time I am able to now perform for the elderly, give a lecture about the power of music, or teach my students how to make meaningful connections through the vehicle of music.
 
“Each choice of love – gratitude, patience, appreciation – is a choice to evolve consciously through the healthy, constructive consequences that love creates...  Why not choose the conscious path, the path of joy? Why not journey consciously to the seat of your soul, that place where you transform energy into matter with your intentions – infuse your world with love and live there?... All roads lead to home." –Gary Zukav, The Seat of the Soul
 
Calming peace and at home – that is where we want our children making and performing music; moreover, it is where every musician should be making music! Please return in August to find out how to create deeper, more soulful musical connections with your students through performance via service learning.
#musiceducation #musicians #soulfulmusicianship