Description of the Best Practice
The goal of this project is to involve the men and women
in Wellspring, a psychiatric rehabilitation program that
provides a drop-in atmosphere for mentally ill and/or
homeless adults, in a weekly music program. The music
program offers the men and women members of the center,
an avenue for expression that they may be unable to
expose due to their circumstances. Implementation
The program is implemented in three parts. In the first
part, "Finding Your Voice," the director serves
as a catalyst and animator to encourage singing either
alone or together, by providing keyboard accompaniment,
finding requested music and texts, and encouraging the
use of various instruments, particularly rhythm
instruments. Music lessons begin with either keyboard
work or a class with the baroque recorder; participants
might advance to other lessons as other volunteer
teachers are recruited. Finally, jam sessions engage
people who have had musical experience or training.
Making music with others asks discipline, give and take,
mutual respect, and a willingness to move with the
group's work. Groups that may coalesce around these
sessions could become performing groups, or continue
jamming as a source of enjoyment and personal enrichment.
Time Frame
The program director spends 8 hours a week at the center
and the program is evaluated at six months and one year.
Weekly attendance rosters are kept to show participation
levels.
Financial Profile
Total Project Cost is $7,500 which includes $6,000 salary
for music instructor and $1,500 for music stands,
recorder, sheet music, other instruments.
Outcome
Better physical health through improved posture and
breathing; improved social skills and self-esteem;
transfer of musical learnings to life situations.
Improved self-discipline, self respect; growth in musical
skills; improved follow-through on
commitments. Sense of accomplishment in performance;
improved relational skills, possible new career
opportunities.
Supporting Data
Best Practice Narrative is limited to a one page
summary.
Supporting data is limited to one page.
|