by Judith Muir

A remarkable new music program is benefiting children and adults with autism in Dutchess County, NY. Called the Music for Life Program, it gets participants to sing with seniors at Green Briar Adult Home in Millbrook, providing therapeutic as well as musical benefits for both participants and the residents of the home.

The program is run by Peter Muir Ph.D., Director of Center for Personal Development through Music in Verbank, a music center which pioneers this kind of therapeutic approach to music-making. The music outreaches are not like a regular concert performance, but are very informal, with participants and residents closely interacting through the music, often one-on-one. Because of this, the program, which has been running since January 2004, was at first controversial. “People kept telling me that it just wasn’t possible for those with autism to interact as closely as this kind of program requires,” says Dr. Muir. “However, what they hadn’t figured on was that music-making, particularly in the way we approach it, helps those with communication challenges feel safe and far more ready to communicate and socialize than in normal day-to-day situations.”

And, indeed, that is what happens. Donna Zuckermann, mother of program participant Dan, a teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome, believes that the program is the only time her son interacts with people he doesn’t know well. “It just seems so easy for him in that situation,” she says. Another participant is eight-year-old Niklas Watkins who suffers from Fragile X Syndrome, a leading cause of autism. His mother Amy is impressed with his response to the music outreaches: “they allow him to push past social and environmental issues of presenting in public,” she says.

The program is popular with the participants. “I learn lots of interesting songs,” says Michael Beck, 15, who also has Asperger’s, and his father Tom adds: “Michael has a wonderful time. He always looks forward to singing with the seniors.” And just as the participants like singing with the seniors, the seniors love the music and the interaction. “Our residents love the Music for Life Programs,” says Ellen Riccardi, activities director at Green Briar, “it helps stimulate them and encourages them to be active.” Course participant Dan Zuckermann agrees: “It makes them happier. Any time we go, they’re singing along and eager to get up and dance.”

The Music for Life approach is based on the work of John Diamond M.D. Dr. Diamond, a pioneer in the field of holistic medicine, is the world’s leading authority in using music and health modality. Program director Peter Muir has been associated with Dr. Diamond’s work for sixteen years. “It is unique,” he says. “Dr. Diamond has developed a whole new approach with music that is easily accessible for those with special needs and has tremendous benefits for all concerned. And what’s more it’s for everyone. You don’t need to be an experienced or skillful singer to take part. I feel privileged to be among the first implementing this new approach.”

One of the most exciting aspects of the Music for Life Program is that the benefits are not just musical. Indeed, the idea is that the ease of social contact facilitated by the music-making can be generalized into regular communication. This in turn can lead to a marked lessening of the autism. For instance, program participant Kevin Leonard has improved remarkably as a result of the music-making, according to his father Peter, a professor at Vassar College. “Since doing the Music for Life Program, he has become a happier person. He talks more--and eats less!”

The program is currently jointly funded by Autism Directory Services and the Life Energy Foundation. This funding has meant the financial burden to the participants has been minimized. CPD Music, which is running the program till mid-June, plans to restart it in the fall on an expanded basis.

For more information on Music for Life Programs, check out the website of CPD Music: www.cpdmusic.com.

Do you know someone who might like to join the program? If so, contact the program director Dr. Peter Muir on (845) 677-5871.