Metro Music Remedy has the privilege of working with quite a few impactful organizations who try to make a distinction within the lives of others. One group that MMT has an extended standing relationship with is Music Remedy of the Rockies positioned in Colorado. Music Remedy of the Rockies mission is to supply high quality companies and life-changing alternatives for veterans throughout the nation. As a part of this initiative, Music Remedy of the Rockies started songwriting retreats for veterans that suffer from PTSD and different service-related accidents. The retreats originated in Nashville, TN on Amy Grant’s farm the place they continue to be annually.
Mallory Even, Proprietor and Founding father of MMT, and Laura Lenz, Assistant Director, have been lucky sufficient to attend a number of veteran songwriting retreats in each Nashville and Atlanta. Every retreat is a two and a half day expertise consisting of music remedy teams and songwriting periods with knowledgeable songwriter telling the veteran’s authentic story. Mallory Even shared that “veterans be taught to play guitar and obtain a guitar to maintain” as soon as the retreat finishes. “The complete weekend ends with a live performance by which every veteran’s music is showcased” says Even.
So, how does music remedy play a direct position in every songwriting retreat? “Music remedy is integral to your complete weekend and to the schedule and arrange of the retreats” shared Even. Laura Lenz shared that “Board-certified music therapists are educated to acknowledge and assist the veterans’ experiences in such a manner that their security and well-being is at all times on the forefront.” Music therapists apply their coaching in recognizing and understanding the neurological elements of PTSD, nervousness, despair, and Traumatic Mind Accidents to construction the musical expertise for the advantage of the veteran. Utility of counseling expertise and facilitating the veteran’s expertise in a cushty, protected surroundings ensures a profitable songwriting session.
When requested why this expertise is so useful to veterans, Mallory acknowledged that “when veterans share their story by means of music, they personal a bit of it that they might by no means have been capable of earlier than, and inform it in a manner that’s their alternative.” These concerned within the weekend actions supply a protected, non-judgmental surroundings to supply the flexibility to share a few of their darkest and hardest tales to inform. “This course of might be very therapeutic not solely within the second, however long-term” says Even. When wanting on the long-term advantages, there have been numerous accounts from attendees of reward and gratitude for the veterans songwriting retreats. “Music Remedy of the Rockies is participating in analysis to take mind pictures earlier than a retreat after which the identical pictures of the identical veteran six months after a retreat…their preliminary outcomes are displaying elevated blood circulation within the mind and Music Remedy of the Rockies actually believes that is the physiological advantage of the retreat expertise” Mallory shared. As well as, Laura talked about that she has spoken to lots of the veterans post-retreat and there’s a “common expression of appreciation for the instruments they’re taught throughout these retreats reminiscent of utilizing their guitars to assist them by means of hectic instances and using the methods of music and leisure all through their day.”
Freely sharing and letting the music write troublesome tales is an exquisite, heartfelt course of to observe for all concerned. It’s arduous to pinpoint one particular spotlight of every retreat, however Mallory states that “it’s the folks, arms down! The music therapists, the veterans, and the songwriters.” Whereas Laura agrees, she provides that “it is among the highest honors of my life to be allowed the chance to be a tiny a part of being within the presence of those outstanding folks whose tales are advised in such an excellent manner by means of the songwriters’ expertise and compassion together with the music therapists who’re so devoted to the whole lot of the folks and course of.”
We’re eternally grateful to work alongside Music Remedy of the Rockies and be part of their superb work for our veterans. Metro can also be lucky to host our personal retreats within the Atlanta space that are graciously funded, deliberate, and led by Music Remedy of the Rockies. We, at Metro Music Remedy, proceed to dwell by our mission assertion of, “We Can Assist.” Our crew members are devoted to creating a constructive influence within the lives of those that sacrificed a lot. We attempt to precisely categorical our ideas and feelings upon attending veteran songwriting retreats, however as Laura superbly stated, “phrases actually don’t seize the expertise.”
