Tag: music

As Seen on TV! Choir for Adults with Special Needs!

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Inter-Ability Chorus: Choir for adults ages 16 and up with special needs in Palm Beach County!

Whole Vibes has partnered with The Els Center and The Palm Beach Opera for a community chorus opportunity right in Jupiter, Florida. We accept various abilities and disabilities, verbal and nonverbal.

Erica Lyles, a board-certified music therapist and owner and director of Whole Vibes music therapy is excited to empower individuals with special needs musically! She says, “I believe anyone can be successful in music, no matter what challenges they face!”

Our mission is:

To develop singing and musical skills in adults with disabilities and special needs.

To promote self-confidence and self-esteem in adults with disabilities and special needs while preparing for and executing performances.

To engage adults with special needs with their preferred method of communicating and developing their self-expression abilities.  

To create a community for adults with special needs to engage with their peers in a non-threatening and socially enhancing atmosphere.

Our Vision is:

Gathering adults with disabilities and special needs and various abilities in South Florida to use their own voices and sing in one accord.  To develop adults with special needs and disabilities musically, communicatively, socially and expressively.

Check out this beautiful story that just aired on WPTV News Channel 5 in Palm Beach County Today (9/30/19)! We are truly honored!

Photo captured by: WPTV News Channel 5, WPB, FL

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-n-palm-beach-county/jupiter/first-of-its-kind-choir-in-south-florida?fbclid=IwAR2i8IM4vndu8U7HS1K94XDpohYN0PjgopyVP_5XBm3v8ait8-kDl_ODRO0

Interested in joining? This is the very last week to sign up!! Contact Whole Vibes’ director and chorus founder, Erica Lyles TODAY: 561-501-1086 or erica@mywholevibes.com.

Our historical performance will be on December 13th at 6pm!

Erica Lyles from Whole Vibes and (from left to right) Jennifer, James, Abbey and Michelle from The Palm Beach Opera after a training on working with persons with special needs in the chorus!

Thank you for your support! To find out ways to support our mission, please contact us on this page or facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/mywholevibes

Connections Across Counties

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See what Whole Vibes has been up to this week!

This week, Erica traveled into Jensen Beach, Fl to receive 2 beautiful Reverie Harps built by Tom! Tom is passionate about getting these harps to the young and old in Palm Beach County. He believes in the power of music making! He is excited that his creations will be given to The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter Florida to be used with kids, teens and adults with autism!

Thank you, Tom!

Erica and Tom with the beautiful Reverie Harp


Summer plans? Join us for Music Therapy and Music Experiences this Summer ’19!

  • Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida!
    • Adult Music Therapy Group on Tuesdays! Starting June 11th at 2pm!
    • Music Therapy at The Moovin’ and Groovin’ Summer Camp starting July 2nd!
  • Individual Sessions are available! Please contact erica@mywholevibes to schedule an initial evaluation. Our schedule will fill up quickly by August!

Life Hack: How to Connect with Your Kids

This is an easy way to use music to help you relax and de-stress! This can also be used to decrease feelings of anxiety and support any physical discomfort or distress!

  • Identify music that your kids like and validate them by letting them play their songs/instruments/singing and listening with them! When you take a moment to be on their level, it means so much and helps with rapport and trust!

  • Create shared playlists and explore songs each of you like/dislike and express why- this is a great way for you to get to know each other!

  • Play musical games like “name that tune” hum a familiar song and have your kids guess what it is and vice versa!

  • Get your kids to open up through songwriting- create a song lyric and allow them to fill in the blanks with things like feelings, wants and needs. This is non-threatening and creates a safe space for your children to express themselves!

  • Make music together! Does your family sing, play instruments or even dance? Set time aside to do this together. It can build your bond and promotes trust (just be sure you’re not demanding perfection, only expecting expression).

  • Not the musical type of family? Nervous to sing with your kids? That’s OK! Be transparent, try to engage musically in one way or another OR maybe it’s time to find a music therapist to help your family be more engaged!

This is based off of a method music therapists use to increase relaxation for patients and clients. The beginning of your playlist should match your initial feelings or stress level (high) and as your playlist progresses, the stress should fade. By the end of your playlist, you should feel more relaxed (low).

For valuable content and updates like these, join our Whole Vibes Tribe Newsletter! Click here!https://mywholevibes.com/

We were buzzing this week!

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Whole Vibes Tribe Newsletter

Brought to you by Whole Vibes Music Therapy and Music Experiences

I tried a new intervention this week with my adaptive vocal clients! We rolled up pieces of paper and placed them on our lips to do our vocal warm-ups and exercises!

Why would we do such a thing?

I’m glad you asked!

Holding the paper up to our lips allows us to feel the vibrations that we are producing vocally. The vibrations cause us to be aware of the energy we are pushing forward and out of our mouth. When singing, it is important to make sure that energy is always moving forward for the best sound and that it doesn’t get “trapped” in your throat which leads to improper technique and possible vocal chord and muscle damage.

As we rolled out this method with my clients with autism, I noticed that they produced a clearer sound and really focused on the flow and direction of their vocals. This equals better technique and vocal functioning and a more pleasant sound overall.

What I love about music therapy is the ability to get creative and silly with interventions to help clients be most successful! Check out this clip of me with one of my girls this week!

Creating a buzz this week!

Check out the latest updates on music therapy and music experiences in Palm Beach County!


Summer plans? Join us for Music Therapy and Music Experiences this Summer ’19!

  • Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida!
    • Adult Music Therapy Group on Tuesdays! Starting June 11th at 2pm!
    • Moovin’ and Groovin’ Summer Camp for all ages on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the whole month of July! Contact Kelley Coutts at The Els Center of Excellence to sign up! kelley.coutts@elsforautism.org or click on their website below!

http://wwww.elsforautism.org

  • Individual Sessions are still available! Please contact us to schedule your initial evaluation! Let’s get you locked into the schedule before the fall!

School’s officially out!! What is your favorite song to end the school year? We blasted this one during our final classes at The Learning Academy in Jupiter, Fl!

Happy Summer, Whole Vibes Tribe!

We look forward to seeing YOU this summer! To subscribe to our awesome newsletter, click this link:

http://www.mywholevibes.wordpress.com

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” ― Arthur O’Shaughnessy

History Made! Performers with Autism

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Whole Vibes Tribe Newsletter

Here’s a sneak peak of how we are changing vibes within the community…

This week, over 30 students with Autism Spectrum Disorder performed in the choir and guitar groups for The Learning Academy at The Els Center of Excellence’s Class of 2019 Graduation Ceremony!

I am so proud of all of our students! Can’t wait to keep allowing them to shine!


Summer plans? Join us for Music Therapy and Music Experiences this Summer ’19!

  • Rhythm and Hues in West Palm Beach, Florida!
    • Come check out our intro music therapy sessions on Fridays at 10am! All are welcome!
  • Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida!
    • Adult Music Therapy Group on Tuesdays! Starting June 11th at 2pm!

Music Therapy Tip:

Try something new! Check out a new song or new playlist this week! You never know what you may connect with and what can lead to your wholeness!

For valuable content and updates like these, join our Whole Vibes Tribe Newsletter! Click here!https://mywholevibes.com/

WAIT!!! Did you see this??

Check out this amazing musician! He is blind and has autism! He got the golden buzzer on America’s Got Talent and will head straight to the finale! This is why we do what we do! We are so inspired!!

Change your Whole Vibes…Contact us today!

Feeling STRESSED??

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Consider music therapy to decrease stress. 
Relax to the max with your preferred music!
Music Therapy is proven to:

Lower heart rate

Lower respiration rate/ breathing distress

Promote Mindfulness (allows us to live in the present moment)

Lower anxiety that may be associated with stress

Lowers feelings of pain which may be caused by stress

Provide a way to express feelings associated with stress

Promote a positive and healthy way to cope with stress

Life Hack: How to Connect with Your Kids

Just BREATHE…

Use your favorite music to help you relax.  Of course, you can simply turn on your go to relaxing song and listen; however, let’s take it a step further and make your own relaxation playlist!  This can be done on most streaming services.  Start off with a song or two that are faster in tempo and/or more intense in sound and make the next two songs a little slower/ less intense and continue decreasing tempo and intensity until you’ve come to two songs that are slow enough for you to take deep breaths with.  Remember start fast and end slow.  You can change this playlist at any time!  Use what works for YOU!

Additional tip: Add some aroma therapy to your personalized relaxation session!


Summer plans? Join us for Music Therapy and Music Experiences this Summer ’19!

  • Rhythm and Hues in West Palm Beach, Florida!
    • Come check out our intro music therapy sessions on Fridays at 10am! All are welcome!
  • Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida!
    • Adult Music Therapy Group on Tuesdays! Starting June 11th at 2pm!

For valuable content and updates like these, join our Whole Vibes Tribe Newsletter! Click here!https://mywholevibes.com/

Planting and Growing

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Plant your seeds and watch them grow!

I love the visual of planting a seed into the ground where it’s dark and you can’t see what’s happening, when in reality, that little seed is absorbing all of it’s nutrients and water to grow. That little seed eventually breaks through the soil and becomes a plant!

I apply this principle to my music therapy and music sessions: It may take many tries for clients to complete a musical task, follow a cue, play an instrument acruately or successfully participate in a session; however, I am always inspired because I view it as me planting a seed. Eventually (sometimes that 100,000th time) I get to observe that desired response, witness that achieved goal or hear that beautiful note. The many attempts, encouragement and support represent the seed and the desired outcome is the tree.

I am blessed to witness this with so many clients and students. If you missed this post on Facebook and Instagram this week, check this out (Be prepared to cry a little)!

This is a note from one of my guitar students on the autism spectrum. I am inspired to continue to share the gift of music with everyone!

Let’s keep planting and growing to improve our Whole Vibes!

Good vibes only,

Erica

Check out the latest updates on music therapy and music experiences in Palm Beach County!


Summer plans? Join us for Music Therapy and Music Experiences this Summer ’19!

  • Rhythm and Hues in West Palm Beach, Florida!
    • Come check out our intro music therapy sessions on Fridays at 10am! All are welcome!
  • Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida!
    • Adult Music Therapy Group on Tuesdays! Starting June 11th at 2pm!

For more updates, resources, events, inspirations and more, subscribe to our Whole Vibes Tribe Newsletter today! http://mywholevibes.wordpress.com

Autism in April!

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Check out the latest updates on music therapy and music experiences in Palm Beach County!

Autism Awareness Month

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (or ASD) is a social and communication disorder that effects individuals of all backgrounds. Approximately 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with ASD according to The CDC in 2018. While The entire spectrum ranges from people who are nonverbal and needing assistance with functional skills and self-care to verbal with some social deficits or learning delays or disabilities and even Asperger’s Syndrome. To find out more about ASD, click on this link:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-facts-and-figures

The Benefits of Music Therapy with ASD

Music Therapy can help people on the Autism Spectrum reach many goals including:

  • Increased communication (verbal, nonverbal or with a device).
  • Increased gross and fine motor functioning by playing instruments.
  • Emotional recognition and regulation through singing and emotion themed interventions.
  • Self-expression through singing along into a microphone or playing a drum solo.
  • Redirection from unwanted behaviors by using a favorite song as a reinforcement.
  • Increased social awareness and interactions by sharing instruments with a peer or group.
  • Increased attending skills and focusing on a task by mirroring sounds on the piano.
  • Following directions through songs by singing along or following a visual chart.
  • Appropriate sensory input or output by playing instruments.
  • AND MORE! THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!

To discover more about the benefits of music therapy and ASD, click here:

Click to access MT_Autism_2012.pdf


Summer plans? Join us for Music Therapy and Music Experiences this Summer ’19!

  • Rhythm and Hues in West Palm Beach, Florida!
    • Come check out our intro music therapy sessions on Fridays at 10am! All are welcome!
  • Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida!
    • Adult Music Therapy Group on Tuesdays! Starting June 11th at 2pm!

Music Therapy Tip:

Here Comes the Sun…

Is it sunny where you are? Thankfully, it is in Florida! In case it’s not or if you’re in need of some sunny songs for your sessions, classes or just for a spring boost, check out my top 5 Sunshine song playlist!