In the midst of everything going on in the world, we don’t want you to miss out on music therapy groups or your one on one sessions, so we are doing sessions online! If you are healthy, our office is still currently open; however, if you are not and/or don’t want to take the chance, join us online!
It’s easy to do. I’ll send you a link to our session and you can join me live. That’s it!! (I may ask you to have some instruments or supplies on hand if you have them).
Are you missing your friends?? Let’s do music all together online! Just schedule a group session with me and I’ll share the link with your group and we can all have fun together…just like old times! Everyone will be in their own home and safe and healthy!
Here are a few ways we are staying healthy and asking our amazing families to help us by doing their part:
Instruments are cleaned after each session. We use lysol or Clorox products to wipe each and every instrument and supply used in each session. If your loved one is sensitive to any of these products, please let me know and provide a preferred alternative.
We are washing our hands and using hand sanitizer constantly! Please don’t be alarmed if we pause a session to wash our hands or use hand sanitizer especially after a sneeze or cough. If your loved one is sensitive to generic alcohol based sanitizer, please let me know and provide a preferred alternative.
We are staying home when we are sick and want you to as well! Please help us not spread germs to any of our team and we will do the same! If your loved one or you are sick, please cancel your session (try to do so 24 hours in advance) and we will make sure to get you on the schedule when you are better-I promise!
How can we still have sessions if we are sick?
LET’S SKYPE!
I’ve been facilitating some skype sessions for over a year with clients and for my own personal vocal coaching and it works great! We will just have to plan ahead, be creative and make sure you have visuals, supplies and ways to make music at home. We can also do this if you’re not sick as well! Just let me know!
Interability Chorus doing a SKYPE emotions training with Ms. Kristin!
Inter-Ability Chorus of Palm Beach Premiere Holiday Concert December 2019
On Friday, December 13th, our chorus for adults of various abilities and special needs performed for their very first concert! It was magical!
I am extremely PROUD of this entire group! The participants and their assistants, the Palm Beach Opera Teaching Artists and The Whole Vibes Music Therapy team are dedicated, talented and amazing all around! We couldn’t have made this happen without all of you!! THANK YOU, Abbey, James, Michelle, Stan, Jennifer and Camille!
Thank you, parents for believing in this chorus. We hope you see what we see in your loved ones and are just as proud of them for performing for all the world to see!
Finally, Thank you to The Els Center of Excellence for allowing us to run this program with your amazing organization and thank you Kelley for helping us with registrations!
We are gearing up for our Spring 2020 season! If you are interested in being a part of this group or would like to sponsor someone to participate, please contact me at: erica@mywholevibes.comor
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances…” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Thank you for believing in what we do at Whole Vibes!
It’s not everyday that you get people on board with your vision and that they are able to support. Because of you, music therapy is reaching so many in Palm Beach County and The World!
I wanted to take a moment before we reach our families and friends and support systems and dive into our turkeys, sides or takeout tomorrow and let you know that I am truly grateful for all of you! Thank you for allowing me to share music therapy experiences with all of you and help your loved ones achieve their goals and be most successful and have fun!
Thank you for your flexibility with scheduling, driving to my new office in Jupiter, participating in sessions with your loved ones and waiting patiently for us to wrap up sessions.
If I don’t get to collaborate with you directly just yet, thank you for your emails, kind words and for reading these newsletters.
I am blessed by you.
May your Thanksgiving be just what you need it to be and I’m sending love to you and yours.
Again, THANK YOU!
Musically yours, Erica
Upcoming EVENT ALERT!
Here’s your OFFICIAL INVITE to The Interability Chorus Premiere Holiday Concert on December 13th at 6PM! Share and come! We can’t wait to see you there!
Showed up early for a meeting (which is very impressive for me) only to find that I was too early…a whole week early! Unfortunately, I simply typed the wrong date into my calendar. I’m convinced that it wasn’t out of confusion or having a brain fart which happens sometimes. I know that it was out of my excitement to share the benefits of music therapy with the community!
I am always excited to discuss new ways to introduce music therapy and music interventions to new groups of people and just got ahead of myself today!
However, in the midst of my scheduling oversight, I had the chance to connect with new people just by sitting at Starbucks (where my originally planned meeting was) and at Whole Foods.
That was ANOTHER opportunity to share about what I get to do and how all of my clients and families like you benefit from music therapy. That means, I was still at the right place at the right time. I just had to see the opportunity in all of it!
I hope you can see the opportunity in all of your encounters. And just as a reminder, open your mouth and talk to people! You never know who holds the key to that next door you’re hoping to open!
I’m not sure if I’ll connect with those people ever again; however, more seeds were planted and one more life may change for the better because of their new knowledge of music therapy.
As I reflect with gratitude, I want to thank each of you for your support and encourage you to share your music therapy experiences with everyone you meet. You never know who may benefit from your story!
Upcoming EVENT ALERT!
Here’s your OFFICIAL INVITE to The Interability Chorus Premiere Holiday Concert on December 13th at 6PM! Share and come! We can’t wait to see you there!
Our Chorus is working hard to prepare for our Premiere concert!
See what we’ve been learning and working on:
Interability Chorus Practice!
The Benefits of Singing
I stumbled across this article about the benefits of singing! My favorite highlight is that “Group singing can produce satisfying and therapeutic sensations even when the sound produced by the vocal instrument is of mediocre quality.”
Welllll, we don’t have to worry about the “mediocre” part! We are fantastic and amazing! However, no matter who you are and what your ability is, you can benefit from singing! Click on the link to see where all this is coming from and to learn more!
Did you know music therapy promotes communication and self-expression?
What’s the difference and how does music help?
Communication vs. Self-expression
Self-expression is the act of bringing an internal experience to the outside world. It’s purpose is to reveal, to release and even at times, to express as in “squeeze out.” Self-expression can be full of all and any level of emotion. It fuels artistic endeavors. It takes only one person to express themselves. Self-expression can happen if no one else hears, witnesses or understands, as in writing in a diary.
Communication is the act of transferring information to another person(s). It takes (at least) two people — the communicator, and the receiver(s) of the communique. Effective communication takes the listener into deep consideration. Communication needs structure. It may format self-expression so that it is most digestible by an intended audience. Unhinged emotions are rarely effective. Tempered emotions can be effective in making a point.
Use songwriting to encourage one to identify and articulate their feelings and release them!
Use lyric analysis as a means for one to identify feelings, reflect and use the songs as a mirror to analyze their feelings and circumstances.
Use live music making (including singing or instrument playing) as a vehicle for persons to drive their feelings. Can be a way for one to release thoughts and feelings nonverbally.
Music and Communication
Encourage singing and vocalizing as a means to carry information, relay feelings, articulate and promote the use of words through singing song lyrics or singing syllables.
Use live music to facilitate opportunities for one to make eye contact to demonstrate engagement or as their means of communicating effectively.
Mirror vocal activities or instrumental activities to foster the exchange of communication in a safe and fun way.
I shared these tips and more at The “Turn on The Light” Conference last week!
Thank you, Children’s Healing Institute for putting on such a great conference and for continuing to bring about awareness of child neglect and abuse and needs of our children right here in Palm Beach County!
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!
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!
