DANIELS MUSIC FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
Daniel’s Music Foundation (DMF) is a non-profit organization that empowers individuals with developmental and physical disabilities by combining recreational music programs with community and socialization. Our mission is to provide a comfortable, educational and social environment in which our members can enjoy, learn, and practice the joy of music together.
About This Cause
Music has been used as a healing force for centuries. Its beauty, power and personal relevance has made it a wonderful instrument for the wellness and rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. We have learned first-hand from experience the truth to this statement. In 1997, one of five aneurysms burst inside the brain of 12-year old, Daniel Trush that left him in a coma for 30 days. His doctors did not expect him to survive, but he proved them wrong. Music in various forms played a critical role in every phase of his recovery. From the songs that kept him connected to reality during his coma, to the songs he sang with his father, to the keyboard playing that helped him regain his motor skills; and even the music history class he took that ultimately inspired him to help others. Most importantly, it was music that maintained his connection to the people around him – and to the very essence of life. This life-altering experience was the inspiration for Daniel’s Music Foundation. DMF’s innovative program is centered around our new state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind music center located in East Harlem, NYC. This modern, brightly lit, 8,700 square foot barrier-free facility houses five music studios, a recording studio and sound booth, and a fun cafe serving up snacks and beverages, appropriately named Snackappella. There is a private entrance and lobby with it's own elevator. But what is most compelling is when our members arrive and bring our center to life with the magic of music. Music nourishes, restores, and heals. Playing music – however done – requires complex processing functions by multiple parts of the brain and has the potential to open up new neural pathways. Study after study confirms the benefits of music: • A simple song-singing program (15 sessions) was shown to increase not only vocal speaking range but also feelings of happiness – as well as decrease feelings of sadness, fear, confusion, tension and fatigue – in males with traumatic brain injury. • Students consistently involved in orchestra or band during their middle and high school years performed better in math at grade 12. The results were even more pronounced when comparing students from low-income families. • New research shows that even amateur musicians’ brains are highly developed in a way that makes the musicians alert, interested in learning, disposed to see the whole picture, calm, and playful. Even though disabled individuals constitute approximately 11% of NYC's population, virtually all music programs are geared towards the non-disabled. Little thought is given to accessibility and ensuring they feel welcome, ultimately leaving thousands of disabled individuals unable to experience the transformative benefits of music. Additionally with 21% of disabled individuals over the age of 5 living in poverty, music programs are difficult to afford. Often times they are isolated in their homes and many find it difficult to participate in outside activities; even their therapies are typically one-on-one. This contributes to their troubles, since isolation itself can have a debilitating impact on health. RESULTS Every member shows some form of improvement, some progress toward a highly individualized goal. For some, it might be learning to follow directions, for others it might be gaining the confidence to sing a solo in front of their peers. Still, we see our real success as reflected in our members’ underlying emotional changes. The 2004 National Organization on Disability/Harris Poll study found that only 34% of people with disabilities were very satisfied with their lives, as compared to 61% of those without disabilities. From inception, DMF’s focus has been on the power of music to provide hope and enjoyment, to reduce social isolation and increase self-confidence. Once these factors are in place, the other benefits of music education and community can make themselves felt. Thus, our key performance indicator, our “smile-o-meter,” focuses on the changes in attitudes and outlook reported by members and their families. We take this result very seriously. On behalf of the members we currently serve and those we hope to serve in the future, we thank you for your consideration in supporting us.