It seems as though the majority of the people I meet these days wants to do some kind of good. They want to be involved in something that is moving people towards a future of better. And when these people see things like this on TV:
When these same people see an elementary school that is struggling to hold on to their music program, they think, “I can’t support this whole thing; but if I could help a little bit and even get some friends to help, maybe there would be a chance…”
Or, maybe they know about an amazing music therapy program in a children’s hospital that is in need of some instruments for their patients, but they are just not sure how to go about helping them in the most beneficial way.
Well, here is how a lot of people can each do a little bit of good to create a whole lot of good.
In addition to filming and producing a full length documentary titled, “Universal MusiCARE: The Music Therapy Experience,” Terra Rising Records has also launched a national initiative called, “Beat Teams.” The goal of this initiative is to simply put instruments into the hands of teachers, music therapists, community music leaders and, most importantly, children themselves.
How is Terra Rising doing this? While traveling across the country later this year to wrap up filming for the documentary, Terra Rising staff members will also be picking up donated instruments from generous souls (like yours?) and will be delivering these instruments to music therapy and music education programs that are in need of them.
“So what you’re saying is … we don’t even have to go anywhere or ship anything to donate?”
I’ll let Michael Ricucci, CEO of Terra Rising Records, explain: “We are asking YOU, our loyal supporters to help us connect with people and organizations willing to donate and/or receive musical instruments and/or art supplies. Terra Rising will take care of picking up and delivering all of the equipment to those in need while we finish the documentary.”
Just last week, TRR made the first ever Beat Teams donation to Sunrise Day Camp in Wheatley Heights, New York.
About this donation, Ricucci told PRLOG, “This is only the beginning! Terra Rising wants to give Sunrise the ability to grow musically and that will only come with a continued effort of bringing advocacy and awareness to local communities throughout the country. Beat Teams chapters have now formed in Atlanta, Knoxville, Washington DC, New York, Seattle, Sacramento, and Los Angeles through music therapists, music educators and independent musicians. We are adding new cities every week and look forward to hosting our Universal MusiCARE live concert series (which will also serve as instrument donation sites) in these cities on our 4 month tour this fall and winter!”
{read the full press release here}
You didn’t miss the fact that Atlanta was the first area listed, did you? I contacted Michael a little over a month ago after the initial Beat Teams press release came out and blindly volunteered to be a part of this national initiative. Why did I jump on board so quickly? During our email exchange, Michael said to me, “… helping people should be really easy.” Amen! This is a program I believe in; it is simple in nature, it is a problem-solver, it gives struggling music programs a fighting chance (a few instruments can be the difference between sink or swim here) and it is doing good.
Again, this is easy. If you have instruments to donate, hit me up. And if you are nowhere near Atlanta, hit me up, anyways, and I will get you in touch with the right person. If you want to purchase new instruments to donate, I would be happy to give you some websites and resources to use for purchasing and I can even give you some ideas of commonly used and needed instruments for music therapy and music education programs.
If you ever find yourself wondering how to help people or programs in need,
this is a no-brainer.
_____________________________________________________________
*Be sure to like Metro Music Therapy, LLC, on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@MetroMusicTx) to get all of the latest updates about Beat Teams Atlanta! {quick link buttons are at top, right-hand corner of our website!}
Please take a quick minute to meet the Atlanta Beat Team!
Laura Lenz, MT-BC – Metro Music Therapy
Beth Collier, MT-BC – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Kirby Carruth, MMT, MT-BC – Fulton County Schools
Amber Weldon-Stephens, MME, Ed.S., MT-BC – Fulton County Schools
Mallory Even, MT-BC, NICU MT – Metro Music Therapy
www.terra-rising.com
[email protected]
Terra Rising Records on Facebook
@Rising-Terra on Twitter
#BeatTeams