The Introduction
Somewhere between my sophomore and junior year in high school, my favorite cousin collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. The prognosis was a cancerous brain tumor. Vangie went immediately into surgery. After that, she endured massive amounts of radiation. Her life was forever changed that day, and our entire family was left feeling scared and devastated for her.
That was 1978. Subsequently, her mother, my aunt, dedicated her life to help and care for Vangie, so that she would always know, feel, and have love in her life.
In December 2018, just before Christmas, Vangie passed away at the age of 56. Her life was one of determination, faith, spark, spunk, and endurance. She touched the hearts of all who met her with her radiant smile and contagious laugh. I will always remember and miss her. ELTMA is dedicated to the memory of my beautiful and courageous cousin, Vangie.
The Early Years: 1980 – 1993
About two years later, still profoundly affected by what had happened to my cousin, I made the decision to use my music to help others and went to college to become a music therapist. For seven years, I was trained and educated to use my musical skills to help others, enriching lives for the better. For over a decade, as a music therapist, I helped hundreds meet their educational, occupational, speech, social, expressive, and rehabilitation goals through the tools of music. I did this working as a music therapist through private practice, by contracting my services through school districts, and while working full time as a music therapist in the CA State Hospitals (Developmental Disabilities Services).
Later: 1993 – 2018
As a true clinician at heart, I was unwilling to be promoted into the management and administration of other therapists. Consequently, I went back to school to further my education and training, in order to become a music educator. Wanting to learn more of my new profession, I earned a graduate degree in music performance and found myself teaching high school band. Utilizing my music therapy, music education, performance, and conducting training, I ended up creating new and restoring old (mostly) band programs from Northern to the South-Central regions of California for twenty-five years. The journey was engaging and many lives from elementary school children to senior adults were forever changed through the music programs I designed.
Today: 2018 & Beyond
The idea of ELTMA began forming from my recent work at a Jesuit high school in Arizona, where education and service are entwined. I came to Arizona to assist in the continued development of the band program at this Jesuit school. It involved sharing our music with refugee children, disabled vets, disabled homebound seniors, children with special needs, and much more.
Then, in May of 2018, a member of my immediate family was diagnosed with severe Narcolepsy. It turned the family upside down. I learned of the devastating effects on daily living, learning, communication, cognition, and over all functioning that this brain disorder causes. Overnight, I became an advocate. I wanted to help, not only for my family, but also for others. Through research, I discovered that the more people are aware of such sleep and brain disorders, the quicker help is available for the affected, including proper screening, testing, diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, a cure.
1978 – 2018
40 Years
The ELTMA Project is the outcome from my family’s lost opportunities, challenges, and my life experiences of using music to help people grow, develop, and obtain their personal or educational goals. Music is powerful and it is what I know will help others make a difference in society.
2019
Too many deserving (and talented) children in need cannot afford the music lessons or instruments required to foster real musical development. Thus, future artists are lost. ELTMA can help. Through the ELTMA benefit concert program, AWAKE! Recital Series, financial support is awarded to underserved youth afflicted with such disorders.
More research and advocacy in sleep and brain disorders is needed to better diagnose and treat people with these disorders. For example, many children and adults with Narcolepsy go years before even getting a diagnosis, thus severely delaying much needed treatment. This is a tragic loss for our schools and societies. ELTMA can help. Through the ELTMA benefit concert program, AWAKE! Recital Series, donations are awarded to organizations such as “Project Sleep,” and “Wake Up Narcolepsy.”
I am excited! The future looks better with ELTMA. ~ Won’t you be a part of the ELTMA story and join the journey? You are invited. Browse through the website and see the main ways you can take part. You, too, can help make a difference in the lives of many that need it.
