Enriching lives through participation in music
Music Therapy Services of West Music
Group Music Opportunities for All Abilities
04/29/24
In addition to music therapy caseloads, our therapists facilitate recreational music making opportunities for people of all abilities.
One such program is SoundReach Choir, which was one of the very first initiatives of West Music’s first music therapist! Started in 1994, SoundReach is a choir for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. There was a need for disabled folks in the community to have access to social music experiences, and the formation of this group was also a great way to let the community know that West Music had a music therapist on staff! The original director, Kirsten Nelson, MA MT-BC, states, “The goal of the group was and still is to provide opportunities to make music with others. SoundReach concerts are an extra fun byproduct.”
The first SoundReach choir had about 10 members and it quickly became the highlight of everybody’s week. By the second season SoundReach had tripled in size, with participants driving over a half hour to participate. In 2024 we have 4 robust SoundReach choirs – one each in Coralville, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Des Moines. Each choir has two concert cycles per year and the community created by the choirs is palpable. Each season we have over 100 choir members across the four groups! Our SoundReach concerts are coming soon – support the singers in your area by attending their concert!
West Music also offers a virtual group called “SoundReach Singalongs” that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This group still occurs between SoundReach seasons as a way include singers who aren’t able to leave their homes or meet in large groups. Additionally, smaller summer recreational groups are offered in many of the communities we serve. Learn more about 2024’s summer recreational music programs here.
