On Saturday, December 4, 2010, at 2 PM the Museum of Making Music presents a unique workshop focoused on music and wellness for families. Discover how music can benifit your family lifestyle, communication skills, and overall health and well-being.

This event is one of four in a series of Music & Wellness Events.  For more information about the entire series, please click here.

Storytelling and folksongs are a great way for children to understand their own culture and the musical traditions around the world. Additionally, with a low level of inhibition, children are willing to create their own traditions through music and song. Your family is invited to The Music in THEM: Cultural & Family Traditions, to participate in bonding activities centered in musical stories, instruments, and games. Led by music therapist, Noelle Peterson, families will learn by example ways in which music can connect children to their past.

Presented in partnership with San Diego nonprofit, Resounding Joy, this event is free with a $5 suggested donation.

Resounding Joy—affectionately known as RJoy—is a public-benefit, California non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, dedicated to providing a supportive and healing music environment to adults and children who are homebound or have special needs. RJoy accepts referrals from individuals and from faith-based and community-based organizations who want to offer recreational music-making programs to older adult individuals and groups. Resounding Joy trains volunteer Joy Givers to bring words of hope and encouragement and appreciation for the joy and consolation brought by music.

Noelle Pederson, BA, MT–BC
Director of Education and Training

This passionate, young professional is beginning her career with a thirst for knowledge and a unique, flexible, multi-modal approach, applicable to clients of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Noelle is a board-certified music therapist and received her baccalaureate degree from the University of North Dakota. She joined the Resounding Joy staff in the spring of 2008 as the Director of Education and Training. Noelle heads the Joy Giver and Junior Joy Giver Programs, is a primary Sound Minds program facilitator, leads music therapy sessions for women transitioning from homelessness at the YWCA, and oversees many Resounding Joy community music-making events throughout San Diego County. In October 2008, Noelle represented Resounding Joy in its first International Outreach Project: Helping Hearts with Music in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Noelle is a skilled lecturer and presents Resounding Joy's programs to groups throughout California. Noelle eagerly seeks every opportunity to work with populations not yet being reached by the power of music and music therapy.