Morgan Moriarty ’22, shares her musical talents for a great cause.
This summer 25 students were accepted in the CSGC grants program. These grants are funded due to the generous support of the Cost, Earle/Mendillo and Workman families, who established endowment funds to support the community and public service endeavors of future generations of Deerfield students. For more information on these grants please visit: https://deerfield.edu/csgc/grants.
When I was eleven, I organized and performed my own concert to benefit a little girl in my neighborhood, Molly, who has non-verbal autism. When I visited her across the street, Molly loved music which sparked the idea for a benefit concert to help fund her progress. However, at the time I didn’t realize the extent of the impact on my neighbor and myself until I was much older. Thinking back to when I visited her, she would respond to music through physical movements and hums. I then discovered music therapy a few years later through videos online and research to understand the response Molly and others have to music.
The goal of my project, Music Is Medicine, is to lift the spirits of those living in assisted living and soldier’s homes. Elderly people are feeling isolated and are unable to see their families during this time. I would have loved to sing in person, but the pandemic circumstances will not allow this. Therefore, I will be sending videos of myself performing music in the hopes that residents can listen and feel joy. This June, I focused on making videos and contacting the activity directors at both St. Andre’s Assisted Living and Holyoke Soldier’s Home. We are still figuring out the logistics of showing the videos to the residents because of the dangers of contact and vulnerability of the homes.
I would like to thank the CSGC for the opportunity to learn more and serve my community through the power of music. The grant will be used to purchase small percussion instruments or flags for the residents to participate with while they watch the videos. As musicians, it is always our first priority to change someone’s minute, day, or life for the better and heal whomever we can through song.