As we enter our 20th year at Roman Music Therapy Services (RMTS), we’re pausing to celebrate the communities we’ve had the privilege of growing alongside. To mark this milestone, we’re sharing stories that reflect the impact of music therapy with the people and agencies we serve.
Transformative Power of Music
Eighteen years ago, Josh was introduced to Roman Music Therapy Services through a music therapy group at EMARC, now Communitas. Josh was six years old, and his mom, Judy, was looking for him to develop expressive language skills, something he did not have at that point.
“I was not expecting it to be so effective,” Judy shared.
Josh and Judy both describe his journey with music therapy as transformative. Josh began working with our founder, Meredith Pizzi. Josh described her as “the original music therapist,” a funny, but fitting description when thinking about the growth of RMTS over the past 20 years. In those early years, Josh was drawn especially to the drum, a common thread that continues to his sessions today.
The Power of Trust
Although his providers have changed over time, Judy says one thing has remained constant: trust. Through the years, she has watched each music therapist take the time to understand the needs of every individual in the room, including Josh.
Judy has seen significant growth in Josh’s expressive language since those early days. At the beginning, she remembers being excited simply to hear his voice in sessions, particularly in song. In more recent years, she has seen him express his emotions when his therapist asks how he is doing.
“He is able to express how he is feeling to his therapists, where maybe people weren’t asking him [in other settings],” she said. “That is exactly what I wanted him to do with music, I wanted him to be able to express himself more.”
The Importance of Community
One of the most meaningful experiences for Josh and his family in recent years has been RMTS karaoke nights. Josh is an essential participant, performing with confidence and pride. Judy says that Josh does not typically like the sound of loud applause, “He does not like us watching sports because of the loud applause.” But in the karaoke setting, Judy says, the applause is not overwhelming.
Reflecting on these moments, Judy shared, “He is proud of himself, because he is accomplishing something. And that is something that we as a family, we really can’t give him.” These performances show how much he has grown, not just in music, but in confidence over the years.
When asked what she would say to another family considering music therapy, Judy explained that there is no single reason to begin. She also noted that progress takes patience. Growth does not happen overnight, but over time she has seen meaningful changes not only in Josh, but in other clients as well. She emphasized the importance of the relationships built through music therapy, both with therapists and with peers.
When asked how music therapy makes him feel, Josh says, “[Music therapy] makes me feel happy, calm and proud.” From a six-year-old working to develop expressive language to a confident performer taking a bow, Josh’s story reflects the steady impact of music therapy over time. Stories like his reflect the kind of long-term partnership that has defined our work for the past 20 years.
Finding Inspiration in the People We Serve
l as a weekly chorus. The karaoke nights are full of fun, energetic music makers and audience members, cheering each other on and crooning to a favorite song. We have had parents and families, friends looking for something to do on a night out, adults with disabilities and young children participate.
Two weeks before the event and we realized we were offering something that the community was getting excited about! Social media started lighting up with groups and individuals tagging each other and referencing the karaoke post on Facebook. Registrations started pouring in online. Group homes started calling with residents RSVP’s. The week of the event we had ninety people registered for a room at 