Category: Adults with Special Needs

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. 

More Than Just a Music Class

Hillary enrolled her now 5-year-old daughter, Ada, in Sprouting Melodies at Roman Music Therapy Services when she was just 1-year-old. Ada had always loved music, so it felt like a good fit. What she didn’t expect was how meaningful the experience would become for both of them. At first, Sprouting Melodies was a fun, weekly activity with songs, movement, and time spent together. But as Ada grew and her needs became more apparent, music therapy began to offer something more. “They knew how to adapt to my daughter’s needs,” Hillary explained. Since the sessions are led by music therapists, they were able to adapt activities to meet her daughter where she was at, while still supporting her growth.   

 

A Supportive Community

One of the most meaningful aspects of Sprouting Melodies was the diversity within the group itself. Children of all abilities participated side-by-side with one another, engaging in their own way, each supported in a way that felt natural to them. “We thought it was really special that 

she was able to do the class with kids of all different abilities,” Hillary said. “She and I both made friends in those classes who we still see now, a few years later.” 

In that shared space, differences were not barriers, rather they were part of the experience. For Ada, it meant being included. For Hillary, it meant feeling understood. For both of them, it meant building a community that would last beyond the music session.

Beyond the Session

Like many families who join Sprouting Melodies, music continued beyond the session, within the home. “We sing a lot of the Sprouting Melodies songs at home to this day” Hillary said. Those songs became part of their daily routines, woven into playtime, transitions, and quiet moments alike. And now, with the arrival of their second child, the music continues. “We also sing them with him,” Hillary shared. “I’ll be enrolling him in Sprouting Melodies soon.” For them, music therapy has become something that grows with their family, from one child to the next, from one stage of life to another. 

Similarly, the connection to Roman Music Therapy Services didn’t end when Sprouting Melodies was over. When the opportunity arose to join Roman Music Therapy Services in a new way, Hillary jumped at the opportunity. “When Roman Music Therapy was looking for someone to work at the front desk on Saturdays, I was very excited to join,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of the organization that had made us feel so welcomed, so I could welcome other families in turn.”  From 2025-2026, Hillary worked at the front desk, playing a role in creating the same first impression that meant so much to her – greeting families as they walk through the door, many of them just beginning their own journeys. 

20 Years of Building Community Through Music

Through programs like Sprouting Melodies, Roman Music Therapy Services has helped families not only support their children’s development, but also find a connection with music, with therapists, and with each other. For Hillary and Ada, it started with a love for music that grew into friendships that have lasted for years. Because sometimes, the most powerful part of music therapy isn’t just the music. It’s the feeling of belonging that stays with you long after the last song.  

 

 

 

 

 

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.