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From the Youth:
“Ms. Summer is cool, she made me feel confident in myself. She also helped me understand good music. She taught us how to use certain instruments to be used as a massager. Ms. Summer is kind of like both person/teacher, she is patient as a teacher and fun and let loose as a person. I would recommend Ms. Summer’s program to a lot of people who love music…my friends would benefit from the experience of the music program. I would like to personally thank Ms. Summer for letting me appreciate music and the music program.”
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“I feel like I’ve got an extended family even more, so I really appreciate what you guys have done for all of us. So thank you.”
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“Lets us be creative and pushes us to be good. We had fun. 10 stars.”
“This workshop made me realize that I do in fact have a voice - it’s definitely got a creative melody to it!”
- D. from Residential Treatment Program
“Today’s session has been stimulating, invigorating, fun and enjoyable. Thank you for your patience and for doing your best in drawing us out of our shell. More power to you!”
- E.V. from Residential Treatment Program
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“Ms. Summer was an outstanding teacher…she would stay calm and patient…she never raised her voice. I would recommend Ms. Summer to other programs…one reason…is because she likes to get to know your personality by letting you choose the type of music you like first before she just starts teaching you new stuff. She likes to get you comfortable and that’s what I like most about her.”
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“Summer made me think about the lyrics…and the different stuff you can use music for like relaxation. She has a lot of instruments that most children don’t see in their regular music classes. Summer is a cool, funny and nice teacher and person. She knows how to relate to us. If one of the students was to get mad she doesn’t yell or kick us out like a regular teacher, she talks to us. She gets along with everybody. I think everybody loves her, and we thank her for coming…Every school should have her as a music teacher because she is different. She doesn’t just teach music, she shows you how to relax, make songs and shows you the importance of lyrics…what she did that was fun for us was that she played the drums over our bodies. Summer is a really nice person and everyone should have an experience with her.”
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“My favorite activity with Summer was when we wrote lyrics and performed on the microphone. Songs sometimes tell people’s stories about their lives. Summer taught us a lot about music. She was a wonderful artist. I learned A LOT! Summer was very smart, loving and a beautiful person. She would always cheer everyone up when they were down and make them happy….I am writing to thank you for the wonderful experience I had with you and my classmates. You will be truly missed. Thank you for all the fun times we had with you.”
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“We learned that some people express their feelings in their songs. Summer was a good teacher because when we were down her music would make us laugh and smile and come together. I like slow music because it calms me down and it makes me think about life. I also like rap music because I can relate to some of the songs. Summer sometimes makes me happy with her music because her music is different. I would recommend Summer because she is a good teacher, so I would like other kids to know about her. I will remember Summer because she is in a band and I will buy her music. Summer is a really good person and she is really sweet. I hope she comes back and does music with us again because I really enjoyed music with her.”
“You showed me that music is everywhere and it can really help me smooth out my problems.”
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“It was a fun music session. Now when I listen to music I get lost in it.”
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“I never thought that I would have fun there because I don’t like the music but no, I was wrong. The music made me feel relaxed and now I like it.”
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“I had a lot of fun having the Music Therapy session. It took almost all the anger of out me with the musical instruments. Thank you.”
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“I appreciated this because I didn’t know how calming playing music could be. The music therapy session was interesting, intense and fun at the same time. What a way to spend the end of the week!”
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“Thank you for the musical release. I REALLY enjoyed myself…I went from a 7 to a 10! Thanks for making my day a 10.”
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“I got to let out everything inside of me. I learned different kinds of ways to take out my anger…not in a physical way.”
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“Deep breathing really works. I’m going to use that when I’m having a tough time.”
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“Thank you for freeing me spiritually! I like the deep-breathing. I’m going to try that at home again.”
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“Thank you for raising my spirits. I loved the music and had a great time. I felt that old instrument…flow right through me and felt it change how I felt.”
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“Jafar’s beats are fire, always rapping for real, love his group for real, great vibes.”
“I wanna say the course was really amazing. Allows one to open up and express what needs to be expressed. Jafar was and is amazing. Would do it again if I was near by.”
- A. from Residential Treatment Program
“Jafar’s group is a great time for me and my fellow clients to decompress from a program that brings up a lots of hard and heavy emotions while also letting us express our creativity. As a songwriter myself, this group is a great reminder of home, that always brings a smile to my face. On top of that, he shares his wisdom with us and he is very insightful.
- A. from Residential Treatment Program
“I have found great mindfulness and have had good fun with Jafar’s class. Good writing prompts and the music making process has been fun with good participation. I was happy when it was raining and we got another day with him on Monday. Thank you Jafar!!”
- B. from Residential Treatment Program
“Jafar’s class is amazing and he is a great teacher and I learned a ton.”
“Jafar is awesome! His groups always bring so much joy and laughter to the milieu. He really makes me think and has great prompts. Everyone gets super creative in his group and comes together to make real fun songs. He needs to keep coming every Wednesday!”
- R. from Residential Treatment Program
“Jafar is the G.O.A.T. This is my first group with him and it boosted my mood so much. Love the guy.”
- V. from Residential Treatment Program
“Makes my day when Jafar walks through the door and we love his group. It really makes me think positively and impacts my treatment so much…the best group of the week. Jafar is also very nice and he really teaches me a lot about music.”
In response to the question: “Has your participation in Collective Voices has been a good experience this summer? Why or why not?” (In partnership with Rhythm & Truth.)
“Yes because I felt like people could understand me.”
“Yes, it made me get out of my comfort zone.”
“Yes because everyone got to know each other better.”
“I got to learn new ways of talking to people.”
“It helped me relax and be myself.”
“Yes because it took all my shyness away.”
“I was able to get more comfortable with speaking in a group.”
“It has been good talking experience because I won’t be shy talking in front of a lot of people.”
“It’s something new something we as a group never did.”
“I’ve gotten to come out of my comfort zone and become more outgoing.”
“It gave me the experience to try new things and learn more about the people in my class.”
“It has helped me get over my shyness.”
“I used to get shy and now I really don’t that much.”
“I learned how to open up to people.”
“It was fun doing all the activities we did.”
“It helped us on not being shy.”
“Most of us opened up a lot and we got to know our teachers a bit faster than a normal school’s students would.”
“It has been a good experience because it calming and relaxing.”
“It helped me get less stressed.”
“It has helped me meet new people and feel very confident about myself.”
“I got to know a lot more about my classmates.”
“Yes because it gets me distracted from things I am always thinking about.”
“Yes because it’s been fun.”
“Yes my experience in CV has been good because I’ve been more open.”
“Yes I really liked them it made me think differently about myself.”
“The drums and games made it very exciting.”
“It showed me how trying new things can lead to better things in life.”
“Yes because in CV I can express myself.”
“I feel that CV really helps to get everything off of my mind.”
“Yes because I have learned to trust people in life.”
“Yes because we learn team work.”
“It’s been a good experience this summer because it makes you feel better.”
“We got to share our feelings.”
“Yes because I didn’t know I had courage to do some of the things I did.”
“Yes because it’s a fun class and you get to cooperate with everyone and meet new people.”
“It has made me speak out in what I believe and not be afraid of speaking what I feel.” “It has been fun something that I had never done before.”
“Yes it has me express myself and who I am an I’m being more opened up.”
“Yes because now I feel more connected with teachers and peers.”
“It has been a good experience for me and the incoming students to get familiarized with the staff and students.”
“It was fun being able to express some of my feelings.”
“It has been a good experience because I am not shy anymore.”
“I learned new things about people I already knew.”
“It was interesting to know thing I never knew to calm me down.”
“My participation was a good experience because I have never played the drums before.”
“Yes it has been a good experience because we were all expressing ourselves without getting judged.”