THE UPTON & MENDON TOWN CRIER – SEPTEMBER 19, 2008
WITH MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM, PATIENTS DISCOVER THEIR INNER ROCK STAR
By Bonnie Adams, Staff Reporter
(excerpts)
As a young man who is still in his early twenties, Paul Coskie has had more than his share of pain and sorrow. But for this young Upton man, who has been dealt a double whammy of a life threatening brain injury after a car accident and then only four years later, a leukemia diagnosis, complaining is clearly not his thing, instead, he looks outward and spends much of his time and energy in helping others to overcome what he has and still is going through.
Paul is no Pollyanna – he’s only human, so of course, he has his moments of sadness, grief and anger. No young man wants to be known only by his conditions in his life. But now, thanks to a terrific and innovative program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston, Paul can add one new exciting title to his resume – budding rock star.
Since spring, Paul has been participating in a music therapy program at the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies at the DFCI. The master class workshops, known as "Rock-in’ Time: a Rock Music Performance Jam,” were created by musician Jonathan Auerbach as a way to allow students a chance to explore their inner rock star while also enjoying the chance to have fun and even leave behind the world of cancer, if only for a short time.
Drawing on his own experiences as a successful musician, Auerbach, with the support of music therapist Brian Jantz, MT-BC/DFCI, works with his students on all aspects of performing. To be considered for the program, each student must have some prior music experience and importantly, a willingness to be open to learning more, Auerbach said.
“I teach them about music but don’t focus on a traditional curriculum," he noted. "The focus is on performing - I challenge them so that they can electrify through music"
"It's meant to be fun and a way for the students to express themselves musically," he added. "It helps them forget - for a little bit - about cancer and chemo.”
Teaching the workshops has been a way, Auerbach noted, to merge his interest in music with helping cancer patients. "After a loved one was treated at the Dana Farber successfully, I thought hard about how I could show my appreciation," he said. "And music therapy spoke to my passion.'
As a member of the DFCI's Leadership Council, he has made a commitment to continue his work with the music therapy program as not only instructor, but as fundraiser as well. This past summer he performed at a private event in Hopkinton that helped raise over $30,000 for the music therapy program.
Also appearing that night was Paul, along with his mother, Dixie. "Paul gave a 'wow' - a smash talk and Dixie was, absolute grace under pressure," Auerbach recalled. "I know it was emotional for both of them, but they were amazing.”
And although Paul did not perform musically, his words made as big an impact on the crowd as if he had done a sizzling guitar solo. "This special music program not only relaxes me and other patients, but it gives us an opportunity to feel “normal” and builds confidence and teaches us to improve the quality of our music,” he told the audience that night. "It has been fun working with a professional musician and teacher such as Jonathan and I am thankful for the program and to Brian and Jonathan for their friendship, hard work and time - and to all of you who generously donate money to keep the music and beat alive. "
For Dixie Coskie, the program has come as a welcome respite in a world of sadness and pain for her son. "The music therapy program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute is special in that it gives patients a place to regroup, revamp, and revive,” she said. "Through his guidance, the new "Rock-in Time Jam Workshop” which Jonathan created and directs -- Jonathan and Brian have been able to transform the dismal cancer experience into something fun, engaging and healing.”
"I personally have witnessed the healing transformation in my son Paul's demeanor during these "Music Master Class Workshops,” Coskie said. "It is so uplifting to see a smile on my sons face after all that he has been through. With help and donations from people like you, Jonathan’s vision to help more kids through the music program at the Zakim Center at Dana Farber can bring more joy and some sort of normalcy into the hearts of these aspiring musicians - who just happen to have cancer," she added.
The program itself is continuing to generate extremely favorable response, Auerbach noted, with enthusiastic support from such medical luminaries as Dr. David Rosenthal, who is the Medical Director of the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies as well as a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is affiliated with the Department of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber. Also exciting, he added, was the number of businesses who had generously donated goods and services for the fundraiser that night, as well as a growing number of corporate sponsors.
Although he started out as Paul's teacher, that relationship quickly grew to something much more, he said. "It was galvanizing," Auerbach said. "He teaches me. He is an unbelievable lion. Even in the face of bad times, he does what it takes to stand up and be a man."
To learn more about the music therapy program at DFCI, go to
www.jonathanauerbach.com and
www.danafarber.org/pat/support/zakim/default.html
