Donna Guzzo, President and CEO of First Coast Cultural Center announced today the nonprofit organization’s Sound Connections® Music Therapy program for children with disabilities had a successful school year serving students in  St. Johns County schools. This year, with the addition of a second Board Certified Music Therapist on staff, the program was able to re-incorporate Cunningham Creek Elementary School in the classrooms. The program added Crookshank Elementary School, a Title 1 school and grew with Early Childhood Services classes at First Coast Technical College (FCTC) from two to four Pre-K classrooms. According to Guzzo, there are currently eight schools receiving the program serving close to 550 students in 54 classrooms. Students work on behavior, social, emotional, academic, reading, and motor goals through evidence-based music interventions.

“Students have continued to attain their individual goals this year with every student meeting at least one goal and more than 85 percent meeting every goal set out at the beginning of the year,” said Candice Sirak, MT-BC, board certified music therapist and Sound Connections instructor.  “A heavy focus this year has been on reading comprehension goals that will help the students succeed in their classes. Students leave their sessions happy, focused, and ready to learn,” she said.

Recently, Sirak worked with students at the end-of-year therapeutic performances where they practiced a song including intervention goal setting. Students perform the song for families and friends. “It is an important learning opportunity for the students as it is often the first time, and sometimes the only time, that they are able to be on the stage in the spotlight,” said Sirak. “The students enjoy showing off what they have learned and accomplished this year and the parents enjoy seeing their child shine on stage. At the end of the performance many parents express their gratitude for the program, even stating that their child comes home singing the songs,” she said. “This is such a valuable service for students with special needs as they respond to the music. It is so rewarding for me to see these young people grow academically, socially, and emotionally, and to see how far they have come with the program.”

This year, Jennifer Collins and Tony Coleman from the St. Johns School District Board attended performances in the Title 1 schools. According to Sirak, they enjoyed seeing what the students have accomplished this year and the growth they have made. Collins appreciates the dedicated and specifically trained teachers that work with the special needs students. She is grateful that Sound Connections® Music Therapy is able to support students and teachers in their educational development.

“As we look forward to the future, we hope to add another school to our program and continue to provide quality care to the students we currently serve. Sound Connections® is funded through grants and private donations to provide Music Therapy services free of charge to the schools we serve,” said Guzzo. “And while we have transitional funding secured for the next school year, we are looking for partners who will be able to support us in the years to come with much needed funds,” she said. Funding required to have four St. Augustine Title 1 schools served with the program is $75,000 and $60,000 is needed for Sound Connections to be included at all current schools served.

St. Johns School District students who are in most need including Crookshank Elementary, The Webster School, and Osceola Elementary, and Early Childhood Services classes at First Coast Technical College (FCTC) which are Title I schools in St. Augustine, Fla. Existing funds will help to continue the program at Cunningham Creek Elementary, Valley Ridge Academy, PVPV/Rawlings, and Ocean Palms Elementary in St. Johns County.

Sound Connections® is an outreach of the First Coast Cultural Center offered free of charge to students in St Johns County schools for close to 20 years. The program is designed to support students’ progress in developing and attaining social, emotional, and academic goals using music interventions.

“Sound Connections® is essential for our students with disabilities. We have the data to show that the program is successful, but that can’t capture the successes that I see all the time. For example, from a nonverbal student saying ‘hello’ during a greeting song, to a student with autism sharing instruments with a peer, to students with behavioral disorders working together to write a song,” said Candice Sirak, MT-BC, board certified music therapist.

Sirak has also worked with St. Johns County School District’s Access and Florida Head Start classrooms including children with significant cognitive disabilities and the income-based program, respectively.

She performs specially designed therapeutic songs and guitar compositions with a wide variety of musical items and interactive touch boards for students to achieve their goals. For more information, visit the Sound Connections® website at  https://firstcoastculturalcenter.org/programs-events/sound-connections-r.

The Cultural Center’s new building has formally opened with arts, culture, community activities, and a gift shop at 6000B Sawgrass Village Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach. The two-story, 6,000-square-foot space was funded in part by local donors and an additional support campaign is currently in place. The Center is a place to create, understand, and experience the arts. The organization accomplishes its goals through exhibitions of local, regional and national artists in a variety of media through educational and enlivening events, quality arts classes, lectures, and workshops. Key programs include Sound Connections® Music Therapy for children with disabilities which is offered free of charge to students at St. Johns County schools, and Title I schools which provide additional resources to economically disadvantaged students. Also, Kick StART after school arts enrichment programs and services are available. Visit the website at https://firstcoastculturalcenter.org.