Run by a well-known neurosurgeon, Dr. Christopher Duma: "our foundation supports music as a healing art. As an example, we are currently working with the Vanderbilt University Brain Institute on “resynchronizing” the Autistic brain using certain patterns of music. Similar research is planned for Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Please visit our website: www.music-heals.com"

The Music-Heals Project(MHP) was my brainchild in 2014. It grew from our original charitable organization, FNSR which was founded in 2005. I realized that some of my patients with Parkinson's Disease who were unable to walk independently, could indeed dance almost flawlessly when listening to music that they considered best for them. I then tested a number of patients using music, composed by a famous classical and jazz composer, Mike Garson, while they were doing timed skill tasks. Patients were faster, and more accurate when listening to the music of their choice. Patients with Alzheimer's Disease ripped their headphones off of their heads when listening to disturbing, unfamiliar, dissonant music, but smiled ear-to-ear when they heard music they knew and loved in the past. They became animated and talkative.

Being a brain surgeon, this led me to begin researching the connection of the ear, the limbic system, and the basal ganglia - primal connections within the brain that were laid down long before the neocortex. After testing nearly 100 patients, it became clear what was loved and what was hated. It became clear that personalizedmusic itself could be used as a therapy for patients with Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Parkinson's Disease, etc. We took the top 12 compositions as chosen by the patients themselves, and created the "Symphonic Suite for Healing." This work is symbolic of what can be achieved with music therapy, designed for individual patients, much like a doctor designing a medicine regimen for his or her patient. We then had to perform the Suite to "Raise Awareness for the Healing Power of Music" and in turn raise money to propagate this idea nationally.

This initial direction of the MHP was jump-started on March 1st, 2014 with our sold-out performance of the world premier of Mike Garson's Symphonic Suite for Healing at Segerstrom Concert Hall in the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, CA. Three separate standing ovations, and a packed house, made the concert an enormous success. We raised awareness for the healing power of music, and we are now going forth with bringing that power to local communities and hospitals. We are currently partnering with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, in their work with Autism. Perhaps listening to a particular rhythm, or beat, or melody will create a more social child with Autism, a happier more lively patient with Alzheimer's Disease, a more mobile and agile patient with Parkinson's Disease. The potential is endless. Please join us with your support of this project.

Christopher Duma, MD, FACS
CEO and Founder, The Music-Heals Project (formerly, FNSR)

THE MUSIC-HEALS FOUNDATION

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THE MUSIC-HEALS PROJECT - Raising Awareness of the Healing Power of Music