Winter 2025 Newsletter

New Partnerships & Bands

MMM has initiated a collaboration with the UCLA Schools of Music and Neuroscience to explore the history and practice of musical exchange and expression as a tool for conflict resolution. This will expand the reach of our mission to a multi-generational audience, exploring the unifying power of Prescriptive Arts as a significant force for good as well as aligning with Rotary International’s new “World Peace” initiative. Our mentors include singer, songwriter, and social activist Tommy Sands, whose songs have been recorded by Joan Baez and The Dubliners, Dr. Bruce Victor, a psychiatrist, former Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF, and a Cambridge Fellow, John Fitzgerald, a percussionist, organizational coach, and workshop facilitator, and Christopher Bailey, Arts & Health Lead at the World Health Organization.

We’ve added several new free music groups at LA City senior centers. We now have four weekly music groups—two drum circles and two sing-alongs—at the Annenberg GenSpace in Koreatown as well as sing-alongs in Lincoln Heights and Hollywood. Other upcoming locations include Downtown LA at the LA Athletic Club and Woodland Hills/Calabasas Senior Center both sponsored by Rotary. We've also established a new global partnership with Rotary Club of San Justo, Argentina and soon will have an in-person music group in Hong Kong.

Rotary International President Mário César Martins de Camargo of São Paulo, Brazil visited our Beverly Hills Treblemakers Band in February.

Our Music Mends Minds UCLA Student Chapter has conceived a project for drum circle facilitator certification so they can lead drum circles in after-school elementary programs around West LA. The club will be taking music and science into the classrooms.

Media Appearances

In November MMM’s story was featured on KTLA’s Unscripted magazine show hosted by Dayna Devon.

The Santa Monica Star also ran a front-page feature on MMM. Dr. Theodore Zanto visited our Music is Medicine: Ask the Experts Podcast and discussed how neural entrainment affects basic cognitive control functions and whether select cognitive functions may be improved through neural entrainment with musical rhythms or with non-invasive rhythmic neurostimulation. 

Carol also appeared on the Be Good Humans podcast hosted by Brian Phelps and Trey Callaway.

In October Carol was interviewed by George Ackerman on the Together for Sharon Podcast. Ackerman is a well-known advocate in the Parkinson’s community who’s testified before Congress. He founded Together for Sharon for the purpose of keeping his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman's memory alive, and to share the message of Parkinson's Awareness and hope for a cure. MMM’s story was also published in his new book "Voices of Resilience."  

In September Carol was interviewed by Dian Griesel, for The Silver Disobedience Podcast. 

Holiday Performances

Our annual holiday concert at the Brentwood Presbyterian Church featured a performance by Maurice Jordan singing to his wife Tessie "I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You." This year we also expanded our audience by debuting a live feed to the concert which allowed viewers around the world to stream it in real time. Please use this stream link to join us in our weekly 5th Dementia Flagship Band rehearsals from the comfort of your own home each Thursday from 2-3:00 PM PST.

On December 7 our Studio City Jazzanova band performed at the LA Athletic Club for the Downtown Rotary Club's charity event.

Tokyo Rotarian Connection

Carol hosted a tea in her Brentwood home for a group of Rotarians from Japan including Past District Governor Yoko Hattori. Guests also included Rotarian Stephen Berkov, Past District Governor Makiko Nakasone, Santa Monica Rotary Club President Dr. Monika White, and Westwood Village Rotary Club Past President Diane Good. Makiko has connected Stephen to a Yamaha executive who is a member of a Tokyo Rotary Club, which could pave the way for a potential partnership with MMM. There are currently four music groups at Tokyo community centers.

UCLA Students

We're celebrating our past UCLA admin student employees and interns who have helped Music Mends Minds continue to reach our full potential. Please click here to read their testimonials about their MMM experience!