August
2023
Video tour of NMTS renovations.
Hello!
As I reflect on our first year in our new home, I am filled with immense gratitude for our community’s unwavering support and dedication to our mission. Your contributions have been instrumental in our growth and have enabled us to make significant strides in advocating for inclusion, equity, and diversity. We have seen the impact of our work in the lives of our participants, and we have been inspired by their resilience, strength, and determination.
I am so proud of what we have accomplished over the past year, but I also recognize that there is still much to be done. I – along with everyone at NMTS – am committed to continuing our efforts to create a more inclusive and accepting society, where everyone is valued for their unique abilities and contributions. And as I look forward to the future, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. And of course, your involvement will continue to be crucial to our success, and we are grateful for your continued support. Here’s to another fantastic year around the sun!
Manal Toppozada, Founder and Executive Director
Artown Recap
Our Artown event celebrating 20 years of music was a blast! The afternoon was filled with blue skies, familiar and new faces, lots of smiles, dancing, and music by The Note-Ables, Local Vocals, Exploring Music I & II, Dance I & II, and Electronic Music classes. Thank you to all who came out and supported our organization and participants. We are grateful to be able to offer an event and home where everyone, despite diversity of age and ability, can feel welcomed, safe, happy, included, and celebrated! One highlight was the participatory song written by our Music & Wellness Group - which we all sang together to celebrate 20 years of music at NMTS. Below are the lyrics for you to sing along!
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Verse 1
Well, shake it up people now. (everyone)
Move and sing (move and sing)
Hooray hooray hooray for music (therapy)
Singing and dancing out loud! (dancing out loud)Holding nothing back (from community)
You know we sound so fine (sound so fine)
We gotcha, gotcha, gotcha, going now (20 more years)
Just like we knew we could (knew we could)Verse 2 & 3
Well, shake it up people now (everyone)
Dance and sing (dance and sing)
Bringing that feeling and fun to all (fun to all)
Every single voice matters (yes it does)Celebrate 20 years (20 years)
Growing is ever so sublime (so sublime)
Come on and join me for some fun (for some fun)
Together we are divine! (we are divine)N…M…T…S…
Outro
Music dancing growing (drumming now)
Rocking and rolling through (Silver State)
Coming together (for meaningful change)N…M…T…S…
Annual Report
Check out the amazing things NMTS has been up to this last fiscal year in our annual report! From serving more than 2,500 people and expanding services in our community, to receiving a national award and creating a barrier free new home, we’ve been very busy!
Annual Report Fiscal Year 2022-2023 (downloadable PDF, accessible version)
Welcome Sam
We are so excited to welcome our new music therapist, Sam White!
Sam is a music therapist rooted in relational therapeutic approaches with a specialty in using a product/process as therapy lens. She has worked in behavioral health systems in addition to memory care facilities, hospitals, community centers, schools, group homes, and 1-1 in clinic work. Sam’s therapeutic process often involves working with the client toward trauma informed therapeutic goals rooted in social/emotional needs, sensory integration, anxiety reduction, quality of life, emotional expression, grief, and trauma processing. One of her biggest philosophies for the therapeutic process is to “embrace the chaos.” Sam is also a classically trained vocalist and often uses this as a therapeutic tool in pairing with the piano and/or guitar in her sessions. She is so excited to be a part of the NMTS team and is excited to see what the future holds.
New Class Offering - Musical Connections
Musical Connections is an opportunity for individuals 13+ to explore various musical theater techniques and processes that can support growth in social/emotional skills and can support community connection. Through this process, individuals will have the chance to explore original songwriting, emotional expression through performance-based workshops, vocal health education, movement to music, and solo/group performance opportunities.
Classes will take place at NMTS on Mondays from 4-5pm starting in October 2023.
Help Us Celebrate Our 20th Anniversary Year!
Whether you’ve been with us since 2003 or just heard of us, we’d love to hear about your unique connection to NMTS.
Please fill out our 20th Anniversary Questionnaire and help us celebrate 20 years of addressing physical, social, and mental health needs in our community!
Upcoming Events
Born To Dance | Saturday, August 26th, 1:00 - 2:30 pm | 101 Fantastic Dr, Reno, NV 89512 (new location!!!)
Please join us for our 7th annual dance concert, Born to Dance. You will have a smile on your face when you see these dancers show off their moves. They have been working hard all year to give you a great performance. At the end, you will have no doubts that they are all Born to Dance!!! Suggested donation of $10.00 at the door. Please make sure to check the location! It will NOT be at Orovada Street.
Cami & Friends | Sunday, August 27th, 5pm | Reno Elks Lodge, 597 Kumle Lane, Reno
Popera! From Pop to Opera proudly presents a special one-night-only performance: Cami & Friends play songs from the Great American Songbook — Two sets filled with classic standards performed by renowned theatrical and jazz vocalist Cami Thompson and her trio, PLUS special guests! Thank you to Sierra Music Society for donating a portion of the ticket sales revenue from this show to Note-Able Music Therapy Services. For more info please visit: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/93d592c3-790e-44e1-a3a4-a3f4941d5993
Hands ON! at Nevada Museum of Art | Saturday, September 9th, 12:00 - 2:00 pm | 160 West Liberty, Reno, Nevada 89501
The Hands ON! on Second Saturdays program offers monthly free admission, hands-on art activities, storytelling, a docent-guided tour, live performances, and community collaborations. The Note-Ables are excited to be invited and performing! For more info please visit: https://www.nevadaart.org/event/hands-on-second-saturdays-47/
July Thank Yous
Thank you to the E.L. Cord Foundation for a generous grant to support our children’s music therapy programs and to Apex Clean Energy Holdings for a grant to support our general operations
Thank you to our July donors: Adriana Neighbors, Allison Gale, Ann Egri, Annette Perry, Anthony Postman, Apex Clean Energy Holdings, LLC, Ashley Yuill, Brad Lund, Brenda Rodie, Cony Linarez, Corey Sudaria-Grant, Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust, E.L. Cord Foundation, Gary Kephart, Helene Robinson, Jackie Schomberg, Jake & Marisa Fulkerson, James Metzker, Jeffrey Alexander, Jill Hemenway, John & Wendy Firestone, Juan Moreno, Kacee Matthewson, Kandi Davis, Katie Grace Foundation, Lacey Scott, Laurel Sweigart, LeAnn Perez, Manal Toppozada, Melissa Goodwin, Melissa Paschal, Micaleen& Kevin Holzwarth, Michael & Stephanie Hix, Nicole Schomberg, Pam Macy, Patti Meals, Paul Kaplan, Paul Metzker, Paulina Connelly, Rachel Gattuso, Renown Health, Rick & Elsa Heroux, Sally Gentile, Samantha Berman, Sarah Toney, Skyler Dillon, Sophie Moeller, Susan Mazer-Smith, Susan Moeller, Tristan Neidigh, and Veronica Charley
Extra thanks to our monthly giving crew: Ana Johnson, Andy Hughes, Barb Anderson, Beverly Hennen, Deanna Lyons, Dina Hunsberger, Dodie Bryant, Gina Wertz, Heather Gage, Jake Steinman, Jennifer Tibben & Sharon Hickox, Jody Call, Jonathan Hickox-Young, Jonathan Wilson, Judith Stewart, Karen Golonka, Ken & Doreen Vogel, Leslie Doukas, Lisa Rizzoli, LuAnn Miller, Lucille Knight, Mary Jo Gieseke, MaryLee Fulkerson, Meghan Ochs, Michael Lahnala, Michelle Burke, Nadia Khan, Pauline Mooers, Rachel Gattuso, Rikki Powers, Sandra Young, Sandy Jacob, Sarah Toney, Sharon Hickox, Skyler Dillon, Susan Boskoff, Tiffany Dunseath, and Tim Young
Thank you volunteers: Katie Amorelli, Kendra Bertschy, Jeff Bloyd, Char Choate, Cami Cruz, Cheryl Eckert, Mark Geeson, Monika Gentle, Naomi Gentle, Mike Hix, Andy Hughes, Aaron Kirkpatrick, Kate Kirkpatrick, Michael Lahnala, Carolyn Magin, Tony Martin, Jeanette Martin, Katherine & Kensie Mills, Sophie Moeller, Jeanine Mooers, Pauline Mooers, Jordan Nakao, Cindy Prescott, Pat Ragains, Maria Reyes, Brenda Rodie, Patti Rodriguez, Pam Russell, Becca Shipley, Akasha Stearne, Jake Steinman, Judith Stewart, Dave Stockman, Jennifer Tibben, Sarah Toney, Sue Vaughn, Ken Vogel, Laila Wilson, Jon Wilson, Tembra Wright