November
2023
Hello –
November is National Caregiver's Month, which is a time for us to honor and celebrate the tireless work of caregivers. This time last year we at NMTS were discussing the need for a caregiver support group, and this month I'm happy to announce that we have held our first session of eight support groups! Thanks to a generous grant from the Marshall R. Matley Foundation we were able to not only host free support groups, we provided concurrent respite groups for both adults and children with disabilities. A total of 10 caregivers and 16 'caregivees' participated in the session. We had no idea what to expect, but the program was a fantastic success! Participant comments included things such as ‘this felt like such a safe and caring place, I felt so supported, I met wonderful people who know what I'm going through.’ We hope to hold another session in early 2024. In the meantime, the takeaways of the group are ones that we can all use - remembering to take care of our own needs, not being afraid to ask for help, finding the things that bring us joy, learning how to find happiness in the small moments, and staying true to ourselves.
Manal Toppozada, Executive Director and Founder
Thank you, Elizabeth for Five Years at NMTS!
If you are in the room with Elizabeth you are likely smiling, laughing, feeling heard and seen, or a combination of them all. We are so grateful to have her presence, expertise, and light at NMTS. Over the last five years, she has brought so much joy, care, and therapy to countless clients. She is a rockstar so if you see her around, give her a warm congrats and thank you!
Check out some of the pictures below to see a small glimpse of all the light Elizabeth brings to NMTS.
Giving Tuesday 2023
It's finally here! Giving Tuesday is going to be on November 28th and people all over the world will come together and harness the power of human connection to make the world a better place for us ALL!
The goal this year is to raise $30,000 to ensure that as programs expand in 2024, there are enough scholarship funds to guarantee no one is ever turned away. To reach this goal, NMTS has a generous donor who will each match all donations made today, dollar for dollar up to $10,000. That will DOUBLE your impact this Giving Tuesday!
But you don’t have to wait to give! Click the button below to become a monthly donor now.
We Need Your Vote For $10,000!
Scheels is giving away $50,000 to five local non profits and we are asking for YOUR vote! It takes less than a minute and $10,000 would have a great impact to our participants and clients!
Voting Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3ypiF-eyQXx4XVNodenulQMHDgx9Ub71fMoRx5CbbnkIQPg/viewform
Thank you for your support!
The Halloween Party was Spooktacular!
Everyone looked BOO-tiful at our annual Halloween party this year! Thank you to everyone who came out to support NMTS and celebrate the spooky season with us. We always love creating fun spaces where everyone’s free to dance, sing, and play to their heart’s desire. We hope you all had a Happy Halloween! 👻
Welcome Imani
We are thrilled that Imani Akala has joined the NMTS team as our new Development Assistant! Imani is a UNR Reynolds School of Journalism alumni whose specialty is working with video and film. She is also an avid reader and just as much of a storyteller. In joining the team, she hopes to tell the story of Note-Able Music Therapy Services to the world; of its participants, history, and growing community. She will be working on our social media platforms as well as lending a hand into all NMTS events and behind-the-scenes projects.
‘I'm very excited to be a part of such a devoted and compassionate organization such as NMTS! I can't wait to lend my skills to you and the people of my community."
Staff Song Picks
Music is important to ALL of us! Here is a playlist of songs our staff picked for you! These are songs that we have been resonating with recently and have been playing on repeat.
Manal - Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 - II. Allegretto
I've been turning to music recently to remind myself that even though humans are capable of inflicting unimaginable cruelty upon each other, they are also capable of creating things of great beauty. And Beethoven is where I go when I need that reminder. I've been listening to his symphonies on repeat and this is where I always return - second movement of his seventh symphony.
Dena - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
I just saw Nick Cave's solo show last weekend and he played "Into My Arms." It's always been my favorite love song and I got to share that moment with someone I love. Pretty indescribable!
Sharon - Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Okay, this is an oldie, but a goodie. Blinded by the Light. Someone requested it in a group, and I was really surprised. I listened to it and I was reminded what an unusual, but great example of polyphony exists in it. Turned out that in the group, it was not the song the client meant, but I enjoyed listening to it on my own.
Elizabeth - DAISY - Giosuè Greco feat. Tara Atkinson
This song makes me want to dance and create!
Sam - Lizzy McAlpine - A Little Bit of Everything
A song I’ve been listening to is “A Little Bit of Everything” by Lizzy McAlpine. This song, to me, encapsulates the value of the little things in life and how they may impact you. Sometimes it’s easy to stay immersed in sadness and devalue our worth. This song reshapes my narrative and reminds me to not take things for granted and to value the relationships and experiences I’ve had and made over the years.
Eric - Watchhouse - Old Ties And Companions
I really enjoy the instrumentation in this song and get a lot of comfort from listening to it. This song reminds me of all the old friends that I have and have not been able to reconnect with since moving back here.
Nate - Âme - No War
I chose this song as a reminder of the power music has in connecting one another. When headlines make you think humanity is lost, music reminds us it is not. I found this song from the closing track of Sama’ Boiler Room set. The set was recorded in 2018 in Ramallah, Palestine. Abdulhadi has a powerful interview with The Guardian where she explains how she eventually found herself behind dj decks and how it’s a way for her to escape from the political pressures she finds herself under being “a woman, an Arab and Palestinian.”
“I was a very angry child. I was very aggressive and then, all of a sudden, hours [on the dancefloor] would pass and I wouldn’t think about politics.” - Abdulhadi
Cony - Melendi con Alejandro Sanz & Arkano - Déjala Que Baile
Sarah - Peter Gabriel - Biko (Song Around The World / Playing For Change)
I particularly love this version of the song with all of the musicians from around the world AND dancers from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. Good medicine for the war weary soul.
Imani - Almond Eyes - Clavita
I've been obsessed with this song this past week!
Alice - Lindsey Stirling - Snow Waltz
The song I want to share is Snow Waltz by Lindsey Stirling. I love this original piece she composed on the violin. The music video is the perfect transition between Halloween and Christmas. I'm so excited to see her begin this year's Christmas tour next week with a concert in Tahoe which will be my 5th time seeing her live. I've been listening to Lindsey Stirling since 2012, and she inspires me to keep composing my own music.
Upcoming Events
Holiday Family Art Festival | Saturday, November 11th, 10am-2:00pm | 250 Court St. & Arlington Ave.
Arts for All Nevada’s annual Holiday Family Arts Festival is almost here! This free family event is bursting at the seams with exciting things to do - from visits with Santa, to ornament-making, to holiday art projects, to tasty treats, there's something fun for everyone!
For more info visit: https://www.artsforallnevada.org/product/holiday-family-arts-festival-november-11-2/
October Thank Yous
Thank you to our October donors: Kendra Bertschy, Thomas Braun, Carol Colwell, Wendy Firestone, Brad Lund, Sophie Moeller, Stillwater Foundation, Judy Sturmer, Geilan Toppozada, and Wagner Family Foundation
Extra thanks to our monthly giving crew: Barb Anderson, Dodie Bryant, Michelle Burke, Jody Call, Skyler Dillon, Leslie Doukas, Tiffany Dunseath, MaryLee Fulkerson, Heather Gage, Rachel Gattuso, Mary Gieseke Jo, Karen Golonka, Beverly Hennen, Jennifer Tibben & Sharon Hickox, Jonathan Hickox-Young, Andy Hughes, Dina Hunsberger, Sandy Jacob, Ana Johnson, Nadia Khan, Lucille Knight, Michael Lahnala, Deanna Lyons, LuAnn Miller, Pauline Mooers, Meghan Ochs, Rikki Powers, Lisa Rizzoli, Jake & Rachel Steinman, Judith Stewart, Sarah Toney, Ken & Doreen, Gina Wertz, Jonathan Wilson, Sandra Young, and Tim Young
Thank you volunteers: Reyna Aguinaldo, Kendra Bertschy, Jeff Bloyd, Cheryl Eckert, Mark Geeson, Mike Hix, Andy Hughes, Aaron Kirkpatrick, Michael Lahnala, Gaby Lope, Astri Lopez, Laura Matushek, Greg McNie, Diana Medina, Sophie Moeller, Jeanine Mooers, Jordan Nakao, Pat Ragains, Greg Raymond, Patti Rodriguez, Becca Shipley, Jake Steinman, Dave Stockman, Ken Vogel, Sanjeev Wagner, Ethan Ware, Hiroka Winter, Shiho Winter, and Tembra Wright-Hay
