Information: alchemysky.org
With a passion for music, Jaye Budd created a music-based service project for Covenant House Georgia, a shelter for homeless and trafficked teens. He called on his music and business colleagues to facilitate a multi-week program that provided an opportunity for teens to express themselves and validate their voices through music.
Seeing what impact the music had on these teens, it drove Budd to launch Alchemy Sky Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partners with organizations in the community as well as a broad network of music and health professionals to create needs-based programs for its clients.
“The power of music has always blown me away,” said Budd, who worked in the telecommunications industry for over 10 years. “When people come together and participate in music, something happens. Bruce Springsteen calls it ‘The Magic.’ I wanted to bring that magic to people who couldn’t access it on their own.”
Alchemy Sky provided music therapy programs for veterans by organizing, funding and facilitating group music therapy workshops for nursing home residents at the Veterans Association Medical Center in Atlanta. With 39 workshops since the program’s inception in October 2014, ASF works with the medical leadership at the VA’s nursing home division to raise the overall quality of life and improve the mental and physical health of the residents.
Music therapy is led by a licensed professional music therapist, who provides a musical experience that normally involves song composition, improvisation, recreation or active listening.
“We work on memory, group cohesion, emotional expression, and communication during our sessions,” said Sam Shanine, assistant director of Metro Music Therapy and clinical music therapist for VA Community Living Center groups.
Some of the activities during a session for residents involve: singing along with a familiar song, playing bass guitar, drums, or small percussion, writing a blues song, filling in missing blanks in lyrics, progressive muscle relaxation and other musical games. The hopes are that the sessions facilitate the clients to make progress towards a goal.
To support its music therapy programs and its expansion, Alchemy Sky will host a fundraiser on Veteran’s Day at Smith’s Olde Bar in Midtown Atlanta to honor veterans and raise money for its programs.
Besides attending the fundraiser, Budd emphasizes the need of volunteers to continue building this program and impacting the lives of veterans in a positive way.
“We welcome up to five volunteers in each of our sessions, and volunteers don’t need to be musical,” said Budd. “The volunteers can sing along, shake a tambourine or just spend some time with the veterans as they interact with the music therapist. It makes a huge difference to all those involved.”
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