Institute for Music and Health 60 Eddy Rd, Verbank NY, 12585
Instruments:Clarinet, Drums, Music Therapy, Piano, Saxophone, Trumpet, Tuba, Voice
Styles:Classical, Jazz, Blues, Kids
Levels:Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Experience:25 years
Rate:$80 / hr
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Personal Statement
Welcome!
The Institute for Music and Health (IMH) is based in New Yorks Hudson Valley providing specialized training and services for those interested in using music for wellness. We are dedicated to promoting, disseminating and teaching the work of John Diamond MD, a world authority in utilizing the arts in healing, for wellness, and for building community, through a variety of specially designed programs for all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Our Vision
Our vision is broad. Our clients cover the entire span of human life, from toddlers to centenarians, and at all levels of experience and ability, from beginners to professionals. We believe that the basic purpose of music is to help people both as individuals and as communities and our programs are designed to do just that.
Our Approach
Our approach is called the Diamond Method for Music (DMM). It is we believe, by far and away the most comprehensive and effective system for music and wellness ever developed. It not only generally benefits the well-being, but also helps enhance cognitive abilities and personal development. At a more basic, level, it is simply a great way to learn music, one which will bring out your innate talent and creativity.
Reaching Out with Music
A key component of our approach is using music to help others. For instance, we run Community Outreach Programs involving interactive and intergenerational music-making connecting mainstream and special needs children with seniors and encouraging increased sociability, self-esteem, functioning and much more.
Education / Training
Peter Muir Ph.D, Dip IMH
Director
Peter Muir, co-founder and co-director of the IMH, has been involved in music pedagogy for twenty years. He is former Director of Jazz and Head of Keyboards at Westminster School, London (one of the most prestigious private schools in Britian) and has taught as an adjunct instructor for City University of New York as well as extensively in private practice. He has worked internationally in the field of community music, running and participating hundreds of programs in Europe, America and Australia. Dr. Muir is an internationally recognized pianist, composer, scholar, and conductor. As a pianist he specializes in ragtime, blues and early jazz, which he performs in a totally original and compelling style, playing at festivals and concerts in the US, Britain, Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong. As a composer, he has written and arranged works for the concert platform, ballet, stage and film. His work has been performed and broadcast in Britain, Europe, America, the Far East and Australia. As a scholar, Dr. Muir has a Ph.D. in musicology and is an acknowledged authority on ragtime, blues and early jazz. His book on the emergence of blues before 1920, called Long Lost Blues, was published by the University of Illinois Press in fall 2009. He has musically directed in theater (including Women Beware Women, Royal Court Theater, London; Fables in Slang, off-Broadway, New York) and conducted numerous instrumental and choral groups in Britain and America. Dr. Muir has trained intensively with Dr. John Diamond M.D. since 1990. His core beliefthat the true purpose of music is to be therapeuticis at the basis of all his musical activities.
Judith Muir MM, M.AmSAT, Dip IMH
Director of Early Childhood Education
Judith offers an exceptional international background in woodwind and piano pedagogy. She has a Masters degree from Manhattan School of Music and is a certified teacher of The Alexander Technique. She is also a distinguished clarinetist having given classical and jazz concerts on three continents. Her solo and and ensemble appearances include Carnegie Hall, St. Martins in the Fields and the Wigmore Hall in London. She is currently Associate Professor of Alexander Technique at Bard College, Music Director at Hawk Meadow Montessori School, and is much in demand as a teacher and performer.
Video
Peter Muir plays Liszt’s “La campanella”
Young adult, Michael, with autism sings “When You’re Smiling”