I think the single hardest thing we’ve ever had to do or endure for our child was to put him on a Gluten-Free and Casein-Free diet… and maintain it.

Every parent of a child with Autism has heard about the Gluten Free / Casein Free (GF/CF) Diet, and some of the more daring (or desperate) have even tried it. But the real test of a person’s manhood is adhering to the damn thing!

Seriously, what kid wants to eat a different cake than all his buddies at a birthday party? (Yet at his own birthday party?!) What kid is going to turn down a gorgeous gloppy mound of chocolate ice cream with heaps of whipped cream and ‘Nilla Wafers on top? And c’mon, every kid in the world knows that Pizza is the greatest food ever invented!

Would you bring a kid to Disneyland, then tell her she can’t go on any of the rides? “Okay sweety… there’s going to be lots of rides here today… I know you’ll feel tempted to ride like everyone else and their friggin’ mothers, but remember you freak out when you go on the rides, so we’ve brought you a bunch of boring ‘ole crossword puzzles and math books to enjoy so you can feel like you are participating in the fun and you’ll fit right in….. NOT!!!

Eating is simply one of the great pleasures that brings us quality of life, which is why it is so hard to implement and maintain this crazy diet. We must constantly resist temptation, like an addict, because “unhealthy” foods are all around us.

We’ve been conditioned to eat certain foods and in a certain way, so a complete change of palate and mindset must be attained in order to make different choices for our bodies. We must reprogram ourselves to eat for our bodies, not for our desires. Like I said, we may be talking about addiction here.

When the decision was made to put Drayke on the diet, we realized he’d have better success with (and acceptance of) his new way of eating if the whole family did it together. Well,two of the troops around here were not having it, so I chose to partner with him and we did it together, just he and I. It was our bond! Our vendetta against mainstream society, the dairy industry and GMO’s!

Lemme tell you, anyone who doubts that this diet makes a difference has never tried it. On purely a physical level, I noticed immediately I was effortlessly shedding excess pounds and my spare tire was deflated almost entirely, much to my delight. I thinned out quickly and my energy levels went through the roof, to the point of a pleasantly mild mania! I was definitely my healthiest in a long time, and never once did I feel like I was starving myself.

I am not entirely sure it made any drastic impact in Drayke’s behavior or mental function. I would notice some subtle things like he would get a little “dopey” or slow when he had dairy. His bowel movements were farther apart when he’d deviate from the gluten-free aspects, which may have caused some restless behavior or irritability. We do get some predictably non-compliant behavior when he is backed-up. Our thoughts have been trained to go straight to, “What did he eat yesterday?”and “When was the last time he pooped?”

We certainly did and still do our best to adhere to the rigors of the diet, but we make exceptions in those cases like birthday parties, or Thanksgiving holidays, etc. and give him enzymes when he strays from the stringent menu. We’ve made it standard practice to administer the antidote with the poison, so to speak, in those cases.

Some of our spectrum kids have texture sensitivities which I imagine must make much of the dry crumbly gluten free breads and snacks dreadful to eat. I still haven’t found a Dairy Free cheese that is convincing. Goat’s milk cheese and coconut milk ice cream are god’s gift to god! And gratefully there is Trader Joes, which offers many affordable Gluten Free and Dairy Free items that are way too costly at that “Whole-paycheck” Foods store.

As a touring musician, I’ve had to travel while on the GF/CF diet, sometimes for weeks on end. That is always a real nightmare because once you leave the big cities, people’s awareness of any kind of special diet is nil.To make matters worse, I am vegetarian with a shellfish allergy and GMO corn sensitivity. Eating meals with the crew and the bands always leaves me feeling alienated or like a helpless, misunderstood prima-donna because I cannot eat what everyone else eats. It sucks big time for this fully grown man, so just imagine how a growing tween feels in those crucial, socially important situations when meals are shared with team mates, class mates, play mates… awwwk-warrrd!

I dunno…

Some days you just gotta pick your battles.

I suppose sometimes it’s okay to just let them eat cake.

JOE NORMAL
Recording Artist, Songwriter, Author, Educator
(and, oh yeah… Autism Parent.)
Site: www.JoeNormalUSA.com
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/JoeNormalUSA
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoeNormalUSA

by Allison Lockhart, MT-BC

A music therapist walks into an elevator carrying a load of instruments. An individual in the elevator eyes the instruments curiously and asks, “What are you lugging around all those instruments for?” The music therapist responds by saying, “I’m a music therapist and I’m providing music therapy services here today.” The individual furrows their brow and says, “Hmm music therapy, that sounds interesting. I’ve never heard of that before….what is it?” The music therapist, knowing this question was coming, mentally chuckles and then smiles, ready and happy to respond. This is the age-old question asked to music therapists. Music Therapy is a growing profession, and within the past few years it has been gaining more and more national recognition through television, movies, news, online media, and social network cites. However, most media sources do not fully portray music therapy accurately or they only show a small part of the picture. So the question still lies: What REALLY is music therapy?

Simply put, music therapy is a research and evidence-based practice that uses music interventions to reach non-musical, individualized goals. Such individualized goals can address and enhance behavior, communication, socialization, emotional expression, physical/motor rehabilitation, sensory integration, and academic/cognitive functioning. A music therapist assesses an individual and develops a treatment plan that tailors music interventions to a client’s abilities, needs, and preferences (including musical preferences). While working with a client, the therapist documents responses and progress towards target goals. It is a process of ongoing evaluation where the therapist modifies goals during review periods in order to keep goals current with client’s needs and maximize client’s potential.

But how can music therapy specifically help an individual on the autism spectrum? The American Music Therapy Association states that the music therapist “integrates a variety of ASD-specific evidence-based strategies (e.g., prompting, reinforcement, picture schedule) and music therapy techniques (e.g., singing/vocalization, instrument play, movement/dance, musical improvisation, songwriting/ composition, listening to music, or computer based music activities)” in order to provide a client with “intentional and developmentally sound music experiences.” This is important from a therapeutic standpoint; however, you may still be asking yourself: Why music therapy for individuals on the autism spectrum? I will answer this question in four parts:

1.) Music is structured and predictable

The wonderful thing about music therapy for individuals with autism is that research shows that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder are many times inclined with heightened musical aptitude and sensitivity to musical elements (Heaton, 2005). While not all individuals with autism are musical savants, all can benefit from music therapy services. Music by nature is engaging, accessible, structured, predictable, and consistent. These are all qualities that are many times important to individuals with autism. Music therapy sessions build upon and enhance these qualities resulting in a type of therapy that is very in tune to the learning needs of an individual on the spectrum. Simply put: structure + predictability = less stress= brain being able to process information.

2.) It organizes the brain

Music is also one of the few natural ways to target the brain stem. What does that mean exactly? Well when an individual with autism is having sensory integration issues, it can be nearly impossible for them to intake and learn new information. These sensory integration issues can include the individual experiencing overstimulation or craving a certain sensory input. You may notice individuals with autism sometimes jumping, trying to squish themselves between objects, or covering their ears. These can all be signs of a sensory integration issue. This sensory need is the number one priority before the individual can process any new sensory information around them and before any learning can take place. The way to fulfill this need is through providing the necessary stimulation to the brainstem. Music and repetitive rhythm, along with actually sensory input (e.g. bouncing the individual on a therapy ball or using lap pads), are the ways to get through to the brainstem. This opens the door to endless possibilities when teaching individuals with autism concepts through music.

3.) It increases connections in the brain

Music continues to provide benefits to the brains of individuals on the spectrum by increasing dopamine levels. In fact, music is one of the few natural dopamine enhancers. Again, why is this important for an individual with autism? While we don’t know the cause of autism, we know that it is very neurologically based and that individuals with ASD tend to have trouble communicating between different parts of the brain. Dopamine increases connections in the brain, thus helping these individuals’ bridge gaps.

4.) It engages the whole brain

Music engages the WHOLE brain. It is not just located in one hemisphere or section; it is present everywhere. That makes it a great tool to improve areas such as speech. Sometimes an individual with autism may have difficulties speaking due to lack of development in the verbalization areas of the brain. Yet this individual may still be able to sing because singing engages the whole brain, and thus engages areas of the individuals brain that are more developed. Through singing, the music therapist can help improve an individual’s speech with the goal being to eventually fade out the singing and have the individual just speak.

These are just some of the ways that music therapy can help individuals on the spectrum. Music therapy opens up many possibilities and is becoming a highly sought out therapy for individuals with ASD. It is important to touch on where to seek out a music therapist if you are interested in services. First, it’s important to find a Board Certified Music Therapist. A music therapist must complete an approved music therapy collegiate program, and receive board certification in order to be qualified to practice. We Rock for Autism has partnered with the Cadenza Music Therapy Center in Hollywood, FL, along with myself, a private practitioner serving areas from West Palm Beach through Miami, to help provide individuals on the spectrum in South Florida with quality music therapy services. However, if you are not in these areas you can visit the American Music Therapy Association’s (AMTA) website: www.musictherapy.org and search in the online directory to find a certified music therapist in your area. You can also contact the AMTA national office for more information ([email protected]; (301) 589-3300).

Look for future articles discussing specific ways music therapy is used to address sensory, social, behavioral, communication, cognitive, and physical/motor goals, a long with ways you can use music with a child with autism outside of the music therapy setting in places like your home.

 Allison Lockhart is a board certified music therapist. To inquire about services or for more information, you can contact her at [email protected]

(by Joe Normal)

Gut instinct has served me well over the years. My gut is what I call my “primary brain,” and I have the evidence all around me that says I can truly trust my gut and let it lead me artistically and in my creativity, and fearlessly rely on it through making important decisions about people, places and things no matter how absurd or contrary to common sense…

I am always questioning “the word” and “the story” and ever seeking the deeper truth behind issues that on a gut level don’t sit right with me. Ultimately this leads to three places: To a higher understanding of said issues, to a glimpse at a hidden agenda behind “the word” and “the story,” or (if I’m lucky), to plain and simple peace-of-mind, knowing I’ve done my homework and everything checked out okay.

My wife and I have long been unorthodox people, growing up with parents that embraced and imparted Hippie Culture and mindset to us, then each of us discovering Punk Rock in our youth and embracing its attitude and ethics, somehow merging the two perspectives into a sort of hybrid “Peace & Love / I’m Against It” temperament that finds us frequently seeking alternatives to conventional approach and viewpoint.

So whenever the word “medication” comes up in a doctor’s office, we immediately cringe and begin the search for something that is better aligned with our family’s ideology, and preferably closer to nature than science.

Since the day he was born, Drayke has been an anomaly. He has endured countless medical and psychological tests, therapies, and interventions in hospitals, clinics and with specialists. Outside of our health insurance we have extensively pursued nutritional and holistic evaluations and treatments, and even psychic and energy healing work.

Suspicious that Drayke was having Absence Seizures, a respected Neurologist requested he complete a rigorous 72 hour in-hospital brainwave monitoring VEEG Study that entailed having acouple dozen electrodes literally glued to his scalp for three days, (I dubbed this “the astronaut test” to make it seem like fun for him). That was followed by a new research Brain SPECT Scan study that had him anaesthetized for a thorough MRI of his brain regions and active neurology. Both tests nullified the suspicion of seizures thus, eliminating the need for any regular medication. Whew… dodged that one!

Since then, we’ve incorporated a variety of alternative solutions to help with our child’s own gut (or leaky gut) and with his ability to “focus,” adopting the Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Diet, which is often more trouble adhering to than the effects of eating such foods. It seems to have some benefit when we are consistent. He takes Melatonin nightly for relaxation at bedtime and, during the day, a slew of enzymes, fish oils, B’s, D’s and god-knows-what-else.

Along with my son’s Autism and Learning and Processing Disorders, he experiences regular Anxiety and Worry throughout and about his day.

Everyday things and situations like the following easily set him off: Transitioning from one activity or from one classroom to another, the low-frequency sounds of trucks on our street, the sound of the garbage cans rolling down our neighbor’s driveway, going into a public restroom on his own, not knowing or understanding which day of the week it is and if there is school tomorrow, being left on his own at home or anywhere, to name a few.

Ever coping with Anxiety myself, I can easily commiserate with my child about his experience. However, as a result of the stress of his having to “keep it together” day after day, he frequently crosses the line and becomes angry and aggressive; mainly toward his younger brother, Myles.

As Drayke is entering puberty, add to the fact his hormonal and physical changes and the self-esteem issues he has due to his challenges, and you really have a situation that needs attention.

It’s hard for Autism parents like us to gauge what is typical 13 year old behavior when our 13 year olds are far from typical.

Which is why I am in so much pain over whether or not to medicate my child

It has been recommended that we put Drayke on medication(s), but we keep putting it off hoping for some shift in his demeanor and progress. Be it for his aggression, his ADD, or for his general anxiety, we are faced with accepting the fact that our child may not be perfect the way he came. We are confronted with the fact that perhaps he needs help that is beyond what we can and have done on our own… So, at what point do we surrender?

Some friends of ours really encouraged us to try giving him CBD oil (Cannabidiol), knowing our preference for natural medicine over psychoactive pharmaceuticals, and with the positive results they have seen with their own child. They said it would help with my own anxiety, too.

Our experience going to the Medical Marijuana clinic to get “diagnosed” was a complete farce and lacked the credibility I was so hoping to find there in making this big decision. When the receptionist sent us “around back” in the alley to pick up the medication, it felt more like we were “scoring” than waiting in line at a pharmacy’s pick-up window. The whole thing reeked of shadiness and you could sense how the people there were abusing this benefit which we voted for to help the truly sick. I was totally disillusioned and didn’t bother to participate in that scenario so we left without filling the order.

Meanwhile, in my gut I am beginning to doubt there is another option out there for my child’s condition. Perhaps I will go back to that green cross place and give the medicinal oil a trial. I dunno.

However, our quest continues as our faith is stretched further… and the jury remains out on whether or not to medicate our child.

Joe Normal www.JoeNormalUSA.com

Recording Artist, Songwriter, Author, Educator

(and, oh yeah… Autism Parent.)

[email protected]

Follow Joe on Twitter

@JoeNormalUSA

From the studio to the road, Michael talks about balancing his career with his family and spending time with his 5 year old grandson, Sid, who was diagnosed with Autism in 2013.

What band’s/projects are you currently working with?    I am currently drumming for several projects. The busiest of all of these would be my 80’s Hard Rock / Hair Metal tribute band called “1988”. This is a band based out of Cleveland, Ohio where I currently reside. This band averages about

80 to 110 shows per year, and play’s throughout the state of Ohio and surrounding states from nightclubs, to festivals, to private occasions.  I am also the drummer for the band “TUFF”. Tuff is a nationally touring band that made its biggest impact throughout the 80’s, boasting several charting hit songs, and is still to this day, touring on a regular basis. I started with this band earlier this year (March 2014). In fact, it is because of this band, I had the pleasure of meeting you and was introduced to the wonderful world of “WE ROCK FOR AUTISM”.  The other project that I’m involved with, currently, is called “Kill County”. This is an original writing and recording project that Todd Chase (bassist for TUFF) and myself, started about a year ago in Cleveland with 2 other very talented musician friends of ours. The music we are currently writing in this project lends itself toward a more modern/progressive rock side. Very cool project.

What bands have you been in, in the past? There have been ALLOT! I guess, most notably, a band called “New Wave Nation” from Canton, Ohio. This, also, is a regionally touring 80’s New wave / dance / rock tribute that performs around 120 shows per year. They still have a full line-up and maintain that schedule and are great friends of mine to this day as well.  Also, I’d like to mention a group called “Icarus Witch” from my hometown, Pittsburgh, Pa.  (Yes I’m a huge Steelers fan).

This is an original Metal band that I only had a short stint with. The travel was the main issue for my departure.

How old were you when you staring playing drums, and who are your primary influences? Well, I started at the age of about 8 yrs old. My mom and dad purchased a snare drum for me to play in the school band. I remember not being very good at it! I was more interested in the whole drum kit approach to be perfectly honest. It wasn’t until they bought my older brother a drum set 2 years later that I really dove in to it. I would sneak downstairs when my brother wasn’t home and just play and play. I loved it. He didn’t! My father played a little guitar, but was always encouraging me to keep up on it. He wouldn’t really allow Hard rock or Metal music to be played in the house, so the earliest music I got the chance to play to were from artists like Jan and Dean, Elvis, the Beach Boys, Count Basie, and all kinds of Doo Wap artists. So very early on my influences were not of Rock drummers at all. Guys like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich to Ed Shaughnessy (Tonight Show drummer, Johnny Carson era). These were the guys my father said were the best, so to me…..they were the best. To this day, I still play the snare tiled forward like the Jazz and Big Band drummers did simply because of how my father set up the drum kit for me. It’s  funny, if another drummer sits in for a few tunes behind my kit, you can hear them all say…”How the hell do play these things?” out of almost everyone of them.  A few years later, my brother went on the learn guitar, and the drums stayed with me. I ended up buying my own set in high school, and played with those a good number of years. Speaking of which, it was in the early years of high school where my influences started to change into the rock music that so engulfed me. Bands like Van Halen, Rush, and Whitesnake were the thing to listen to. So Neil Peart, Alex Van Halen and Tommy Aldridge were my favorites at that time. But never forgetting guys like Keith Moon (The Who) and Ginger Baker (Cream) as well. There are so many that I truly copied from and tried to mimic.  Even to this day, playing professionally in my 40’s, I still revert back to those very same players. They started something in me that I’ll never stop doing. I can’t stop doing. I often reflect on videos and old recordings of these great players and draw inspiration from them to help my playing today.

How do you balance your music career with family?  Well Chris, to be honest with you, I can’t say with 100% certainty I do!  It’s very difficult to even get close to a true balance. I’ll say this, however, I have an over compassionate and understanding wife and daughter, whose patients with my music is un-measurable. They accept time away with them on a regular basis to pursue my dreams of getting to play the drums. I am truly thankful to them and for them, every day! I still manage to run my business during the week, so I am home, and I do get to spend quality time, but every weekend, and multiple weeks out of the year I’m out on the road and its gets tough. I miss allot of the family get together, but we make it work. They all believe in me and what I’m passionate about and we find a way to make it all work in the end.

You have a grandson with Autism, Tell us about him.   His name is Sid and he just turned 5 this past October. He was diagnosed October, 2013. We noticed that he wasn’t as verbal as most children around 2-3 years old. Sensitivity to noise, and sudden tantrums. It took a while to get a formal diagnosis because he was so young. He’s just the perfect little blond haired, blued eyed little man!  He is such a pleasant boy. You would never know by looking at him that he has Autism. He’s is somewhat verbal, but getting better at that every day. He loves music, loves to smile and laugh. Laughter is HUGE in our house. We sing all the time with him and to him. Like most, he is very repetitive in the food he eats, the shows and movies he watches, and toys he enjoys playing with. He is a very good listener, and follows directions well for a boy his age. He is really into his ABC’s right now. Toilet training seems to be on track too.  As of now, he is enrolled pre-school and is mainstreamed with some typical kids, as well as a speech therapy class that he attends daily.

How has your knowledge or outlook on Autism changed since your grandson’s diagnosis?  As far as knowledge of the disorder, I knew nothing about it prior to his diagnosis. I was most certainly aware of its existence and was sympathetic for those who had been touched by it. I have only been involved formally with it now for about a year. My outlook on Autism, at this point, is this……It’s not a death sentence of sorts. I feel it can be a manageable part of our life. I have already witnessed the results of getting education and implementing the education to what works best for our family. Every day is a learning curve for us. As Sid grows, the disorder grows with him, and his needs will change, and so will the way we handle them. I look forward to the day that he may want to get involved in helping people effected by Autism.

Does he like music? Any particular genre or bands the he enjoys? He most definitely like’s music. As far as bands, well he’s 5, so pretty much anything Walt Disney throws at us, he’s into. He will sing the songs from Frozen, Madagascar, all the way to The Nightmare before Christmas and Veggie Tales. His NaNa (my wife Patti) has even got him singing along to Miranda Lambert in the car! Country…..who’d a thunk it!

Speaking of family, Your brother Keith is the guitar player for Buckcherry, correct? That is correct. He co-founded the band in the early 90’s, and continues writing, recording and touring to this day. I’m very proud of him. He is truly my hero on so many levels. It’s definitely a “small town boy makes good” story. Surprisingly, we never played officially in a band together growing up. Once he learned guitar, we would jam here and there, but that was it. I did audition for a hometown group he was in. It was his first real working band back in Pittsburgh, but i didn’t make the cut! No Alex and Eddy hear! LOL! I ended up moving to Atlanta to pursue music, and he to L.A. shortly after. I think that we would both enjoy performing together to some degree at some point. You never know what the future holds!

You are now in TUFF, touring and playing shows, how has it been playing with them? An absolute blast! I can’t even begin to tell you how blessed I feel to be able to be a working musician in this day and age. These guys are fantastic musicians as well as friends. It’s a tremendous chemistry that we have, and the shows thus far have been great.  TUFF is all about the live show. The interaction with the audience, on and off the stage, is totally pro.  As I mentioned earlier, I worked with Todd “Chase” in several projects prior to TUFF, and when he had asked me to fill the void, I was all in!  It’s a real privilege to work with Billy and Stevie as well. Both are seasoned veterans of road, and all of them welcomed me aboard most graciously. I’m stoked at the whole opportunity!

Being in the 80’S Hard rock tribute band “1988” must keep you busy. How many shows do you play with them, and how does that effect your touring with TUFF?  Drumming with “1988” is also a tremendous opportunity. Once again, all the musicians in this band are very talented and great friends off the stage as well. We usually play between 80 – 100 shows per year….give or take. We mostly play the weekends, with the occasional Thursday and Sunday shows. When I had decided to join TUFF, it was important to me that I made sure I could still accommodate the “1988” schedule as much as possible. The TUFF commitments are planned out far in advance, so that anyone with additional commitments can plan accordingly. Cleveland has a great networking community of musicians so that when subs are needed to fill in, there is always someone that can do it. We use the same guy every time, so it works. The “1988″ guys are very supportive of my joining TUFF, and we work together to cover all the bases.

What are some of your hobbies / past times? I’m an avid motorcyclist. I currently own a Harley Davidson Street-bob. I must admit that I don’t get out on it as much as I like. Recently, I’ve gotten into shooting, specifically pistol shooting. I am in the process of training now, and hope to be shooting in a competitive level within the coming months. I also enjoy cooking a great deal. In fact, I went thru a culinary program just after high school and dropped out to move to Atlanta to pursue music. My mom was happy about that! Nevertheless, she loves my made from scratch meatball’s and sauce!

What would you like to tell our readers? Anything they should know or any advice you could give?  As I said earlier, Autism should never be treated with a “Death sentence” mentality. It’s not the end of the world for these people, by any means. If anything life has taught me thus far, it’s that we are never given more than we can handle. Ever. Sure, life does in fact throw a curve ball now and then, but that’s what life is…..living. Good, bad, and ever thing in between. I would say too that we should try to educate ourselves about Autism as much as we can. Mainly by talking with others that are in the same boat as we are. Reading literature, and listening to the experts is fine and good, but it’s the “mother down the street” that has a handle on how it really is. She is living it day in and day out. Ask her how she manages.   Get involved with  as many programs that your time allows. I will add this as well; love each other, till it hurts. We only have one go-round in this life and we need to make the biggest impact we can for others to follow. PRAY. Even if you’re not into a specific religion, connect with YOUR higher power, ask for guidance, ask for patients, and ask for grace. Love your child with everything you have inside you. Sometimes when there are no words, a hug and kiss from you will speak volumes to them.

Joe talks about the journey from the early days in The Zeros to Cold Blue Rebels and The Conductors and all of the ups and downs in between.

Joe, let’s start by hearing about your musical journey up to this point. What bands have you been a part of and what projects are you currently involved with?

I’m one of those ever-evolving artists like Jack White who has his hand in several things and is heading in a million different directions at once. My current focus is on two primary projects. JOE NORMAL the Singer/Songwriter artist, which I’m about to release my 5^th CD titled “Crude Folk”, and THE CONDUCTORS, which is an extension of who I am as a Rock ‘n Roll dad wanting to share the joy of music trains, and family values with kids and their grown-ups.

Another project has been COLD BLUE REBELS, an entertaining horror psychobilly band which have released 2 CD’s and toured extensively over the past 4 years. When we started CBR, we were a kind of super-group comprised of members of 3 infamous Hollywood Sunset Strip Glam Rock bands: JETBOY (Mickey Finn), THE ZEROS (Joe Normal & Danny Dangerous), and THE GLAMOUR PUNKS (SpazzDraztik). Our love for 50’s Rockabilly music, punk rock, and monster/horror movies brought us together. Our bro Spazz dropped out along the way and we found Al Diablo, who is also a monster drummer! (ahem).

Danny Dangerous was there when I was putting The Conductors together around 2007, as was another drummer you may know, Flakey Starr. It’s funny that when Danny and I teamed up for The Conductors, I had asked him to play an upright bass, which is what he ultimately picked up when we came together in Cold Blue Rebels a little later on. The two of us have been in 3 bands together over the years beginning with The Zeros, who ruled the Sunset Strip from about 1989-1992 with our purple hair and Zeromobile!

I am working on a book that will document some of the crazy escapades I had in that band beginning in New Jersey where we formed in the early 80’s, leading up to many brushes with success and work with other stars like Howard Stern, the legendary StivBators, and red-rocker Sammy Hagar.

What were the primary inspirations for starting The Conductors?

Here’s the long version ha ha… Prior to starting The Conductors, I had quit the music business for almost 2 years. I was disillusioned by a record deal when the label didn’t live up to the promises they made when my album was released. Also around this time my beautiful sister who I had loved so dearly had died from complications due to a Domestic Violence beating that she had not fully recovered from.

Understandably I was doubly depressed. I grew angry and bitter with the state of rock music and the industry as a whole at a time when I really needed to count on music to pull me through. I would get disgusted every time I turned on the radio and heard plumes of manufactured pop music, and absolutely no rock artists that spoke to my own life experiences or generation… just being around new music was unbearable for me. I stopped listening to EVERYTHING. I just shut everything off for 2 years and walked away from it all.

My first son Drayke had been born right in synch with all that was happening with me musically. And as everything that had to do with being in a rock band came crumbling down around me, it was a miracle and life changer that I found some inner joy and peace just sitting on the floor with my guitar and making up songs to sing to Drayke. I was also doing a lot of self-examination in my writing during this period, but I was just writing from the heart about my experience in each moment… parent to child. Sometimes parenting myself in the process. This went on for those 2 years.

Well, my wife who was watching all this from the sidelines must have heard something positive in this work, or maybe she saw a new man emerging from the ashes and liked what she saw because she paid for me to go into a recording studio to record a bunch of new songs acoustically.I am eternally grateful to her for that.

This was my re-entrance to the music business, but I vowed that from that moment forward I would never again compare my work to that of others or follow any trends or measure my work against any standards that were being set except for my own.

As a parent and a musical artist seeking good music to share with my kid, I found it was nearly as dreadful to endure listening to most of the popular Children’s Music as it was current rock bands.

Meanwhile Drayke, who was now totally crazy about trains, had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

That’s when I got the idea to marry Drayke’s and my own passions, TRAINS and ROCK n ROLL, as a way to make connections with him and perhaps similar families in the Autism and Special Needs Community. I made it my mission to start a fun train-themed band that could play good music that appealed to the PARENT first, and would pull the child up to meet us, as opposed to dumbing it down to reach the child.

I saw that I could truly enjoy performing again and possibly support my family while INVOLVING my family in my work, which I could not do before playing in bars and touring relentlessly.

Thus, THE CONDUCTORS were born!

Your wife, Gigi, is a part of The Conductors. Does she have any prior musical experience or been in any bands before The Conductors?

Gigi has become kind of my silent partner in The Conductors. She helps out at the shows running the merch table, engaging the kids in the audience to participate with her big smile, and is the contact person behind the scenes at gigs and in the business offices.

We wanted the audiences at the live shows to recognize this is a family experience, so having her involved really brings it down to earth. We are just regular family people like everybody else and don’t put on any rock star airs. Once in a while Gigi will join us onstage for a chorus or two of “Mama Don’t Allow (NoRockin’), however it is Rosie the Railbender who covers all the female vocals onstage.

Rosie has another project with our drummer Henner too; they’re a duo called The Heebie-Jeebies that play cool and quirky 20’s songs, and it just so happens that she comes from a noteworthy family of talented musicians. Have you heard of The Lennon Sisters?

Your son, Drayke, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Can you please tell us about him? When was he diagnosed and how has having a son with autism changed your life, your career, and your prospective on things in general?

Drayke is the most empathetic and compassionate boy I know! Be it with animals or when another kid or adult is hurt or sad etc. he is right there for ya putting his arm around you. He is very affectionate and we get tons of hugs and hands held in our house.

Before he could talk, he would imitate the sounds of 100 different animals and even the sounds of the noisy jet plane engines roaring through the skies above our old neighborhood. This brings me to the two biggest skills we’ve acquired during this journey, Tolerance and Patience, ha ha.

Drayke’s got a wonderful sense of humor and loves to smile and laugh which is such a blessing in our lives. Laughter has gotten us through both some of the greatest and smallest challenges with Autism.

He was 3 ½ when we got the diagnosis Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We learned fast that when you have a kid with Autism, your language becomes full of colorful acronyms such as ASD, PDD, NOS, LD, IEP, IPP, SSI, IHSS, and the list goes on ad infinitum. My brain turns to jelly trying to keep track of all this, and it’s not fun when my wife is grilling me because I keep asking what we are talking about!

Since Drayke came into our lives, I’ve learned to not be so self-centered. I’ve had to stop touring with Cold Blue Rebels because whenever we’d go out on the 2 to 8 week tours, Drayke would just come apart while I was gone. We are so connected. The two of us have a special communication and understanding of each other that I don’t think he has with anyone else in his world.

Raising Drayke and being a part of the Autism and Special Needs community has given me an advantage in my work as a Guitar Instructor and Music Teacher as well. I work with tons of kids and can immediately identify the spectrum ones and know what it takes to engage and reach them… which is most often applying more patience, tolerance, intuitiveness, and out-of-the-box thinking.

Meanwhile, Drayke’s greatest challenge is his Learning Disability (LD). In addition to various processing disorders, he was finally just diagnosed Dyslexic. Finding the right school for him has been a nightmare. But now with this new diagnosis, we are fighting the school district to provide FAPE, (which I forget what that means ha ha).

How does Drayke like The Conductors? Is he a fan of music in general, and if so, what type does he prefer?

Drayke loves The Conductors and has joined us onstage, too. It’s funny though that I think he might grow up to like Cold Blue Rebels, too because he is obsessed with the Zombies in his Plants vs Zombies game and always seems to like the villains and monsters like the Dementors in Harry Potter and such.

He does love music, though. I once caught him singing along at the top of his lungs to “Hey Bulldog” by The Beatles… “You can talk to me… If you’re lonely you can talk to me!” As much as I encourage him to do more of that, I think he is embarrassed by my bringing it up. Again, more patience and tolerance on my part.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Definitely The Beatles, The Who, Pete Townshend, Paul Westerberg, John Lennon, Neil Young, The Cars, Queen, The Clash, Generation X, Cheap Trick, The Ramones, David Bowie, Elvis Costello. I come from 2 places musically. I loved bands and artists that had great SONGS like those I mentioned, but as a guitarist, my world was rocked by the riffs from guys like Cliff Gallup of Gene Vincent & Blue Caps, Brian Setzer, Elliott Easton of The Cars, Jimi Hendrix, Brian May of Queen, Cream era Clapton. I was also WAY into Steve Stevens during the Rebel Yell Billy Idol era. (Am I dating myself?!)

What bands do you currently listen to today?

Oh it’s dreadful what is out there now. As a music teacher I am exposed to so much of the garbage that these kids are spoon-fed by the industry, it’s terrible. It’s worse than we ever imagined it would be.

I find myself constantly going backward to discover new stuff. That’s how I hit on 50’s Rockabilly. Thank god for that, it saved my life when I was searching for something. Those early guitar sounds and those riffs reignited my passion for guitar and for Rock n Roll in general.

I do always find myself going back to the aforementioned artists and people like Elvis, Springsteen, and Ray Davies of the Kinks… Oasis… Paul Weller… The Smiths… 90’s Brit Pop, Motley Crue, GnR andU2.

What does a live show from The Conductors feel like? What kind of experience does the audience have?

Firstly audiences are wowed by the awesomeness of the imaginative drum set that our drummer Henner Tayir(aka H.T. BackBeater) built from scratch… It resembles a locomotive right down to the fully functioning smoke-puffing smokestack, wheels, and cow-catcher! Truly a marvel in itself! H.T. always invites fans and kids to come up onstage at the end to see it up close and press all the buttons and gadgets.

That in and of itself is worth the price of admission… which is something we RARELY charge because we play Community events,

Festivals, Autism Walks, Sponsored events and the like. These are generally free to the public.

The Conductors dress in hip railroad attire and kids and adults who are into trains absolutely love the stage set with the crossing signals, lights and props!

Unlike typical sound at concerts and events, we never play overbearingly loud… for two reasons. Kids with ASD are often hyper-sensitive to sound and cannot enjoy the show, and it pushes everybody else back away from the stage. We want them up front engaging with the band and having fun!

Other musicians love us because the musicianship in the band is top notch. We are four professional street-cred rockers that have all paid their dues, so it’s the real deal here. We have fun onstage and it translates to our audience.

We incorporate a bit of American Sign Language in there, plus a few educational moments that make it an enjoyable learning experience for the very young.

The parents love us because they dig the songs!! There’s good quality thoughtful songwriting here, if I do say so myself. And when we kick up the Rockabilly and Swing, it’s the Grandparents who are first to jump out of their seats to dance!

The Conductors are truly “a family entertainment that rivals the sun in its brightness!” (PT Barnum regarding the famous Hutchinson Family Singers)

The Conductors just released “Good Conduct” a brilliant 4 song EP. Do you have any shows or tours booked? What are the plans for The Conductors for the rest of this year?

We are planning a video shoot for 2 of the tracks on our Good Conduct CD, “Gypsy Train” and we’re still deciding between “Mama Don’t Allow (No Rockin’)” and our cover of The Beatles “One After 909.”

We are performing several Fundraisers this Fall including, Danny’s Farm Special Needs Petting Zoo, The Travel Town Railroad Museum in Griffith Park, The Institutefor the Redesign ofLearning, and several others, all in the Greater L.A. area.

The holidays always find us performing a “Polar Express” themed show, which is in the works also for the Los Angeles area.

Meanwhile our tour dates can be found on our site at: http://www.TheConductorsUSA.com

Another of our plans or goals over the next 12 months is to gain wider exposure via TV and Children’s programming, Radio, Cable TV, or other medium. After all, we do live in Hollywood Film &TV Land!

Have you connected with any other artists or musicians that have children with autism?

Yes, a few. Another New Jersey rocker dad like myself is my buddy John Easdale of Dramarama. He recently performed at one of the Walk For Autism events at The Rose Bowl and is out there in the Aut community representin’.

I’ve got another talented musician dad friend, Michael Giammatteo who’s helped record a couple songs for The Conductors recently. He does a group called Team Vico which was inspired similarly by his family’s journey with ASD. They’ve done a couple CD’s and we even performed together at a couple of the TACA Picnics. We were introduced to Jenny McCarthy at one TACA event and somewhere in the millions of digital files we have on our computers there is a picture of Gigi and I with her!

What can we expect in the years to come from Smokestack Joe Normal Hutchinson?

Perhaps that I will go solely by the name Joe Normal ha ha.

Well as I said earlier, I am one of those multi-faceted artists, so in addition to more music by The Conductors and more Joe Normal albums, expect to see my first graphic novel, several picture books with CDs to accompany my songs “Great Freight Train,” “My Backyard,” and “Won’t You Be My Friend” for a starter.

There are numerous other children’s stories I have written and those will be published in time, as well as a literary body of work I’ve amassed since I was in high school.

If you could give some advice to parents that are new to the autism community, what would you say?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Take a deep breath, focus on fun. Try to keep it light.

Get with other Autparents and Aut groups right away. This will help you greatly to endure and to stay hopeful. This is about parents helping parents, sharing everything we pick up along the way.

Your child’s needs come before any school board’s or agency’s feelings…so speak up and speak out and DEMAND if you must to get the services your child needs. You have rights and you are his or her best advocate. They are depending on you.

If you are married and want to STAY married, communicate, communicate, COMMUNICATE! Get a marriage counselor if it gets tough, get individual therapists, too. Make time for the relationship. Schedule it if you have to! Hold the relationship first above everything else, including your child. Your kid needs a Mommy AND Daddy to be present and involved.

And lastly, Acceptance is crucial. You gotta embrace this thing. It’s the key to survival and success. Love your child for the unique person he is. He’ll only love you back.

And, please end with any statements or comments you would like, in regards to music, life, autism, family, etc. Open forum here…GO!

I love seeing musicians using their power to create awareness and understanding for Autism, and in general for all humanitarian purposes, so when I read about We Rock For Autism and how you got involved and started the foundation, I got excited about the opportunity to talk with you and do this feature in The Monthly Melody. I think it is a wonderful service you provide and want to say thank you for helping to get the word out about Autism and getting people talking about it.

If you are reading this, please show your support for this artist-friendly and informative non-profit resource by making a donation to We Rock For Autism so they can keep bringing us all inspiring stories and quality entertainment, Autism news, and events.

You can keep up the Joe Normal and The Conductors by visiting their websites and social media pages. Be sure to check out their store for the latest tracks. Links provided below.

THE CONDUCTORS

Website – www.TheConductorsUSA.com

Facebook– www.facebook.com/theconductorsusa

Buy Music – www.theconductorsusa.com/store

JOE NORMAL

Facebook – www.facebook.com/JoeNormalUSA

COLD BLUE REBELS

Website – www.ColdBlueRebels.com

Interview with Dr. Michelle Hintz of
Cadenza Center for Psychotherapy and the Arts of Hollywood, FL

By Chris Wilson

Music is a tool used by most of us on a daily basis. It can help with our mood, or give us that boost we need to get things done or walk that extra mile. Music is one of the most powerful resources we have, it has the power to bring us back in time or help us envision our future. There is no doubt that music is powerful, so it only makes sense the music therapy is powerful as well.

We had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Michelle Hintz, of the South Florida based Cadenza Center for Psychotherapy and the Arts. Not only did we have the amazing opportunity to tour the facility and meet some of the teachers and students, but we had a chance to really learn about Dr. Hintz’s background and why Cadenza Center is one of the best centers around.

Chris: Dr. Hintz, thank you again for meeting with me and letting me peak into your world and your work. Cadenza Center for Psychotherapy and the Arts, in Hollywood, FL is an amazing center and provider of music therapy sessions, consultations, evaluations, and workshops. We Rock for Autism is extremely excited about our intent to help provide assistance to some local families so that their children will soon be able to benefit from your services and the many wonders of music therapy. Also, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions to help enlighten and inform our readers of your background and the importance of music and art therapy.

What is your background? And why did you choose the path of music therapy?

Dr. Hintz: Initially, I wanted to pursue a degree in medicine and was enrolled in a pre-med program. Yet, I always intended on keeping my hand in music somehow. That’s why I auditioned for the University of WI-Milwaukee’s orchestra. As a violinist, overheard music therapy students talking about their clinical experiences and was immediately intrigued. I spoke to them after every rehearsal for the better part of a semester before speaking to the program’s professor. I switched my major in the next term and the rest is history. I found the training I got in music therapy to be much more fulfilling than the book-work I was doing in pre-med.I loved the field so much that I ultimately bot both a Bachelors and Masters degree in music therapy.

Please tell us about Cadenza Center, and what it means to you?

Dr. Hintz: I have been a board-certified music therapist since 1990 and have always wanted to incorporate music into my work as a therapist. I knew how to use music in treating clients of all ages, but found it difficult for clients to access my services because it isn’t a regularly covered service by insurance. So after pursuing my doctorate in clinical psychology, I realized my dream to create a unique center that encompasses traditional therapies with the creative arts. The Cadenza Center fills a void in our community in serving adults, adolescents and children, is a comprehensive center with a multifaceted team of professionals.I chose the name “Cadenza” based upon its definition as elaborate flourish or showy solo passage that musicians play to share their talents and skills. I wanted to create a place for everyone to have their moment to shine, to find their way of sharing their talents, and to give self-expression to those who might otherwise not have that option. Cadenza Center’s objective is to help patients acquire improved behavioral and emotional functioning and meet personal goals, provides dynamic and integrative mental health services in South Broward.

How would you best describe music therapy, as provided to children with autism?

Dr. Hintz: Music therapists use a variety of active music interventions to provide opportunities to integrate emotional, physical, and cognitive experiences. For children who have autism and related conditions, music therapy often treats four main qualitative impairments: behavior, communication and symbolic play, socialization, and sensory issues. Goal-oriented music experiences may involve activities such as: singing, dancing, imitation and action songs, musical games, song writing, etc. Music therapy is, most importantly, an active process that engages the client and therapist in a musical experience that only music knows where it will go. As a music therapist, music is my co-therapist – and, often a better one than I.

What attributes do you feel are most important when deciding to bring in a music therapist?

Dr. Hintz: Music therapy can be a rich and rewarding part to a comprehensive treatment program. In fact, many parents seeking music therapy have been receiving other therapies for many years yet the progress has stalled for some reason. For some, meeting clinical goals can be slow and difficult to generalize. However, music therapy uses music experiences to address non-musical goals and objectives mirror that those of speech, occupational, and behavior therapists; still, the approach is vastly different.In addition to the socio-emotional and educational benefits, individuals with autism often make gains in generalization of previously learned skills, sensory integration and motor planning, self-regulation and executive functioning, and language and communication skills. Individuals are typically seen weekly either in an individual or group setting.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Dr. Hintz: I love working with families and seeing them find expression. I love the creative process and the unfolding of each client’s musical story. We create musical playlists, favorite activities, and our special improvisations that tie us together in a very special way.

What type of music do you listen to? Give us your top three genres…

Dr. Hintz: It is hard to pick. I love listening to Blues, Jazz, and alternative music. I also love singer-songwriters. And, my love of classical music always remains from my violin training.

Who are your top 5 favorite bands/ musicians of all time?

Dr. Hintz: Being raised in the 80’s, I’m partial to that pop genre. Yet, lately I’m more interested in the obscure and alternative music of the rising stars. I’m also listening to Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, One Republic, John Mayer, and Joe Bonamassa.

What initial signs could a child display that may be signs of them doing well with music therapy?

Dr. Hintz:
An individual, especially those affected with autism may benefit from music therapy if he/she:
• Easily learns words to songs, but has deficits in verbal communication,
• Is more animated and engaged when involved in music activities,
• Spends time humming, singing, or vocalizing to himself,
• Has limited joint attention skills and/or poor imitation,
• Has limited meaningful interaction with others

In your opinion, what is the best age for a child to begin music therapy?

Dr. Hintz: There is no perfect age to begin music therapy. However, I find that younger children (those under 7) are much more receptive to the joys music brings. They are more open to expressing the emotions they feel and are more motivated to move, dance, and sing as the music moves them. However, teens also enjoy music therapy sessions, but often for the more insightful and abstract emotional experience.

What is your favorite quote?

Dr. Hintz: “We are the makers of music and the dreamers of dreams” – Willy Wonka

And, is there anything you would like to let our readers know about you, Cadenza Center, music therapy, or any other general topics?

Dr. Hintz: Since we began this journey in 2000, the Cadenza Center has evolved and grown up so to speak. We are still expanding and improving our services to meet the needs of a very diverse population. We are hoping to continue to collaborate with others in the community to meet the needs of those who need the most support in finding their creative voice and getting their moment to shine. I can’t wait to see what we can do.
Cadenza Center for Psychotherapy and the Arts provides services in South Florida. Services can be provided at their conveniently located office in Hollywood, Florida or therapy and rehabilitation centers, hospitals and clinics, client’s home or schools.

For more information, please visit www.cadenzacenter.com
Or call 954-925-3191

Show you support and orders your today! They are great for everyday wear, as thank you gifts to families, teachers or service providers, party or wedding favors and more.

And, after you order your bracelets, make sure to stop by www.TheMonthlyMelody.com and sign up for your FREE subscription to the online magazine, dedicated to autism related news and events!

ORDER YOUR BRACELETS HERE!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MONTHLY MELODY HERE!

Please send any questions or comments to: [email protected]

Thank you,

We Rock for Autism

Source: www.NJ.com

Every year, some 50,000 youth with autism come of age in the United States. No one can say for sure what adulthood will hold for them, but legislation signed into law by President Obama Friday will help ease the burden on them and their families.

Known formally as the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2014 (Autism CARES), it was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) and his fellow congressman Mike Doyle (D-Pa.).

The legislation authorizes $1.3 billion over the next five years: $950 million is allocated for research grants; another $110 million will go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue researching the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders; and $340 million will go to early detection, education and intervention.

“And the new law, for the first time, tasks the federal government with examining and anticipating needs for autistic adolescents who are ‘aging out’ of their school-based support and transitioning into adulthood,” said Smith, who authored the original 2000 legislation that helped form the base line of federal autism programs.

Read full article: http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/08/autism_cares_act_signed_into_law_by_president_obama.html

Sunday we had the car wash planned. We have been planning and promoting the car wash for a few weeks in hopes of a good turn out. The Exxon gas station at the end of our block donated the location and the use of their water. The kids made signs and stood out by the road to lure in community traffic. We had several family members and friends stop by to support us, as well as a few random strangers. It was 98 degrees outside, but we managed…and had a good time.

All in all, we were able to raise over $250 between the two events, and that will provide 5 music therapy session. That is what is important!

Thanks again!

Chris Wilson

We Rock for Autism

Originally Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2014 12:00 am

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer