Music Moves Mountains Foundation

Join us! Get Involved! Give!

MOTTO: The power of music can change lives. Let’s use it to help those in need by giving hope, health, and happiness through the healing art of music. Join together with us in our mission to make music therapy, music education, and community outreach more accessible to those in need!

MMMF is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in the U.S. Charity EIN# 45-5216562

Special thank you to Pete Townshend and The Who for their donation of the usage of their song “Join Together” in our campaign video! Here is the face and inspiration behind the Foundation (circa 2012). He now is one of our own Movers and Shakers helping others in need!

MMMF Campaign Video

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4.8.23 We are kickstarting Autism Awareness/Acceptance month off with another All Abilities Rock concert series event on Saturday, April 8th from 1-4pm at the Twin Oaks Library in Austin! More info here: All Abilities Rock with the MMMF All-Stars 4/8/23

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12.16.22 Out now!! Devin Gutierrez ‘s Christmas single “Someday at Christmas” is available for streaming and download on all digital platforms. This is a very special Christmas song by Stevie Wonder from 1967 that pleads for peace and love instead of war and hate, and to remind us of what Christmas is for. Please listen, download, and share the love! Recorded at Charlie Harper Music with MMMF.

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12.12.22 Meet the Founder and Director of MMMF and hear the story behind the organization!

Voyage Austin Magazine: Meet Julie Frost of Music Moves Mountains Foundation

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11.1.22 #GivingTuesday is just around the corner! Join us in the world’s largest day of giving – and remember that many platforms will match your donations to make the greatest impact in your community! Giving the gift of music can change lives! We serve our most vulnerable populations: children, adults, and elders experiencing mental or physical challenges and conditions, Veterans, houseless, disadvantaged, and marginalized communities, and underserved schools. As a small, volunteer-run non-profit organization, we have limited resources – but, as you can see from our incredible work over the past ten years, we have covered a lot of ground and changed a lot of lives. There are many ways to contribute and make an impact in the community. Let me count the ways…here are ten, in fact, for every year we’ve been moving mountains:

1. Make a tax-deductible donation via any of our online platforms
2. Sponsor a program (All Abilities Rock, Play It Forward, or Feeding the Soul)
3. Start a fundraiser via Facebook, school, workplace, or community group
4. Offer an in-kind item or service
5. Volunteer or partner
6. Purchase an item on our wish-list
7. Attend a benefit concert or event
8. Designate us when shopping or selling via Charity eBay, Amazon Smile, PayPal Giving, Give with Bing
9. Give a legacy gift in honor of a loved-one, or donate in lieu of a birthday gift
10. Spread the word

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10.29.22 What a beautiful coming together of the community for refugee families and friends! Thank you to Michael Longoria, Nick Litterski, Devin Gutierrez, and Amber Nichols of tuneBugz for providing music outreach and to the case workers, interpreters, and volunteers at Refugee Services Texas in Austin for facilitating! Music is a Universal language we can all understand and share. It not only connects us but also allows healing, grounding, and communication for those experiencing trauma and displacement. If you want to help sponsor more music access to refugee kids and adults seeking music education and outreach, please donate now! Your contribution also supports working musicians and educators!

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7.17.22 Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate 10 years as a non-profit giving access to music therapy, education, and outreach and raise funds for our special music scholarship in memory of Scotty Mescal (designated to the Austin School of Music)! Shoutout to the bands, sponsors, community partners, and volunteers who made it all possible! And to the Far Out Lounge crew for their support!

The Music Moves Mountains Foundation set to celebrate its 10^th Anniversary with All-Star Benefit Concert & Jam-a-Thon on July 17^th from 3-10pm at the Far Out Lounge

The Music Moves Mountains Foundation will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary with an all-day jam-a-thon at The Far Out Lounge and Stage on Sunday, July 17th from 3pm-10pm. Performing will be an all-star line-up of past alumni, mentors, and program recipients including Kevin McKinney, Larry Seaman, Cid Sanchez w/ Rockville Blues (Adam Johnson, Vic Gerard, Nico Leophonte), Devin Gutierrez, Hudson & the MMMF All-Stars, Favor, and special guest Tia Carrera. This one is extra special, not only because it is a milestone year, but also because MMMF will be launching a special music scholarship fund in memory of their dear friend and supporter, Scotty Mescal (whose face is painted next to the stage by Tim Kerr). The fund will be designated to the Austin School of Music for future rockers. Donations from artist/musician Tim Kerr and No Comply Skateshop will be auctioned at the show to kick-start the fund. All other proceeds will go into MMMF’s fund for music therapy and outreach programs. There will also be a silent auction with rock-and-roll collectibles from legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen and raffles from local businesses like Strait Music, Antone’s Record Shop, Book People, The Soup Peddler, and Tito’s. Community partners The Austin School of Music, the World Federation of Music Therapy, and TuneBugz (for the little rockers) will be on hand for learning opportunities. And our buddies over at Homeslice Pizza will be feeding the band and crew! There will be music trivia prizes and interactive stations to participate in music, art, and a dedication wall. Thank you to our media sponsor The Austin Chronicle!!

Voted ‘Best New Music Venue’ by the Austin Music Awards, The Far Out Lounge has a fun, cool indoor lounge with a full bar and a beautiful, spacious acre of land with an outdoor stage, food trucks, shaded picnic tables, local vendor markets, and water stations for humans and dogs. The venue is located at 8504 South Congress, Austin, TX 78745. The event is all ages, family friendly, ADA accessible with free parking; doors open at 2pm, music starts at 3pm. There is a suggested $20 donation (kids 12 and under are free). For more info, visit www.thefaroutaustin.com ; Tickets are available online or at the door. Get tickets: https://bit.ly/faroutMMMF

Visit the FB event page to get updates: MMMF 10th anniversary benefit FB event page

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3/14/22

What a wonderful time we had celebrating the official record release of “Peripheral Vision” from MMMF-sponsored artist Devin Gutierrez ! Thank you to legendary Austin band Blue Mist featuring Robert Kelley, D-Madness, Rodney Hyder, Jimmy Vinson, Marcus Cardwell (all alumni from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired) and Brad Shultz for supporting, and to our special guest Chris Cebrian for opening. Here are some shots and footage from the show, recorded at the East Austin Piano Shop by Collin Shook. This is what accessibility, inclusivity, and equity looks like. Amazing things can happen when given the opportunity and the platform. Thank you to all of our movers and shakers for helping Devin’s dream as an artist become reality! #AllAbilitiesRock #DevinGutierrezMusic

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3/11/22

Watch Devin Gutierrez on Fox 7 Austin’s “Tuning In” with Casey Claiborne

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1/24/22

Watch Devin Gutierrez featured on CBS / KEYE morning show ‘We Are Austin’!

https://cbsaustin.com/features/we-are-austin/still-austin-whiskey-co-music-monday-with-devin-gutierrez

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12/1/21

MMMF releases debut album by sponsored artist Devin Gutierrez!

The Music Moves Mountains Foundation is proud to present “Peripheral Vision,” a debut solo album by sponsored artist Devin Gutierrez. The album is a collection of live performances from three different livestreams recorded in 2020 and 2021 at the East Austin Piano Shop by Collin Shook. The album is a tasteful mix of acoustic and electric covers of Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel, Carole King, and Ray Charles/Hoagy Carmichael, and features two originals by Devin as well as a bonus demo recorded in his home studio. Guests on the album include some of Austin’s most esteemed musicians: Chris Maresh, Nico Leophonte, Paul Deemer, Collin Shook, D-Madness, and Rodney Hyder. “Peripheral Vision” is available now on all digital platforms distributed by Distrokid. Visit www.devingutierrez.com for more information.

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11/11/21

Newsletter: Give the power of music this #VeteransDay & #GivingTuesday! (mailchi.mp)

Join Strait Music and MMMF this #VeteransDay to help our Veterans heal!
Music has been used as medicine for centuries, but it wasn’t until after WWI that music was accepted as a clinical-based, therapeutic medical practice when hospitals noticed the incredible impact it had on soldiers recovering from the war. Through the years, music therapy programs at VA centers have helped so many military members work through mental and physical challenges that often don’t get addressed in traditional medical settings. There is a lot of training and preparation to enter the military, but we need to do more to help our soldiers fully transition, deal with experiences, and heal properly once back home. Many will face PTSD, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, and suicide after risking everything to help others. It is up to us as a society to provide our Vets the tools that they need, not just to survive – but to thrive. Music provides a safe space and an outlet to re-connect and feel human again. It also provides a sense of purpose and community. Please consider joining our efforts to support in the way we know best – with the power of music. Thank you to Strait Music in Austin for joining these efforts in helping provide these tools. Here is a word from our friend, who is a Veteran, volunteer, and music therapist at the VA, Abraham Ludwig, reflecting on the need for support.

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10/31/21

MMMF hosted sensory-friendly concert in the park for all abilities!

The Music Moves Mountains Foundation hosted a special sensory-friendly concert on October 31st, 2021 in Austin at Pease Park’s Tudor Cottage Terrace. The Old Souls along with boogie-woogie pianist Henri Herbert and MMMF sponsored artist Devin Gutierrez brought fun, family-friendly tunes to “Boo-gie” down to on Halloween. This concert series is designed for all ages and abilities to enjoy live music in a safe, accessible, and adaptable environment, Although Austin is known as the “live music capital of the world,” the special needs and disability community are often left out of the mix despite music’s massive impact on this vulnerable population. This concert series also provides the underserved an opportunity to access live music with no barriers or judgment and to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in an accepting, beautiful, and loving atmosphere.

Photos from MMMF’s “BOO-gie in the Park” for All Abilities

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9/26/21

Huge thanks to Guestroom Records in OKC for donating this record player and box of LPs to us last weekend! When we delivered them to the VA Center in Norman, we were greeted by a dog named Sergeant and a resident who lit up when seeing us. If you are in the OKC or Austin metro area and have records, CDs, iPods, radios, instruments or any music equipment you don’t need anymore and are thinking of donating, please consider us. We promise to get it to those most in need of some musical joy!

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6/5/21

MMMF annual benefit concert a success!

What a show and an incredible coming together of the community! Our Tribute to Stevie Wonder is in the books and will definitely go down in history. This was our first live show coming out of the pandemic, the first we have ever livestreamed with an audience, the first concert with a full band led by our sponsored artist Devin Gutierrez, the first I have produced working with five blind musicians, the first that Hudson worked with his bandmates completely independent, and just the best teamwork all around! The love and support was off the charts. And of course, my heart is full that we finally got to share the music of Stevie. It was just pure joy, good vibes, and fun times working with this amazing crew of musicians, volunteers and audience. Hats off to Collin Shook at the East Austin Piano Shop for trusting me with this adventure and juggling this circus like a boss. Thank you to our sponsors: Homeslice Pizza, Music Water, Juiceland, Tim Kerr, and Space Rehearsal. Props to Kim Yarbrough for capturing the magic with these beautiful shots (feel free to tag and use, and credit Kim for her work). You can re-watch the livestream anytime from MMMF’s FB or YT channel. Thank you to everyone that joined us, donated, and helped us raise funds for music therapy, education and outreach! -JF

The Music Moves Mountains Foundation hosted its annual benefit concert on June 5th, 2021 at the East Austin Piano Shop with a celebration of Stevie Wonder with sponsored artist Devin Gutierrez (keys/vocals/harmonica) and his band Devin G and the Wonder Vault featuring alumni from the Texas School for the Blind: D-Madness (bass), Rodney Hyder (drums), Jimmy Vinson (keys), and Marcus Cardwell (sax/flute), plus special guests Brad Shultz (guitar), Jeff Lofton (trumpet), James Robinson (guest vocals), Sheree Smith (lead and backing vocals), Julianna Sheffield (BV) and Georgia Bramhall (BV).

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Check out our YouTube playlist of highlights from our Tribute to Stevie Wonder 6/5/21

WHAT IS THE MUSIC MOVES MOUNTAINS FOUNDATION?

MISSION STATEMENT: The Music Moves Mountains Foundation is a perpetual series of projects, programs, and services utilizing the scientifically proven powers of music to change and improve the quality of lives. The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that uses tax-deductible donations to facilitate its goal in making music therapy, music education, and community outreach more accessible to those in need. MMMF’s work is a vital resource that supports both the music community and our most vulnerable populations.

WE SERVE: Children, adults, and seniors suffering mental, emotional, or physical illnesses, developmental disabilities or disorders, depression or loss, trauma or stress, as well as underserved and at-risk communities and schools. We also offer opportunities to partner with musicians, music educators, music therapists, and other organizations.

OUR PROGRAMS:

“All Abilities Rock” – Community music workshops and experiences, adaptive music education/mentorship, and sensory-friendly concerts for children and adults with disabilities or special needs

“Play It Forward” – A cooperative effort to offer donated musical instruments, music scholarships, and mentorship to low-income or at-risk individuals who commit, in return, to donate their time and talent to someone in need

“Feeding The Soul” – A series of musical performances and outreach at hospitals, memory care and nursing homes, VA centers, rehab centers, hospice care, homeless shelters, etc.

SERVICES: Financial aid to qualifying applicants for Music Therapy services by a Board-certified Music Therapist and/or referral to an MT

REACH: Based in Central Oklahoma and Texas, the Foundation currently is regional, but hopes to maximize access and growth nationally with the support of patrons, sponsors, and giving-institutions. Priority will be given to underserved/special needs individuals and communities based on availability of funds. We provide the community a resource that educates, empowers, strengthens and supports its citizens in need while employing local musicians, music educators, and music therapists.

Need: In America, there is a lot of support in the Northeast and on the Westcoast for Music Therapy. There is a vast gap in services and programs everywhere in between. Texas in particular does not recognize Music Therapy for state board certification which is needed for regulation and for insurance companies to cover it. Oklahoma just passed legislation to recognize MT as a practice, yet is one of only seven states in the nation that does not require insurance companies to cover therapy services for Autism Spectrum Disorder, among other disorders and disabilities. So, for many seeking Music Therapy, it can be too costly. All the while, cuts in public funding for Arts programs and special needs’ services in schools, as well as mental health services keep increasing, while healthcare costs continue to go up. Even if some therapies are covered by insurance, many are considered alternative and can be hard to qualify for. We want to fill the gap affecting marginalized populations by making music more accessible for those in need, however it fits them.

Clinically Proven Results Include:

Recovery and development of speech, memory, and motor coordination for victims of stroke, brain injuries, amnesia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Relief and healing progression for life altering diseases and pain management
Improvement of communication, focus, regulation, social and behavioral skills for Autism/ Asperger’s Syndrome/ ADD/ADHD /Sensory Processing Disorder/ Down’s Syndrome/ developmental challenges
Restoration of purpose, hope, strength, connection, and discipline to those fighting physical or substance abuse, depression, PTSD, trauma, stress, grief, anxiety, bullying, or low self-esteem
Rhythmic balance for equilibrium, seizures, tremors, stutters, or ticks