Giving Back
Under the leadership of Dr. Bruce Cross, Inspired has provided You Rock Guitars™ to children in need who, hospitalized, are either recovering from or are awaiting treatment. Dr. Cross, with his experience as an oncologist, has opened the door for Inspired to provide hope and promise through music to those in need. "Powered by batteries and capable of being amplified through any pair of headphones," states Dr. Cross, "the You Rock Guitar lends itself perfectly to the bedside format."
We thank Dr. Cross for his inspiration and we hope we can continue to serve by offering creativity and inspiration to those most in need.
Please contact Dr. Bruce Cross for more details: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Real Guitar Heroes
9/16/2010
Tommy is twelve years old. He plays guitar but recently has had trouble with pain in his hands. Tommy has leukemia and the disease, treatments, and side effects are causing skin problems and sensitive fingers.
I had the good fortune to meet Tommy while I was visiting CHOC(Childrens Hospital of Orange County) to learn about their music therapy program. I had a YouRockGuitar with me to see if there would be a place for it in their program.
CHOC has a great interest in music therapy. The Director of the Music Therapy program, Eric Mammen, is board certified in music therapy. He explained that music is learned to comfort ailing patients, music lessons are provided to stimulate both creative and therapeutic aspects, and the hospital has a radio station in the lobby to encourage performance and participation.
Eric saw an immediate use for the guitar in keeping Tommy playing. When Tommy came out to the hospital lobby in a wheelchair he had some reservations. His hands hurt when playing his acoustic guitar and he had sore skin and some bandages.
The first chord from the guitar turned his reservation into complete joy. After a few minutes of playing, he eagerly dove into the manual to explore other features, tunings, and the capo system.
I left the guitar with Tommy. When I called him by telephone the next day he was already working on suggestions for next year’s model. I asked Tommy to come see us when he is out of the hospital so we can work on this together. And after I post this, I’m going to pack up another guitar for Eric. To me, Tommy and Eric are real guitar heroes.
Eric, Tommy, and Tommy's Mom Katherine.
I had the good fortune to meet Tommy while I was visiting CHOC(Childrens Hospital of Orange County) to learn about their music therapy program. I had a YouRockGuitar with me to see if there would be a place for it in their program.
CHOC has a great interest in music therapy. The Director of the Music Therapy program, Eric Mammen, is board certified in music therapy. He explained that music is learned to comfort ailing patients, music lessons are provided to stimulate both creative and therapeutic aspects, and the hospital has a radio station in the lobby to encourage performance and participation.
Eric saw an immediate use for the guitar in keeping Tommy playing. When Tommy came out to the hospital lobby in a wheelchair he had some reservations. His hands hurt when playing his acoustic guitar and he had sore skin and some bandages.
The first chord from the guitar turned his reservation into complete joy. After a few minutes of playing, he eagerly dove into the manual to explore other features, tunings, and the capo system.
I left the guitar with Tommy. When I called him by telephone the next day he was already working on suggestions for next year’s model. I asked Tommy to come see us when he is out of the hospital so we can work on this together. And after I post this, I’m going to pack up another guitar for Eric. To me, Tommy and Eric are real guitar heroes.
Eric, Tommy, and Tommy's Mom Katherine.
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