As a child of immigrants from Beirut, Lebanon, I found myself often enthralled by music of any kind during my growing up years in Cudahy, Wisconsin. My parents blessed me with music lessons from the time I was 8 years old. And even though I loved music, I hated practicing! After a full three plus years of moaning and groaning, I hit just the right stride and couldn’t be pulled off the bench if someone tried. I was passionate about music,and learned to play other instruments including the trumpet, bass trombone, violin, viola, harp, accordion, B flat and E flat clarinets, guitar, and the organ.
I found music to be something that touched my soul like nothing else could. It spoke to me without words. So it was a perfect fit for me to choose a career in Music Therapy where I could use music in a therapeutic setting to help heal, encourage, and provide a venue for positive goals to be born. I moved to Connecticut over 30 years ago to do my internship training in Newtown, CT. when there was still a psychiatric hospital there. I worked for over 11 years in a different state psychiatric facility as a music therapist until I left my job to answer the call of motherhood.
After fulfilling my commitment to the call of motherhood and homeschooling for the past 20 years, I now have more time to teach, and time to use my skills as a music therapist to tailor a piano/music lesson program for you and/or your loved one. I treat each person as an individual when they come to my bench. I will nurture your love of music, help you learn to play things you enjoy, and to teach you the indispensable basics to make it all come together! It’s all just black and white until the breath of emotion is breathed into what you are playing and creating.
I have the ability to give day time lessons as well as evenings if it suits you. I teach all ages at all stages of life and ability. I have maintained my music therapy credentials so can do many things with music for you by utilizing various musical resources. My rates are reasonable and competitive. I cater to the person who has always wanted to play but has never had the chance or who feels they just cannot because they are too “old” or “slow.”
I’ve been an accomplished pianist, accompanying for public school concerts, the Windham Theater Guild community and children’s chorus, played on a porch during the Victorian Neighborhood Home Tours, accompanied for the Chocolate Festival Chocolate Lovers soiree, substitute taught in area schools in the music departments, and accompanied international friends during special times of the year at the University of Connecticut as well as Eastern Connecticut State University. Recently, I started playing music from the 20’s to the 80’s at the new UCONN Coop Bookstore as well as performed piano duets at the University of Hartford. I have been teaching for over 40 years now.
It would be my pleasure to serve you in any musical capacity you could think of.
Ruth (far right) with her music students from our recital on May 27th.
Ruth at The Last Green Valley Taste of the Valley fundraiser performing. PC to Dorothy Mattesen Drobney.
This picture was taken by none other than Al Malpa. Ruth is playing her electronic keyboard that she purchase through a grant from the Pageau Trust. This event was a live nativity and takes place every December at Camp Care Inc. in Columbia, CT. Yes, Ruth plays in cold places including barns with live animals!
Ruth playing the guitar in her Music Therapy capacity at Camp Care.
Ruth playing her portable keyboard at the Connecticut Cameo event that chooses senior women to bestow a crown upon and to represent the aging process with grace, skill, and joy. 🙂
Ruth playing a tracker pipe organ at the Willington Federated Church
Ruth Hartunian-Alumbaugh, MT/BC
www.musicandmoreint.com
Music and More (on Facebook)
RuthHAlumbaugh (on Twitter)
MusicandMoreInt (on Twitter)