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Thank You, Thank You – DMF Does It Again In “A Season To Smile” (video clip included)
As I sat down 10 minutes before the DMF concert with my two toddlers, I looked around the auditorium in dismay. There was no way I was going to make it through this concert – my 14 month old was already whining and my 2 year old was complaining “I can’t see!” while standing on her seat. The place was filling up fast and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for myself as I watched happy and excited concert-goers waving friends and family over to seats saved just for them.
My husband has been working a lot this holiday season. And by a lot I mean every weekend and up to 20 hours a day – an insane but occasional side effect of being an attorney in NYC. It has been a long few weeks of juggling 3 children’s busy schedules, houseguests, holiday celebrations and a myriad of middle school tours, meetings and interviews. There do not seem to be enough waking hours during the two weeks leading up to Christmas to plan for gift shopping, the Giving Back For The Holidays event (See Upcoming Events), a lot of baking, holiday parties, and middle school decisions (due this week). But the same two weeks might as well be forever as I do all of this while waiting for my husband to get a couple of days off so we can spend some much needed downtime as a family.
Add to this the struggles I’ve been having with James lately, the sleep deprivation cumulated over several weeks and the realization that one of my favorite ways to get in the holiday spirit (see my Top Ten list) was about to be crushed by my two squirming toddlers, and you can begin to understand what I was feeling as the lights dimmed and the show began. I really needed this concert.
If for some reason I have fallen behind on my ravings about DMF recently, I was only reminded ten-fold today that there is good reason that Daniel’s Music Foundation is on my Top Ten favorite holiday activities (see Top Ten post). Within 5 seconds of the first song starting Adam and Margaret were bouncing and clapping along. It was no small effort, but I give DMF members equal credit for entertaining my children well enough to make it through the entire show (with only one bathroom break and a lot of aisle dancing) – a true Christmas miracle! Though I don’t have live clips from the show yet, click here to watch the HOPE week video shown during the concert today (can y0u find James on stage? hint: long sleeve white button down).
For those of you unfamiliar with Daniel’s original “Thank You Song,” (available on itunes!) the gist of it is Daniel thanking all of the people who have helped him, loved him and cared for him. So taking a page from his book (without the awesome music and rhyming lyrics):
Thank you DMF members for jump starting my holiday spirit this year with an amazing show, one of the best yet!
Thank you for making me remember that no matter how many middle schools and places in life James does not belong, he will always be welcome, comfortable and celebrated at DMF.
Thank you instructors and volunteers – without you none of this would be possible for James, or any other DMF member. I am always in awe of your unwavering enthusiasm and generosity and appreciate your time and effort more than you could possibly know.
Thank you Trush family for continuing to be an inspiration to me and my family year after year – you are a shining example of what love, respect, empathy, motivation, determination and a little humor can accomplish.
Thank for making me remember that it is definitely still “A Season To Smile.”
—-
Congratulations to DMF members and the Trush family for another wildly successful event!
NYC Holiday Top Ten Event – DMF “Season to Smile” is December 11th!
One of my Top Ten favorite holiday activities in NYC (see Top Ten posts for more ideas) is coming up on the 11th and I hope you will be able to join me! Please make sure to use eventbrite to RSVP and note that there are two times to choose from. Though admission is free you should reserve a ticket because space is more limited every year (not surprisingly!). I can’t recommend this event enough – look up “holiday spirit” in the dictionary and you’ll find the DMF Winter concert!
To our friends,
We hope all is well!
It’s that time of year again, and you are cordially invited to join us on Sunday, December 11th for our free concert, “A Season To Smile – A Musical Celebration.” It is sure to be a high energy and wonderful day, with performances like Walking on Sunshine, Hair, What I Like About You, U Smile, Love Train, Soul Sister, and many others! We also will be sharing our amazing experience of Yankees HOPE Week this summer with a brief video, so mark your calendars and please join us (for either one or both of our 2 different shows):
The Dalton School
108 East 89th St. (between Lexington and Park Ave.)
1:00PM-2:30PM and/or 4:00PM-5:30PM.
Please RSVP if you will be able to attend by using Eventbrite – http://www.dmf-season-to-smile.eventbrite.com/ or if you prefer, contact us at daniel@danielsmusic.org or 212-289-8912 and share in the “Season to Smile” by inviting your friends and family to attend (just let us know so that we can keep track of the number of attendees)! As always, many thanks for being part of the DMF community!
Warm regards,
Daniel, Ken, Nancy and Mike
Jon Samson Concert! September 18, 11:15am
Concert with Jon Samson for children 3 years old through 7th grade. Friends are Welcome!!
Jon Samson produces and performs “alternative family music” for kids of all ages. He has been featured in Time Out NY Kids and Parenting Magazine, and has been interviewed on Doctor Radio Sirius XM about his private music therapy practice in Brooklyn. As a performer, his show at BAM cafe for the annual BAMkids films festival was sold out! As a teaching artist, he collaborated with the founders of the Blue Man Group at the Blue School in lower Manhattan, and as a music therapist, works with kids on the autism spectrum and kids in general on self esteem and expression. As a native South African, Jon offers a world of music to his clients and fans.
Concert at Rutgers Church, on W. 73rd and Broadway (the music is not religious). September 18 at 11:15am on the 4th floor. Contact person: Ivy Beckwith at (212)877-8227, ext. 205 or ibeckwith@rutgerschurch.org.
Extra Special Event Featuring Surprise Special Guests: July 25th, 12:30pm – DMF Takes It To Broadway!!! (Limited Seats Available)
I am really excited to pass on this announcement from the Trush family:
A generous sponsor has donated the use of the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (where the musical “Rain” is currently playing) to DMF for our members to perform. Hard to believe that we have graduated all the way to Broadway! And if Broadway isn’t exciting enough, we have also been informed that there will be some very special guests performing with our members. As always, the concert is free and we hope that you will be able to join us for this exciting event! Since this will be a private event, all attendees must be recorded on the guest list for admittance and should expect to arrive at the theatre no later than 12:30PM. If you are interested in attending you MUST email DMF at daniel@danielsmusic.org. We now have over 850 people attending but have a few seats left. If you would like to bring additional guests you must provide their name in the email as well. Many thanks and hope to see you there!
James will be there with my mom, and maybe Ryan. I will be home on baby duty – though she will probably end up there someday, my 2 yr old is not quite ready for Broadway (show is for ages 3 and up).
Congrats to DMF for making this amazing opportunity possible and to the Trush family for all they have accomplished through their hard work and dedication. As always, they remain a true inspiration to my family!
DMF Spring Concert May 22nd – limited seats open to the public!
I am so excited that DMF’s Spring concert is right around the corner! Daniel’s Music Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruction to all individuals with disabilities in the NYC area. James has been a member for 2 years and it is one of the most inspiring activities I have had the pleasure to see him participate in. He learns a lot in music every week, has made some great friends and has gained confidence and social skills beyond our expectations. Not to mention that meeting the Trush family alone is worth joining the group.
Some of you were fortunate enough to meet co-founders Ken and Daniel Trush at the March meeting. You also got to see (after much technical difficulty) a brief but inspiring clip from one of the concerts and a live performance by Daniel himself. DMF members put on performances twice a year and after every one I feel amazed, hope-filled and motivated to do better with my own child. Because of growing popularity and an increase in members, Daniel’s Music Foundation will be holding two concerts (instead of one) on May 22nd, at 1pm and 4pm at The Dalton School on the UES. James will be ushering and performing during the 4p.m. concert.
Concerts are usually filled with friends and family, but since there are two performances there will be a limited amount of seats open to the public! The cost is a donation, any amount small or large makes a difference. If you would like to attend one of these fabulous concerts, please email me to RSVP. To learn more about DMF, visit http://www.danielsmusic.org.
The Foorce 
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