music therapy Archives - Business RadioX ®

April Rooks – AMPED Kids

March 2, 2025 by Rose

North Georgia Business Radio

April Rooks – AMPED Kids

00:00 /

♫ 𝄞 ♫ Can music be the key to unlocking a child’s potential? ♫ 𝄞 ♫

During this episode of North Georgia Business Radio, Phil Bonelli and Beau Henderson are exploring the incredible impact of AMPED Kids, a local nonprofit organization using the power of music to empower and heal children who have experienced trauma.

April Rooks, founder of Amped Kids, is sharing her inspiring journey of turning a moment of inspiration into a statewide movement.

From its humble beginnings in 2018 to now serving children across Georgia and even expanding to Nashville, AMPED Kids is making waves in the foster care community and beyond.

April’s story is a testament to the power of following your passion and using your unique talents to serve others.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a music lover, or simply someone looking to make a positive impact, you’ll find inspiration in April’s story and the work of AMPED Kids.

This Segment Is Brought To You By Our Amazing Sponsors

Hopewell Farms GA

Roundtable Advisors

RichLife Advisors

Olipop

Highlights Of The Show

01:12 – 02:42

Introduction to Amped Kids, a nonprofit organization helping foster children heal through music and songwriting therapy.
April shares that her own childhood trauma and experience as a musician inspired her to start the nonprofit.

02:42 – 04:12

How Amped Kids started:
- April was inspired after attending a CASA event in 2017.
- She realized the impact of music in healing childhood trauma.
- She used her 20+ years of music experience to help foster children.

04:12 – 07:11

How the nonprofit launched (2018):
- Partnered with North Georgia Community Foundation to gain a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship.
- Hosted a launch event, quickly gained funding.
- By 2019, served nearly 100 children through music programs.

07:11 – 10:39

Key takeaways from Amped Kids’ growth:
- April emphasizes the power of action—many people have ideas, but few take steps to execute them.
- She immediately built a team and leveraged partnerships instead of doing everything alone.
- Lesson: Don’t wait to start—take action and adapt as you go.

10:39 – 13:08

Entrepreneurship insights from Bo Henderson:
- Success comes from momentum and movement.
- Many people fail because they wait too long to take action.
- April’s approach—building a network, finding experts, and starting small—was key.

13:08 – 16:35

How Amped Kids expanded statewide:
- Initially started in Hall County, now operates across Georgia.
- Partners with group homes, schools, and foster agencies.
- Music talent show started in 2021 as a way to engage kids.
- Established a recording studio in a foster home to teach music production.

16:35 – 19:30

The power of music in mental health:
- Amped Kids collaborates with schools, counselors, and social workers.
- Music is used as therapy to help children cope with trauma.
- New chapter launched in Nashville, TN, backed by the ACM Lifting Lives grant.

19:30 – 26:46

Funding and expansion:
- Sponsorship program: $100/month covers a child’s full-year lessons, instruments, and supplies.
- Monthly donors are crucial to sustaining the program.
- Grant partnerships help expand outreach to more children in need.

26:46 – 30:56

Transformational impact: Addie’s Story
- Addie, a foster child, used songwriting to express emotions she couldn’t verbalize.
- After joining Amped Kids, she gained confidence and started opening up during therapy.
- Her songwriting transformed her mindset from victim to survivor.

30:56 – 37:41

The importance of giving back:
- April emphasizes that helping others heals the giver as well.
- Encourages people to volunteer and contribute in any way they can—whether through time, money, or skills.

37:41 – 40:30

Final thoughts:
- Encouragement to take action: If you have a passion, find a way to make it happen.
- Music is not just entertainment—it’s a tool for healing.
- Visit ampedkids.org to donate, volunteer, or sponsor a child.

Lori Hamrick and April Rooks – Music As Medicine

May 5, 2024 by Rose

North Georgia Business Radio

Lori Hamrick and April Rooks - Music As Medicine

00:00 /

Harmonizing Body, Mind & Spirit: Music as Medicine for Patients and Kids

During this episode of North Georgia Business Radio, we’re taking a deep dive into the unexpected world of music’s healing powers.

You won’t believe how vibrations and sound can impact the body. And it’s not just about entertainment or therapy. Discover a surprising frontier where music interacts with brains and bodies, pushing boundaries in ways you never imagined.

Our guests today are Lori Hamrick, a Certified Music Practitioner from the Live Therapeutic Music Department at Northeast Georgia Health System, and April Rooks, the founder of Amped Kids Foundation.

Lori’s expertise lies in utilizing music to create a calm environment for patients, funded by the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation,

Her work, funded by the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation, aims to alleviate patients’ stress and improve their ability to handle medical intervention.

April’s passion for positively impacting the lives of foster and adopted youth through healing music programs is truly inspiring.

With over 20 years of experience in teaching vocal and piano lessons, April has witnessed the profound effects of music therapy on children, highlighting the therapeutic power of music in empowering individuals and fostering healing.

The profound role of music in mental health is evident in the transformative experiences shared by Lori and April. Music serves as a powerful tool for emotional expression and empowerment, particularly for children facing traumatic experiences. Music has the potential to foster resilience, confidence, and emotional well-being in individuals of all ages.

Connect With Lori and April:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-hamrick-2740bb17/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-rooks-a27b531b/

https://ampedkids.org/

https://www.instagram.com/ampedkids/

https://www.facebook.com/AMPEDKidsFoundation/

Connect with Phil Bonelli:

https://www.facebook.com/Hopewell-Farms-GA-105614501707618/

https://www.instagram.com/hopewellfarmsga/

https://www.hopewellfarmsga.com/

Connect with Beau Henderson:

https://RichLifeAdvisors.com

https://www.facebook.com/RichLifeAdvisors

https://www.facebook.com/NorthGARadioX

Highlights Of The Show

0:02:09 – Live Therapeutic Music Program at Northeast Georgia Health System
Lori Hamrick discusses the Live Therapeutic Music Program, which aims to create a calm environment for patients using trained and certified music practitioners to respond to patients’ physical and emotional needs through music.

00:11:27 – The Healing Power of Music
April Rooks explains the mission of Amped Kids foundation to positively impact the lives of foster and adopted youth through healing music programs, such as free access to music lessons, instruments, and songwriting workshops.

00:13:45 – Music as a Tool for Emotional Resilience
April Rooks emphasizes the role of music in building emotional resilience in children by providing a platform for expressing emotions, creating a sense of safety and agency, and fostering confidence to navigate life’s challenges.

00:17:08 – The Power of Music in Healing
April and Lori discuss the power of music as a tool for expression and healing, particularly for children who have experienced trauma. They emphasize the importance of providing children with a sense of agency and control through music.

00:18:56 – Impact of Trauma on Children
The conversation delves into the devastating effects of trauma on children’s health and social development, as evidenced by studies such as the AcE studies. Early interventions through music therapy can help empower children and lead to positive outcomes such as higher graduation rates and reduced violence.

00:20:39 – The Humanities and Holistic Education
Lori highlights the importance of humanities education, suggesting a correlation between the defunding of arts in education and the rise of social ills. They discuss the value of a well-rounded education that includes music, arts, and physical activity to nurture holistic development.

00:25:53 – The Connection Between Music and Academics
The conversation explores the correlation between music education and academic success, citing the impact of music on cognitive development and learning. They emphasize the importance of incorporating music into education for well-rounded development.

00:30:51 – Supporting AMPED Kids
April shares ways for the community to support AMP Kids, including donations, volunteering as music instructors or songwriters, and spreading awareness through social media. They invite individuals to contribute to the organization’s mission of providing music therapy for children in need.

00:34:54 – The Power of Music Therapy
Lori and April discuss the impact of sound and electrical waves on our bodies, and the potential for music therapy to unlock memories and movement in patients with dementia and stroke victims.

00:36:49 – Music Therapy vs. Entertainment
The conversation delves into the distinction between music therapy and entertainment, emphasizing the therapeutic power of live music for non-responsive patients, including those with advanced dementia and stroke victims.

00:38:55 – The Healing Power of Music
The discussion highlights the transformative effect of music on patients, revealing how it can facilitate movement and evoke memories, ultimately showcasing the potential of music as a therapeutic tool.

00:39:39 – Embracing the Arts for Healing
Lori and April express excitement about the evolving societal openness to utilizing the arts for therapeutic purposes, emphasizing the collaborative efforts to explore new aspects of sound, vibrations, and healing through music.

Music Therapy: An Interview with Allison Jarrell, Metro Music Makers

August 25, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Music Therapy: An Interview with Allison Jarrell, Metro Music Makers

00:00 /

Music Therapy: An Interview with Allison Jarrell, Metro Music Makers (Episode 79, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow)

Allison Jarrell, Founder and CEO of Metro Music Makers, was Dr. Jim Morrow’s guest on this episode of To Your Health. Allison defined music therapy, talked about working with both elderly and neonate clients, the impact of music therapy on behavior, various other therapy methods, and much more.

To Your Health is brought to you by Village Medical (formerly Morrow Family Medicine), which brings the care back to healthcare.

Metro Music Makers

Since beginning with a focus on in-home private instruction, Metro Music Makers has expanded to offer our services online all over the country, and to schools and healthcare providers as well.

Their team of trained, dedicated, and passionate teachers have all received extensive training in teaching online and in-person, and they bring their passion for music and education into homes and lives everywhere.

MMM’s mission is to extend the benefits of musical ability to people of all ages and abilities through superior music instruction and therapy. Their students can study virtually any instrument, and they offer multiple performance opportunities throughout the year, including traditional recitals, festivals, and community events, as well as virtual recitals and showcases for our online students.

They believe that music is for everyone and that any individual is capable of learning how to play an instrument regardless of age, gender, skill level, disability, and ethnic background. To ensure that they uphold the highest standards in music education, they provide a professional development program for their instructors to cover topics related to music and the fine arts, teaching music, learning styles, child development, online teaching, and business basics for professional musicians.

Company website | Facebook | LinkedIn

Allison Jarrell, Founder and CEO, Metro Music Makers

Allison Jarrell founded Metro Music Makers as a private Atlanta-based music studio offering in-home music lessons. She has been teaching since 1992 (sometimes as many as 78 students per week herself), with students ranging from 3 years of age to senior citizens, and those with special needs. In addition to overseeing a variety of instructors in the Metro Music Makers family, she is a board-certified Music Therapist licensed in the State of Georgia. Allison’s music therapy experience includes working in special needs classes, in private behavioral therapy and research with children diagnosed with autism, in music therapy and research with neonates, as a music therapist at a drug and alcohol rehab for teens, and as a music therapist in mental health settings working with adults diagnosed with a range of disorders including schizophrenia, PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and dissociative disorders.

Originally from Easley, South Carolina, Allison attended the Greenville Fine Arts Center, and earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Florida State University (cum laude). She also served a six-month internship at San Antonio State Hospital (a mental health institution). Allison pursued a career as a singer/songwriter after college, recording three EPs and one full-length album. While touring, she was hired by Mars Music, Inc. to implement the Babies Make Music program in the metro Atlanta area.

In addition, Allison was a finalist in the Greenville Symphony Orchestra Russian Music Festival Piano Competition in 1990 and a semifinalist in the Young Keyboard Artists Association International Piano Competition in 1990. She toured with the band Life As Mary from 2000-2003, including an exciting showcase with A & R exposure at the 2002 Atlanta Music Conference.

Allison’s flexibility working in diverse positions and environments gave her the training needed to begin Metro Music Makers in 2002. As parents learned about her music therapy background, she began to get requests for adaptive lessons for students who might not otherwise find success in traditional lessons.

Allison is currently a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Music Teachers National Association, the Georgia Music Teachers Association, the North Fulton Music Teachers Association, and the Music Therapy Association of Georgia. Additionally, Allison serves as a judge for events sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the Georgia Federation of Music Clubs.

Allison’s students have achieved many honors over the years. She has seen over 225 of her students make top marks in the National Piano Guild Auditions and National Federation of Music Clubs Festival since 2003.

Allison believes that the process of learning how to play a musical instrument and learning how to create music relates to everything else that we accomplish in life. “We are teaching the future leaders and innovators of tomorrow,” she says. “As a teacher, when I really think about that and about the influence that lessons may have in my students’ lives, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to work one-on-one with young people over the course of many years.”

In fact, now that Allison has been teaching for a number of years, her favorite times are catching up with prior students over lunch or coffee. “It’s exciting to see what my former students do with their lives as they grow into adulthood,” she says.

Allison also was a one-time snake handler (a long story involving removing a baby snake from her house that turned out to be a copperhead!) and a one-time opera singer, (I Pagliacci) in 1991). She and her husband David have an adorable young son, Elliott, who began music classes at the age of six months. Elliott loves strumming the family’s guitars and playing the piano keys.

About Village Medical (formerly Morrow Family Medicine)

Village Medical, formerly Morrow Family Medicine, is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Village Medical one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Village Medical, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” The practice has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.

Village Medical offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services including preventative care, treatment for illness and injury, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Atlanta-area patients can learn more about the practice here.

Dr. Jim Morrow, Village Medical, and Host of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow

Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.

Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter

The complete show archive of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics.

Allison Jarrell, Metro Music Makers

November 23, 2021 by John Ray

Business Beat

Allison Jarrell, Metro Music Makers

00:00 /

Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Allison Jarrell, Metro Music Makers

On this episode of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat, Founder and CEO of Metro Music Makers Allison Jarrell discussed her firm’s work in music education and music therapy. They offer students many instruction options from a wide variety of instrument lessons, sound production, both online and in-person instruction, as well as music therapy for children and memory care patients. Joining Roger Lusby and Donna Beatty, Allison shared her entrepreneurial journey, success stories, and much more. Business Beat is presented by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter.

Metro Music Makers

Since beginning with a focus on in-home private instruction, Metro Music Makers has expanded to offer our services online all over the country, and to schools and healthcare providers as well. Their team of trained, dedicated, and passionate teachers have all received extensive training in teaching online and in-person, and they bring their passion for music and education into homes and lives everywhere.

Company website | Facebook | LinkedIn

Allison Jarrell, Founder and CEO, Metro Music Makers

Frazier & Deeter

The Alpharetta office of Frazier & Deeter is home to a thriving CPA tax practice, a growing advisory practice and an Employee Benefit Plan Services group. CPAs and advisors in the Frazier & Deeter Alpharetta office serve clients across North Georgia and around the country with services such as personal tax planning, estate planning, business tax planning, business tax compliance, state and local tax planning, financial statement reviews, financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, internal audit outsourcing, cyber security, data privacy, SOX and other regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions and more. Alpharetta CPAs serve clients ranging from business owners and executives to large corporations.

Roger Lusby, host of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat, is an Alpharetta CPA and Alpharetta Office Managing Partner for Frazier & Deeter. He is also a member of the Tax Department in charge of coordinating tax and accounting services for our clientele. His responsibilities include a review of a variety of tax returns with an emphasis in the individual, estate, and corporate areas. Client assistance is also provided in the areas of financial planning, executive compensation and stock option planning, estate and succession planning, international planning (FBAR, SFOP), health care, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and service companies.

You can find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

An episode archive of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat can be found here.