Two new public contracts will help the Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition bring its therapeutic drumming programs to more neighborhoods and young people this year.
The new funding builds on the coalition’s mission to improve mental and physical health through evidence-based music programming. The nonprofit partners with schools, health providers and community organizations to serve underserved populations across Greater Cincinnati.
New funding targets youth mental health and violence prevention
The City of Cincinnati awarded the coalition $207,000 over two years to lead group drumming sessions for teens in Avondale, Millvale, Westwood and Winton Hills. The program, set to launch in September, aims to reduce gun violence by building emotional resilience and social connection among youth. The Cincinnati Recreation Commission and Lindner Center of HOPE will assist with program delivery.
Hamilton County Job & Family Services also committed $400,000 over four years to expand the coalition’s work in elementary schools. That program, which began in 2024, focuses on strengthening students’ mental, emotional and physical health through music-based wellness activities.
Both initiatives use HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming, part of a broader method known as Recreational Music Making. Neurologist Dr. Barry Bittman developed the protocol to support therapeutic engagement rather than musical performance. Research shows that group drumming can reduce stress, improve mood, support immune function and build social bonds, especially for people experiencing trauma or chronic stress.
Arlene de Silva, the coalition’s founder and CEO, said she combined Bittman’s “Recreational Music Making” protocol with the Search Institute’s 40 developmental assets to create a customized intervention. As a HealthRHYTHMS trainer with Remo Inc., de Silva first applied the approach in 2024 and plans to adapt it for the teen gun violence prevention program launching this fall, she said.
Additional support for Parkinson’s programs
The coalition also received $14,000 from the Parkinson’s Foundation and $3,000 from Parkinson Support & Wellness to offer music-making programs for people with Parkinson’s disease in Cincinnati and Dayton.
The coalition will host its annual Music & Medicine Conference on Sept. 26, 2025, at the Centennial Barn in Cincinnati, with a virtual option available. Registration details are online at musicandwellness.net.
Discover more from Movers & Makers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.