The Beamz

“The more people in the world playing music, the better the world will be … in every way …” – Jerry Riopelle, musician, inventor of the Beamz Interactive Music System

Beamz Outreach

One of the most exciting recent developments at Beamz Interactive is its enthusiastic outreach program to hospitals, therapy facilities and schools. Beamz Outreach is dedicated to Jerry’s original vision, which is “… to get Beamz into the hands and homes of every child who longs to play an instrument … and get them into the hands of their parents, too.”

To date, Beamz Interactive has placed dozens of sets of Beamz in music classrooms, occupational therapy school programs, as well as hospital OT and music therapy programs. Additionally, Beamz live in the homes of patients and students who “connect” with the Beamz, and delight in its musically creative and interactive nature. Since the Beamz provide “instant recreation” and perfectly harmonious notes, newcomers to the Beamz cannot help but be pleased by the very first notes they create, and the first songs they play. The Beamz inspire curiosity about making music in general and musical relationships, as well as instill a sense of confidence and control with the simple beam-breaking playing method. The Beamz tend to have a “contagious” effect, too, that draw listeners into the music, and into the “light.”

For years, occupational therapy staff and patients at Phoenix Children’s Hospital have enjoyed specially-designed sets of Beamz that accommodate the challenges of patients playing the instrument from their beds or wheelchairs. At PCH’s “One Darn Cool School” this year, kids, parents and staff enjoyed a special week of Beamz-playing with Jerry and others at their annual Art and Music Summer Camp. According to senior educator Megan Goodman, the children love the Beamz in the hospital school, the long-term care pediatric wing, and in the Bio-Behavioral Center. Says Megan, “[The kids] get so absorbed in the Beamz, they forget they are in the hospital. And there can be so much music and giggling, it’s lively and fun.”

In August of 2009, the entire Ganado Unified School District (K-12) on the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona spent a full day enjoying live demonstrations and “spontaneous performances” with the Beamz. After taking an interest in the Beamz on campus, kindergarten music classes, library gatherings, in-service staff training, special-needs student demos, general large-class presentations and a great jam session with beginning and advanced band members were all arranged.

According to Ganado District occupational Therapist Noelani Hong, “As a career OT professional, I can tell you I see infinite possibilities with the Beamz System in life-skills and recreational-therapy programs. Successful occupational therapy is ‘outcome-oriented,’ and from what we’ve seen with the Beamz, the outcome is instant, as well as valuable in the longer term. Compared to other innovations in this field, the Beamz outraces less productive therapies. And it’s fun for everyone – staff, kids, parents … the kids run home and tell their folks they’d prefer a set of Beamz to the video games they’d previously wanted!”

Noelani continues, “Any district observant of the Occupational Therapy in Educational Settings under the Individuals with Disabilities Act understands the value of a cost-effective, outcome-oriented program that is instantly appealing to the students. The technology alone astounds the kids, who love anything this modern and exciting.”

Beamz Outreach Program Benefits

• Arizona schools and hospitals voicing an interest in the Beamz will receive a live (and lively!) demonstration of the instrument and in service training support. For schools and organizations outside Arizona, we are in process of creating video content of our current school outreach experiences so that Beamz Outreach may share its knowledge with interested organizations outside of our home state.
• Beamz will combine instrument usage knowledge and will provide networking information about discoveries and implementation of the Beamz in other facilities.
• Beamz will provide training videos and other materials, access to product updates and ongoing dedicated tech support.
• Beamz will provide materials for the schools to share with interested kids and parents. Unique purchase codes will be created for each school and/or district so that Beamz Outreach may donate 10% of Beamz instrument sales proceeds to benefit discretionary needs relative to their occupational and music programs.

“Thank you for the in-service on the Beamz; it is a remarkable piece of technology. Jerry, thank you for inventing it and for your activism regarding the needs of indigenous people.” – Noelani Hong, Senior Occupational Therapist, Ganado Unified School District

“If you put the Beamz in a room with people playing conventional instruments, the audience would all gravitate to the Beamz. The Beamz System is the world’s best recreational instrument. The results are instantly impressive and instantly completely enjoyable …” – Barry Bittman, CEO, Yamaha Institute of Health and Wellness

Recent TV Spots

Channel 12 – Phoenix, AZ – School Solutions
Kim Covington – Lead Reporter, School Solutions: interview with Jerry Riopelle, Beamz inventor & Diane Ray, Director, Special Education – Phoenix Union High School District
“Beamz Usage in Phoenix Union High School District”
October 2, 2009

Interviews

Phoenix Union High School District – Phoenix, Arizona
Louis Kiereopoulos, Technology Educator, Special Needs

Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Rachael Lyndon, Teacher
“Beamz Applications & Benefits” – November 2009

For more information regarding the Beamz Outreach program, contact:

Becky Byrkit, Outreach Manager
becky.byrkit@thebeamz.com
480.510.3257