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I was in prison; you came to me.
I was hungry for knowledge; you taught me;
I was afraid; you showed me how to keep moving forward.
I forgot the song in my heart; you sang it to me.
Who among us can truly know the depths
Of sorrow in a man's soul
Can I know yours? Can you know mine?
We all have the weight of the world on our hearts.
And it can seem, at times,
Like every effort to speak against it is only
A whisper in the storm. Maybe.
But no, not so, Your dedicated work here, changes things.
How much compassion does it take to rise above
Your own pain and say, "I'll do what I can."
How much courage does it take to step forward
And declare, "I only have one bucket of water to throw
On this fire; But i'm going to throw it with all my might."
I was in prison, and you came to me. I felt invisible,
And you saw me. In turn, I see you. I hear you.
I honor you. I thank you.
By Offender Lori McLuckie #60578
The music room is an alternative universe where people are often
unrecognizable from who they are outside of it.
The shy become confident.
The agitated become calm.
The lonely become included.
The quite become heard.
The lost become found.
Music reveals the real person.
Our music room is a refuge where everyone is welcome.
You are FREE when you are here.
By Vaughn Fleischfresser
Violins, Violas, Cellos, Pianos. Oh My! Musical Freedom is a unique creation,
founded by Jeanne Phipps, that incorporates orchestra and choir lessons for the
women of Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (DWCF). Learning an instrument
opens doors to your memory and activates your brain making it a versatile and
healing tool. Mrs. Phipps recognizes that musical lessons can provide relief
from the stress of prison and help heal trauma that women endure while
incarcerated.
The act of learning how to play an instrument and singing in a choir has a
significant effect on people’s brains and allows people to socially bond with
one another. When people perform music rather than just listen to it, they use
their procedural memory which is a type of long-term implicit memory.
This type of memory use repairs the brain and creates new connectors within
the brain, strengthening the part that involves empathy and helps with critical
thinking.
Jeanne Phipps started volunteering at DWCF in 2015 with New Beginnings Church
where she assisted with the music. In 2017, she started an official music
program at SWCF teaching orchestra. Ms. Phipps is an accomplished musician who
plays the piano, violin, and viola. She has a BS in Business, BA in Religion,
and a master’s degree in business management. She has been a member of several
community orchestras and the campus orchestra at CU Boulder. Her high musical
skill set is obvious as one watches her instruct the women on five different
instruments during the hour-long class.
Before COVID, each student had a half-an-hour lesson with Ms. Phipps but now,
with staff shortages and limited recreation time, the class consists of an
hour-long group lesson on Sundays. Musical Freedom has adapted to these
difficult circumstances and the students are appreciative for any time they can
practice their instruments. Theresa Harris had never played an instrument until
Musical Freedom and she now loves playing her cello.
“I was surprised how much I enjoy learning to play the cello. It gives me
serenity in this chaotic world. Learning new skills is a good thing for me and
it allows me to invest in myself.”
Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) now recognizes Musical Freedom as
having three distinct music programs: Piano/Keyboard, Orchestra/Strings, and
Choir. Ms. Phipps can now begin to spread out the classes to encompass three
separate hour-long classes. The choir was the latest addition to the program
and is led by James, who has a background in teaching autistic children and
musical theater. By involving the choir with the orchestra, the students learn
how to cooperate and work together in ensembles. When performing together, each
person must be able to adjust and synch to one another.
Recent research has revealed that long-term musical training improves the
brain’s ability to adapt, and it enhances the brain’s regions involved with
audiovisual processing. According to a 2020 study in Liverpool, musical
training increases the blood flow to the left hemisphere of the brain where
language processing and executive function are located. One’s brain relies on
the executive function for a variety of critical tasks including processing and
retaining information, controlling behavior, making appropriate choices, and
problem solving. All important behaviors needed in prison. Without the
executive function, one loses the ability to function well in society.
Ms. Phipps has taught music at DWCF for eight years to a multitude of women and
only one of her students has returned to prison after being paroled.
While learning their instruments, the students prepare for their upcoming
recitals. The winter recital of 2022 was the first one to incorporate the
orchestra and the choir. Recitals are a time to test your nerves and become
comfortable playing in front of an audience. Shelby Gonzales wowed the audience
with her musical prowess on the electric piano. She confidently played three
complex pieces for the recital and also accompanied the choir. Gonzales comes
from a musical family and is happy to have a creative outlet through Musical
Freedom. “Being able to play the electric piano helps me escape the prison
environment. Our minds, in prison, can become clouded with negative thoughts
and playing music clears my mind. The music cultivates an environment filled
with warmth and acceptance.” Explains Gonzales.
Donations are the only way Musical Freedom can purchase instruments and keep up
with repairs. If your family or friends would like to donate to this worthy
program, please go to their website, MusicalFreedom.org. All donations must
specify “Musical Freedom” or “Prison” in the comment section.
Ms. Phipps knows that learning to play a musical instrument betters everyone –
inside and outside the fence. She hopes to be able to increase the number of
women in the program and to have a performing orchestra and choir that she can
showcase to the public and serve as a model for other prisons.
By Lisa Lesyshen #166226