Media - Testimonials
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Quote by a mother of a six year old girl whom Juliane worked with for one year:
"Juliane really helped my 6 year old daughter find ways to express her emotions in healthy ways. She
now uses words to describe her feelings on a regular basis and works hard to figure out how to ask me
for what she needs (e.g., a hug, etc). The use of art and music as therapeutic modalities were key for my
daughter to feel safe enough to explore difficult feelings as the result of the divorce between myself and
her dad. Juliane obviously loves the work she does, and my daughter loves her and appreciated her
time with Juliane. In fact, after my 6 yr old recently ended sessions due to significant growth, she came
home tonight and said, "I just did something like Juliane today...there was a kid who was having a hard
time, and I talked with them and gave them a hug to help them feel better."
My daughter has been working with Juliane on expressing emotion in healthy ways. She has mild
sensory integration issues, and her own emotions often just explode out of her. After working with
Juliane for four months now, my daughter, who is very creative, has calmed down considerably in her
social interactions at school and at home, and has found the patience to take up singing and instrument
playing again, which she has always loved, but found too frustrating to do. She now can walk away
from challenging conflicts where in the past, she would keep on insisting on her way. Juliane is not only
helping her with social skills, but she is giving my creative child access to her her own creative process,
not just as a tool for social growth, but as a source of satisfaction for her life. She has helped my often
unhappy and cranky child feel a consistent source of happiness in her life. I cannot recommend Juliane
enough.
E.R., mom in Berkeley.
Beating to Our Own Drums
By Ann Saponara
As the first part of a 2015 series about creativity, GI! gratefully accepted the invitation of Music
Therapist Juliane Kowski for a mother-daughter drum circle on Sunday, February 8, at her Berkeley
studio called Music Connects. It’s a perfect name. Together four moms and six daughters discovered
that music really does connect us in a unique way to one another and also to our own innovative,
creative selves. We sat with Julie for an hour and a half in a drum circle and learned much.
We started by listening to our own heartbeat and drumming how we heard it as everyone echoed the
sound with their own drumming. Juliane’s confidence that we all are naturals at drumming allowed
each of us to improvise freely. Each heart really does beat to the sound of a different drum!
Then Julie encouraged mothers and daughters alike to name some of our stresses. She wrote them on
a drum and we exuberantly drummed them out. The pace was a little frantic and loud. It was energizing
while simultaneously wonderfully draining. When we switched gears to naming ways we cope with
stress like talking with friends, listening to or making music, relaxing into writing, being in nature,
dancing, doing something active, walking, or purposely ignoring stressors, the mood of our drumming
changed. We were quieter and more peaceful drummers and together we improvised a surprisingly
cohesive melody that was lovely.
My ten year old daughter Lela says she learned that you can communicate your mood when you’re
drumming and you can really listen to other people. Her twin sister Ella says she loved switching to
different drums in the circle so we could all try out many different sounds. I deeply appreciate Juliane’s
faith that we are each natural born drummers and her gift in being maestro to the art and play that
magically and immediately appears in a drum circle. A huge thank you for her generosity of time,
drums, shakers and much talent!
Juliane works with individuals and groups at schools, hospitals and in her studio, Music Connects, at
1415 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley. Her website is www.musicconnects.net.
Here is a quote from one of Juliane's clients daughter, whom she has been working with for almost two
years: "Your every other Weds. lesson is a highlight of Dad's month and the CDs you leave him with
carry his spirits in between. I can't tell you how grateful we are for your talents, creativity and patience
in giving him a session so tailored to his interests and abilities. His singing voice actually sounded a lot
better this visit!"
A social worker, who has witnessed Juliane working with a senior, suffering from Dementia over some
years said:
"...and wanted to check in with you one more time and say that you are one of the most lovely beings
and things that have happened to K. in her journey with this horrible disease. I hope you can continue
to see her for a while longer, but even if that becomes impossible, know that you have changed the
quality of her life these last months and years through music and your wonderful presence. You could
not have given her a greater gift. " J.S. LCSW, Berkeley. 7/10/2018