Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ April 24/ Client C

Ian offered to play the guitar for the Client, but Caden does not like the guitar. Ian and I played the drums, but the client did not want to. He only tried to sleep on the drums. Then, the client started to lay on the ground and Ian said he would play the guitar if he doesn't get up. As a result, the client reacted to him by covering his ears on the floor. Ian lifted him up and they both went to the piano but the client preceded to lay his head on the piano. He was being especially difficult today, so I went out to look for his mom because the client did not want to play. I couldn't find her. Ian gave him a time out at the corner while Ian and I tried making music to persuade him participate. He came over but he told Ian, "no guitar," and tried to stop him from playing. We put the client back on the corner and Ian went to the piano to play. He switched the sound of the keyboard from piano to organ and the client became intrigued. Ian asked, "piano now?" 10 minutes before the session is over, the client started practicing. After one song, he stopped playing and we just sat there and waited for the mom to arrive because he did not want to participate.

Time: 3 hours

Total: 32 hours

Client D did not show up today

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ April 24/ Client A

He was very happy, but not very active today. He mostly sat around and smiled. Ian played the guitar and I played on the xylophone. The client's dad tried to get him to play but he wouldn't and Ian advised the dad to let the kid just "come in" when he feels like playing. He played with a drum for awhile but that is it. Most of the time, He just sat down and observed everything. The father told Ian how the client acted when he was taken to the park, he mostly just sat down on the benches and watched everyone rather than playing. Ian remarked after they how he thought the client said "bye-bye."

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ April 17/ Client D

Today we had a new client. For purposes of confidentiality, the client will be referred to as Client D. She is Client C's classmate at school. Its interesting, she is a new student. I was always curious on how Ian starts teaching kids with the first lesson. With her, Ian taught the C scale with only letters and not notes. He numbered her fingers and corresponded them with the letters. Her mom and her friend watched the first session. I was sitting next to Ian with the drums near the piano. Client D is a very fast learner. I invited Client D's friend over to sit next to me and we played the drums together.

Client C's mother referred Ian to the classmates in his school.

time spent: 4 hours

Total: 29 hours

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ April 17/ Client C

All three of us played the drums, the client did not want Ian to play the guitar because he doesn't like the guitar. The client also did not want to play the piano until 15 minutes into the sessions. He played all his music piece very well learning pieces with his hands at different positions on the piano. At one point, he started counting/yelling numbers one through ten on his own, clearly and loudly. On the drums we played "Three Little Birds" and "Funga A La Fia." He likes to jump out of his seat and clap, so Ian and I had to help him take deep breaths to calm him down.

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ April 17/ Client B

Client B likes to sing on the piano a lot today. Ian played a different tune that usual and let the client lead while Ian served as background music. I did not want to interupt because it seems like Ian was testing something. The client led the music, focusing mostly on 2 notes. He would sing by himself, and Ian would occassionally chime in, because it is usually Ian who sings and the client that follows along.

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ April 10

Today, all 3 clients had the same session.

Client B initiated the beginning of the session first. He sat down and he began to play with the piano keys on his own singing.

When Client C's session began, Ian asked him whether or not he wanted to play the drums or the guitar. Caden chose the drums. We sang the "hello" song on the drums. Ian would bang on the drums and the client with follow after, mimicking Ian. The client would randomly stand up and down from his chair, yelling.

Time Spent: 3 hours

total: 25 hours

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ April 2

Today I was at Emeryville, my mentor and I attended this event at the outlet malls over there. I sat at a table, promoting my mentor's work and informing the public about how the musical sessions work, what goes on, what he does and etc. I set up the table, arranged the flyers on there and I stayed there throughout the whole event just giving out information. I even asked for donations for the Japan Relief Fund.

time spent: 5 hours

Total: 22 hours

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 27/Client C

Today, all 3 of us sat in a circle in the center of the room, and we had the 2 congo drums in between us. Ian and the client played the drums for 10 minutes. I hesitated to interact because Client C is always unpredictable and he moves a lot. Ian always has to try to calm him down and place the client's hands on top of the drums to stop his arms from flailing around.

After playing one piano piece, the client got up and away from the piano for a few minutes and walked back to the piano bench. Ian taught him the tempo of the music piece. All in all, the client seemed more concentrated but he was still difficult. He likes to laugh loudly and yell. The client would lean on the keys of the piano with his arms and not play.

time spent: 3 hours

Total: 18 hours

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 27/Client B

When teaching a young child on how to play the piano, he must be reminded that his fingers had assigned numbers with the thumb being one and the pinky being five. Ian had to remind Client B that his fingers had numbers. Today I had the drums right in front of the piano, and drummed along Ian and Theo. We improved the blues again-as the sang along. In the beginning of his session and at the end of his session, Client B always greets me with a hand shake and a hug. I have become his friend.

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 27/Client A

Lucas was in a good mood today, he was active and always laughing and smiling. He sang a bit and danced a lot. Ian played the guitar and the piano. Sometimes, Ian lets Lucas strum the guitar while Ian holds the chord. Instead of sitting on a chair, I sat on the floor where most of the instruments were at. I played the xylophone with Lucas, playing "Twinkle, Twinkle" and "Mary had a Little Lamb" while Ian played on his guitar. It is easier for me to interact with the clients when they are happy, because I feel like I have less of chance of doing something wrong and not making them cry.

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 13/Client C

Caden was fooling around for 15 minutes. It took him the half end of the session to concentrate. He did well when he was playing. Whenever Client C finishes a piano piece, he is rewarded with a sticker. When Ian asked about the stickers he wanted, he was given the choices between a big and small sticker. Client C is one of the more difficult client. Ian constantly has to keep him in one position to play the piano. Client C requires little of my interaction.

Time Spent: 3 Hours

Total: 15 hours

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 13/Client B

The session was the same as the previous one, nothing out of the usual occurred. He and Ian played the piano together. However, he was sick also and he did not want to play for awhile. He sand and played the blues. I don't expect Client B's Session to be different.

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 6/Client C

Today's session was similar to the previous session.

-all three of us played the drums. He likes playing the drums a lot

-Client C kept on biting his nails jumping up and down

-he refused to interact much

-he was lying and hugging the piano bench, unwilling to play

Out of all the students, this one seems to be the most difficult. He has severe autism, but he is very capable of playing the piano. He only listens when his mom is present in the room, and he cooperates easily. I don’t really play music with him as much, because his session composes of piano lessons instead of just “jamming.” However, I occasionally play the drums with him if Ian allows.

March 6: 3 Hours

Total: 12 Hours

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 6/Client B

Theo was absent today. However, I noticed that some of Ian's clients are taught piano and others just played with. I asked Ian about it and it turns out that his clients have different degrees of mental issues. Client A is given several different instruments, in hopes that he will interact with them. Client B is only given the piano to play with, but he interacts with Ian and the piano the easily. Client C is taught the piano by Ian.

Senior PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ March 6/Client A

Lucas explored all the instruments I laid out this morning. He tested the maracas, the congodrum, the xylophone, the small drum, and the piano. He was singing a bit when Ian played with the xylophone. Lucas was tired in the end and ended up just walking around a lot. I was uncomfortable, most of the time I just sat and observed first since I was new to it still. I didn't want to interrupt any progress that I am unaware of.

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ Feb. 27/Client C

Today Ian had Caden, himself, and I play the congo drums together. All three of us sat in front of each other in a tripod and we shared two drums. Ian and I would create beats, encouraging Caden to his the drums as well. Although Caden did play with the drums a bit, he was still preoccupied with his nails. Ian had to remind Caden about "quiet hands" Caden didn't want to play the piano that much. Ian asked him if Caden wanted him to get the mom. Caden would lay his head on the piano, and he would also lay on half of the piano bench, hugging it.

time: 3 hours

Total: 9 hours

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ Feb. 27/Client B

-greeted me with a hug

-knows some of the words in Ian's hello introductory song

-today Ian played the guitar for a few minutes while Theo had the piano (improv)

-I sang along with their songs because it was the Beatles that Ian was playing and Theo following along with and I tried to play the drums in beat with Ian's piano

-Theo was tired at the time his session usually ends, but today, Ian's schedule was delayed at least 45 minutes and Theo was not done with his session.

-Theo ran his fingers on the keyboard or running the keys

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ Feb. 27/Client A

From the 3 sessions so far that I have attended, today was the day in my opinion that Lucas spent the most time of playing the piano. He also banged on the drums with Ian when Ian himself banged on the drum that they shared. Lucas, being the one who did not speak out of the three, always makes vocal noises. But today, he sang and voiced out two notes that were similar to the tune that Ian was playing. Lucas's dad brought his personalized xylophone sticks for Lucas with rubbery styrofoamed covers on the end of the sticks to prevent them from slipping out of Lucas's grip. I forgot what I did today, I remembered at some point I was sitting on the floor instead of the chair for a change.

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ Feb. 20/Client C

After Theo, Caden arrives. He plays some simple tunes, and screamed more that the last session. What I noticed is that Ian tries to teach Caden how to read. They read the instructions of the piano piece they are about to play. Ian would read a couple of words first while pointing at the words, and Caden would repeat with a slight mispronunciation that is more clear than Theo. Ian comments today to Caden's mother when she came to pick him up after the session was over that Caden usually doesn't allow Ian to play Blues tunes, but today Ian got to play some Blues for awhile for Caden.

Time: 3 hours

Total: 6 hours

SENIOR PROJECT VOLUNTEER/ Feb. 20/Client B

Today when Theo arrived, he hugged me to say hi when I was sitting on the chair, observing as usual. Again, whenever he is asked about a song he likes to play or Ian play, he does not respond. Today was similar to the last session. Ian just played his Hello song to start the session, then goes on to Blues tune with Theo randomly pressing keys along with the beat of the song and they both sing together their "beep bap boo." Then when the session comes to an end, Ian proceeds to play his goodbye song like "see you awhile crocodile, until then penguin."