Greenwood Lake Public Library presents music therapy

The Greenwood Lake Public Library will host Certified Music Therapist Melinda Burgard, M.A., for a program on the effects music has with people who are afflicted with dementia and Alzheimer’s on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Burgard, also a N.Y..S Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT), uses music to obtain non-musical goals, such as increasing socialization skills, focus, speech, fine and gross motor skills, reminiscence, emotional expression, peacefulness, etc.

Burgard has been using her techniques for 30-plus years. Born in Flushing, Queens, Melinda grew up in East Meadow, Long Island.

Her inspiration of healing through music partially derives from playing for the residents of the nursing home her mother worked in.

She attended SUNY Brockport as a music major and dance minor, creating music and dance programs via the Cultural Arts division of the Town of Hempstead. After graduating, she was known as “Sing-Along with Melinda,” and people would often memorize her advertisement in local newspapers, “Why Sing Alone When You Can Sing Along with Melinda?”

She also became popular playing for children birthday parties at nine different Nathan’s Restaurants throughout the tri-state area.

Once Burgard moved on to nursing facilities, caring for individuals affected with dementia, she knew she had found her niche. Married since 1987 to her sweetheart George, Burgard adopted a daughter, three-month-old Simone from Seoul, Korea.

She obtained her Master's Degree in Music Therapy from NYU in 1994. In 1996, she and her family moved to Greenwood Lake and started Melinda’s Music on Warwick’s Main Street, which later moved to the Warwick Reformed Church.

Burgard also created the first Orange County music therapy program for children on the Autism Spectrum at the Greenwood Lake Public Library.

She shared her expertise at the Greenwood Lake Senior Center for many years and is proud to offer the children of both Greenwood Lake and Warwick their first Early Childhood Music Experience via the Greenwood Lake Public Library and the Albert Wisner Public Library.

Her work includes private practice as well as local and national partnerships. She has been affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Association for over 10 years, receiving the Alzheimer’s Association Award in 2018. She also provides free social music programs for people living with dementia with their family or friends with a group called CarePartners.

To register: online at ww.gwllibrary.org, at the front desk or by phone, (845) 477-8377 ext. 101

The library is located at 79 Waterstone Road in the Village of Greenwood Lake.