Proposal for Live Music Therapy-Inspired Sessions
Presented by Music Moves Us (MMU)
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Introduction

Music Moves Us (MMU) is dedicated to bringing live, interactive music experiences to youth in residential treatment centers, psychiatric facilities, and to those in state custody. Our mission is to create safe, supportive spaces where young people can experience healing, connection, and healthy emotional expression through the power of music.

In addition to working with youth, MMU and its affiliates also provide music-centered services for children, adults, older adults, and individuals in substance-use recovery programs. We are deeply connected to the St. Louis and St. Charles music communities, allowing us to collaborate with a diverse network of skilled singers and musicians who share our mission.

Program Overview

MMU provides on-site Live Music Therapy-Inspired Sessions designed to support therapeutic goals while fostering creativity and emotional expression. Sessions are coordinated with your staff to support an interactive, youth-centered, and trauma-sensitive approach. Every visit is adjusted to align with participants’ individual needs, preferences, and emotional readiness.

Activities may include:

  • Live acoustic music featuring guitars, keyboards, vocals, percussion, and programmed loops.

  • Participant-selected songs, allowing participants to hear the music they connect with most.

  • Composing song lyrics, offering a creative outlet for emotional expression and personal narrative-building.

  • Storytelling through music, exploring how songs can represent personal journeys, challenges, and moments of hope.

  • Group percussion and rhythm activities, providing an energetic, collaborative way for youth to engage, self-regulate, and connect.

  • AI-generated musical segments and DAW recording opportunities, giving participants the chance to experiment with modern music technology, compose songs, and record ideas. MMU provides all necessary equipment, including computers, microphones, and speakers.

We also offer:

  • Trauma-sensitive facilitation, ensuring every session prioritizes safety, choice, and emotional regulation.

  • Flexible formats, including one-on-one sessions, small groups, or larger group settings depending on facility needs.

Scope of Our Role

Music Moves Us provides uplifting, supportive, and therapeutic music experiences, but we do not provide clinical music therapy or clinical treatment. Our team members are gifted singers and musicians who are passionate about helping others by supporting the environment in which therapists and staff do their work. Your licensed professionals lead treatment — we enhance it, offering connection, emotional expression, and supportive live music that complements therapeutic goals.

This ensures:

  • Clear respect for professional roles

  • Strong collaboration

  • Safe boundaries for participants and staff

  • A shared focus on holistic care

Goals of the Program

  • Increase participants’ ability to express thoughts, feelings, and emotions through music and creative activities.

  • Support emotional regulation and provide healthy outlets for processing difficult experiences.

  • Strengthen communication skills and confidence in self-expression.

  • Enhance engagement in therapeutic programming through supportive music-based interactions.

  • Foster connection, collaboration, and a sense of belonging within group settings.

Benefits to Your Organization

  • Improved participant mood, affect, and overall atmosphere, with sessions that create a positive and uplifting environment.

  • Enhanced engagement and emotional expression during treatment, groups, and therapeutic activities.

  • Reduced tension or agitation among participants, helping create a more stable and supportive group setting.

  • A meaningful and enjoyable experience that helps participants and staff feel more at ease, build rapport, and connect more openly.

  • Strengthened holistic care, complementing and reinforcing existing therapeutic approaches.

Program Structure

Session Formats

  • Live Music Therapy-Inspired Sessions (standard 60-minute interactive sessions)

  • Small-group or one-on-one sessions, tailored to participant needs and emotional readiness

  • Large-group sessions for community-building or facility-wide engagement

  • Live performances appropriate for celebrations, milestones, staff appreciation events, and special occasions

Session Length

Standard sessions are 60 minutes. Session duration can be modified when appropriate based on clinical recommendations or facility scheduling needs.

Frequency Options

  • Weekly sessions

  • Bi-weekly sessions

  • Monthly visits

  • Pilot or trial sessions

  • Seasonal or special-event programming

Flexibility

MMU collaborates closely with your team to determine the best structure for each visit, ensuring sessions align with therapeutic goals, participant readiness, and the natural rhythm of your program environment.

Partnership Expectations

Staff Presence and Responsibility

  • MMU musicians and singers must be accompanied by facility staff at all times.

  • Staff are responsible for participant supervision, behavioral management, documentation, and note-taking.

  • MMU team members do not intervene in conflicts, altercations, or inappropriate behaviors. All behavioral management must be handled by facility staff.

Space and Equipment Needs

  • A suitable room with adequate seating for participants and staff.

  • Access to electrical outlets for instruments, speakers, and technology.

  • Access to the room at least one hour prior to the session for equipment setup and sound checks.

Safety and Support

  • When necessary, the facility will provide security personnel or additional staff support to ensure the safety of participants and MMU team members.

  • Technical assistance should be available when sessions require facility A/V systems or specialized equipment.

Program Expectations

  • MMU sessions should be regarded as a privilege and a positive opportunity for participants, reinforcing engagement, cooperation, and respect.

  • Facility staff are encouraged to support session structure by helping maintain an environment conducive to creativity, emotional expression, and safety.

Cost Structure

MMU is committed to making our services accessible to a wide range of organizations. Because each facility’s resources and needs are unique, MMU offers several partnership models:

  • No-cost or donor-supported sessions for programs serving youth in high-need or state-funded environments

  • Sliding-scale program fees for facilities able to contribute to session costs

  • Event-based compensation for large-group sessions, community events, celebrations, or staff appreciation gatherings

  • Performance-based compensation, when appropriate for special occasions

MMU works collaboratively with each partner to determine an arrangement that aligns with both the facility’s budget and the scope of services provided.

Why Partner With MMU?

  • Trauma-aware, youth-centered engagement informed by experience in psychiatric care, youth ministry, and supportive roles with vulnerable populations.

  • A leadership team with extensive experience in adolescent mental health, youth ministry, clinical care, and support services for U.S. military personnel, offering a mature and grounded perspective to every session.

  • Flexible session formats designed to adapt to participant needs, emotional readiness, and facility structure.

  • A mission-driven organization committed to professionalism, reliability, and complementing the therapeutic work of your clinical staff.

  • Programming intentionally designed to foster emotional expression, connection, and meaningful, lasting impact.

Next Steps

We welcome the opportunity to coordinate a trial session and explore an ongoing schedule that works well for your team. To get started, please share:

  • The name of your facility or program

  • Your name, title, and preferred contact information

  • How often you would like sessions to occur

  • Your preferred days and times

  • The group or population we will be serving

  • Goals or expectations you would like the sessions to support

Contact Information

Kevin McDonald, President

Music Moves Us (MMU)

kevin@musicmovesus.life

Phone: 636-380-3328