Music Transforms Lives at MusicWorks

Music therapy has the power to change lives.

That’s what Lori and Jerry O’Leary see on a daily basis at the non-profit organization MusicWorks, which serves children and adults who have many types of challenges.

Run out of an office on West Chester Pike in Havertown, MusicWorks serves children, adults and senior citizens with challenges such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays and genetic abnormalities.

For some clients, their group or individual therapy sessions are “the only outlet of anything that has a semblance of fun,” said Lori, who is the executive director of the organization.

Her husband Jerry, the director of music therapy, is a lifelong music lover who made a career switch from banking to follow his passion.

Read more about the O’Learys by clicking here.

MusicWorks started out in 2002 serving seniors through the state Waiver program for senior citizens. Two years later, they started the music therapy business segment serving children and young adults through small group sessions.  

“We grew the children's business and over a few years realized that there were many children who either did not have insurance coverage that would provide for music therapy or their families could not afford to pay the modest weekly session rate privately,” Jerry said. “This was the reason we became a nonprofit agency in 2008 to provide services to the under serviced population that either did not qualify for Medical Assistance coverage or could not afford to pay for music therapy sessions on their own.”

MusicWorks provides financial assistance based on the family size and income level, and assistance is either approved at 50 percent or 100 percent, depending on a family’s financial information.

It is the first and only music therapy provider covered by Magellan Behavioral Health in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

Some of the benefits of music therapy, Lori and Jerry said, include increased focus and attention, increased learning and communication, fine and gross motor skills, and, importantly, socialization.

“They learn. They grow. They make friends. That’s very important for a child with challenges,” Lori said.

Jerry transports his senior citizen clients back to better days when he plays music from their youth. He said he feels “humbled” to know what a difference he makes in the lives of his clients.

“There is a certain power to music,” he said. It’s such a common medium. Everyone can relate to music.”