FEATURE
The soothing sounds of Sondra Warnick Holland BY ASHLEY ZIOMEK
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Self-proclaimed educational music and art was caught in the impossible task of simultaneously chasing my toddler and calming my infant when the therapist Sondra Holland phone rang. I’d been expecting the call, but when Sondra Warnick Holland began to speak, her tone took me Photo courtesy of WKBW by surprise. She was calm—soothing, even—and it was refreshing. program she could use over thirtygather in the living room to listen with a greeting. She read aloud and Holland, a Western New York minute phone sessions of one to four encouraged creative movements native who oozes gentleness, to her grandmother play songs by participants. Each week, she chose a throughout the story. Her classroom ear on the piano. The family would positivity, and kind words, is a selfdifferent theme and utilized aligning also featured an art corner, where sing Russian lullabies taught to them proclaimed educational music and deep breathing, meditation, and basic students could draw or color pictures by her great-grandfather, known art therapist, trained in meditation physical exercises. Her passion shone that corresponded with the day’s affectionately as Zidi. Holland began by Tibetan Monks. She promised her through as she adapted to the times, retaining melodies and working out lesson. instructors that she would bring her and she continues her work today. Soon after her classes took this new wisdom home to the Western keys. “My grandfather had a parrot,” After decades of this work, Holland Holland shares. “Once I learned the creative turn, Holland received a call world. is proud to not only have helped from a coworker asking if she would Holland has since spent decades song, everyone would sing with me, others “find their zen” through bring her services to a local hospital including the parrot!” introducing children and adults musical meditation, but also to have for patients with Alzheimer’s and Holland later became a Buffalo to musical meditation. “Musical helped participants come out of their severe brain trauma. Holland began meditation is when you wish to enrich Public Schools teacher. For over three shells. One man now proudly reads your mind, body, and spirit with decades, she worked with primary- working at the hospital, alternating his personal poetry at the end of age children, including students with weeks between art and music music,” she says. “I am not teaching; sessions. “I’m bringing out talents,” learning disabilities. “You have to find and catering each session to the I am sharing.” Research indicates Holland says, “inner talents that that musical meditation reduces risk creative ways to get through to kids,” individuals in attendance. maybe they’ve never shared before.” When the COVID-19 pandemic she explains. “You can’t just stand of physical events like heart attacks Holland shares her own talents by up there and lecture; it ain’t gonna hit, Holland was asked if she could and strokes, eases depression and playing piano over the phone near work.” Holland began incorporating continue to connect with patients anxiety, promotes better sleep, boosts the session’s end. over the phone. “I thought to immunity, and bolsters cognitive music, movement, and art into the Holland has also teamed up with a classroom, to create a collaborative myself, ‘How the heck can I teach functions such as memory. nature conservancy in southern Erie Music has long been a part of experience. She began class as if she art over the phone?’” Holland County, where they are working in remembers. Once again, it was time Holland’s life. When Holland was were a Kung Fu Master, bowing Collins to build a “peace path” on to her students, who responded to get creative. Holland developed a just three years old, her family would which people can walk, pray, and meditate. In efforts to make the path COME HOME TO inclusive, a large area will be cleared to allow wheelchair access. Holland and the conservancy hope to bring this dream to fruition in spring 2022. In her own time, Holland meditates, exercises, and does yoga daily. “Sometimes I have beautiful music, other times just silence,” she says. “You’ve got to keep your body 1 & 2 BEDROOM STYLES moving.” FY
Shaarey Zedek Apartments
834.3711
410 Hartford Road Amherst, NY 14226
A quiet senior community nestled in the heart of Amherst.
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www.foreveryoungwny.com | January 2022
(off Millersport - 1 Block, North of Sheridan)
Ashley Ziomek is a freelance writer living in WNY.
