My name is Cheryl Melody, (www.soundhope.com; www.cherylmelody.com/childrensmusic.html ).
I am a sound healer, creative arts music educator, composer, international performing and recording artist, and Peace Troubadour. I have been reaching out with music as my root, my core, for over 30 years, and Melody is my true middle name - (people often call me Melody as a first name). I live in the United States, and travel anywhere people reach out to me. I am a heart-centered communicator of music and the expressive arts, a sound healer and a peace advocate and performing artist of an original concert called “PEACE BEGINS WITH ME.”
 
After reading about Sonia and RITMìA, I am moved by her philosophy and approach, and perceive that we have many wonderful commonalities in our depth of understanding in how to help others find the authentic musician inside.
 
I believe that music is healing vibratory energy that can balance the individual -no matter what age- and in turn can send these positive vibrations out into the universe.
 
Creating raw authentic sounds, expressing authentic movement, playing, sounding and moving to instruments that reflect earth, air, fire and water…all these modalities help to create a genuine experience of music, all of its natural expressions, all of its concepts.
 
As a performing artist, my concerts are intentionally interactive, for my main goal is not so much to be a soloist but to encourage everyone in the audience to express their own singer-dancer within. I often find ways to have the audience express their sounds in a raw, unjudged, non critical manner…for the pure joy and release of sound can help a person feel alive again, no matter what the age!
 
As a sound healer, I often am a facilitator for adults or children, helping them balance their primary energy centers or chakras by having them intend for a sound to go to that specific area…and then associating a color, a visualization and a specific personalized affirmation for that area of needed balance.
 
We also elongate vowels sounds and breathe in through the nostrils and at the out breath sound our pain, our anger, our joy, our frustration, our grief…tears often come…movement is also part of the healing….it is known as Spirit Singing.
 
Often, it is as if we as adults need to get back to the child, even the baby, that coos and cries without reservation…in order to heal the wounded parts of ourselves.
 
What Sonia does is beyond the usual dull way of reaching a child’s heart and soul, and that is what I do as well in my own way.  Whether I am teaching or performing,  whether I am a sound healer or composer…every aspect of what I do has to do with the raw vulnerable authentic expression of the individual, guided by an Energy greater than myself, and utilizing sound as a healing energy and vibration that can ripple within the human being and beyond into the Universe.

Cheryl Melody
www.soundhope.com
www.cherylmelody/childrensmusic.html