Post by kellyds on Mar 31, 2006 19:28:12 GMT -5
This is a long article, but I put the part that caught my eye in bold.
It seems like it's okay to feel or act any way you want when you hear the news that your child has Down syndrome . . . unless you're just fine with it.
When Joshua was born, I rushed home from the hospital and put together a very positive birth announcement to try and head off the condolences and pity, and still people told my husband and I we were in denial. We were advised to allow ourselves to grieve and just let it out. 
Thirteen months later, nothin's been let out, and I'm still not grieving! ;D When I read this article, I just thought it was neat that there was another couple as weird as hubby and me.
Down syndrome, mom and music
Festival raises funds for special needs program
MELISSA FOLLOWELL
Herald Staff Writer
SARASOTA - When Jill and Sam Gerolmo were told their son Rocco had Down syndrome, they didn't know how to react. After seven years of trying, they were ecstatic about his birth and nothing was going to dampen their spirits.
"When he was born, all these people converged on us, assaulting the birth of our child," Jill Gerolmo said.
People came up to Sam Gerolmo and offered him condolences right after Rocco was born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
"I was never disappointed that Rocco had Down syndrome," Jill Gerolmo said.
Doctors kept needling the Gerolmos to get angry, say it wasn't fair and exhibit all of the reactions they were used to receiving. They felt nothing but joy at the birth of another son.
"The doctor said, 'You people don't understand. This child is different.' We were like, 'Yeah, we know, we're different, too. He'll fit in just fine,' " Gerolmo said.
Not only is the Gerolmo family in harmony, their musician friends add something special.
Schascle Yochim, a Sarasota-based singer/songwriter known better to audiences and friends as Twinkle, is a dear family friend. The Gerolmo children call her Aunt Twinkle. When Rocco was an infant, she would come over to give Rocco's three brothers music lessons and sing to him. Whether it was her or the sound of Janis Joplin or other greats coming from the stereo, it was obvious that Rocco felt the music.
Gerolmo remembers the day a therapist came into the home to assess Rocco's progress and she pointed out how he reacted to music. Rocco was 5 months old and the change in his level of focus and activity was greater when there was rock 'n' roll playing.
"She told me it was involuntary and that it didn't mean anything," Gerolmo said.
Gerolmo asked the woman to leave and started on a crusade to make sure children with special needs would have the opportunity to learn music.
In 62 days last year, Gerolmo planned and put on what she called a Family Music Festival, a day all about music, family and fun. Her goal was to raise money in order to provide instruments and music lessons to special needs people of all ages in Manatee and Sarasota counties. This year's festival will be held Sunday.
According to Gerolmo, last year about 800 to 1,000 people from around Manatee and Sarasota counties descended on the lakefront park in The Meadows, near the Gerolmo's Italian Restaurant, Mona Lisa.
The event raised $12,000 last year, and thanks to donations, cost only $500 to produce.
"That day, seeing kids and watching their parents watch them, it was incredible," Gerolmo said.
In an attempt to open people's eyes to how music can help children in many ways, 100 percent of the event proceeds go to music programs. This year, funds will be given to the Manasota BUDS (Bringing Up Down Syndrome) Project Rainbow-Children's Respite and the Rocco Fund, which she hopes will be a registered foundation by next year.
The Rocco Foundation will continue the mission they started last year to provide instruments and music lessons to special needs people of all ages in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
In January, Twinkle opened for Aerosmith in front of an audience of about 14,000 people at the St. Pete Times Forum. But Twinkle said she felt an energy unlike any other while on stage last year at the Family Music Festival.
"I felt a lot of wonderment," Twinkle said.
Children danced in front of the stage and some even got up on the stage, but the bands didn't care. The Family Music Festival is about exposing children to music and making them the stars.
"They are love and heart without self-concern," Twinkle said of Down syndrome children.
One of Twinkle's students, an 18-year-old girl with Down syndrome, was one of the dancers having the time of her life.
"From the time she was little, her father had the sense to let her pursue music. There were no limitations," Twinkle said.
Another musician and family friend, Tony LeClerc, has even thought out a great way to teach music to the children using open tuning. A guitar in open tuning means that strings are tuned so a chord is achieved without pressing the strings.
"While other chords might be too complicated and not possible right away, they could strum all they wanted in open tuning and have it in tune," LeClerc said.
According to a study done by music therapist Kathleen A. Coleman, music therapy has been a part of teaching for many years. Things like the alphabet or the days of the week are taught to children in songs and rhymes in order to help people remember.
"People have at least seven distinct intelligences. One of these intelligence areas is the musical area. Often people with special needs learn best through music because that part of the brain is an older part of the brain and less likely to be damaged from birth defects, accidents, etc.," Coleman wrote.
Rocco's responses to music have grown in his two years of life, said Gerolmo.
While Rocco was the inspiration for the Family Music Festival, Gerolmo stressed that this is a day for everyone. Music lovers, families and anyone else are welcome to come out to the free event.
In addition to Twinkle, there will be performances by The Chillbillies, Dyersburg, Florida Blues Brothers, Art Rollini, Sal Garcia & Omni and The Chase Vickers Band.
Chase Vickers is an 11-year-old drummer who has been blind since birth. He played the festival last year and his talent, combined with his inspiring story, made him a shoo-in for this year's event.
Gerolmo can't wait for the day a band of children with special needs get a chance to headline their own festival.
"Someday, at their festival," Gerolmo said, "they will perform up on stage because this community cared enough to provide them with not just the tools but the hope and the knowledge that they can."
Melissa Followell, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7920 or mfollowell@HeraldToday.com.
It seems like it's okay to feel or act any way you want when you hear the news that your child has Down syndrome . . . unless you're just fine with it.
When Joshua was born, I rushed home from the hospital and put together a very positive birth announcement to try and head off the condolences and pity, and still people told my husband and I we were in denial. We were advised to allow ourselves to grieve and just let it out. 
Thirteen months later, nothin's been let out, and I'm still not grieving! ;D When I read this article, I just thought it was neat that there was another couple as weird as hubby and me.
Down syndrome, mom and music
Festival raises funds for special needs program
MELISSA FOLLOWELL
Herald Staff Writer
SARASOTA - When Jill and Sam Gerolmo were told their son Rocco had Down syndrome, they didn't know how to react. After seven years of trying, they were ecstatic about his birth and nothing was going to dampen their spirits.
"When he was born, all these people converged on us, assaulting the birth of our child," Jill Gerolmo said.
People came up to Sam Gerolmo and offered him condolences right after Rocco was born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
"I was never disappointed that Rocco had Down syndrome," Jill Gerolmo said.
Doctors kept needling the Gerolmos to get angry, say it wasn't fair and exhibit all of the reactions they were used to receiving. They felt nothing but joy at the birth of another son.
"The doctor said, 'You people don't understand. This child is different.' We were like, 'Yeah, we know, we're different, too. He'll fit in just fine,' " Gerolmo said.
Not only is the Gerolmo family in harmony, their musician friends add something special.
Schascle Yochim, a Sarasota-based singer/songwriter known better to audiences and friends as Twinkle, is a dear family friend. The Gerolmo children call her Aunt Twinkle. When Rocco was an infant, she would come over to give Rocco's three brothers music lessons and sing to him. Whether it was her or the sound of Janis Joplin or other greats coming from the stereo, it was obvious that Rocco felt the music.
Gerolmo remembers the day a therapist came into the home to assess Rocco's progress and she pointed out how he reacted to music. Rocco was 5 months old and the change in his level of focus and activity was greater when there was rock 'n' roll playing.
"She told me it was involuntary and that it didn't mean anything," Gerolmo said.
Gerolmo asked the woman to leave and started on a crusade to make sure children with special needs would have the opportunity to learn music.
In 62 days last year, Gerolmo planned and put on what she called a Family Music Festival, a day all about music, family and fun. Her goal was to raise money in order to provide instruments and music lessons to special needs people of all ages in Manatee and Sarasota counties. This year's festival will be held Sunday.
According to Gerolmo, last year about 800 to 1,000 people from around Manatee and Sarasota counties descended on the lakefront park in The Meadows, near the Gerolmo's Italian Restaurant, Mona Lisa.
The event raised $12,000 last year, and thanks to donations, cost only $500 to produce.
"That day, seeing kids and watching their parents watch them, it was incredible," Gerolmo said.
In an attempt to open people's eyes to how music can help children in many ways, 100 percent of the event proceeds go to music programs. This year, funds will be given to the Manasota BUDS (Bringing Up Down Syndrome) Project Rainbow-Children's Respite and the Rocco Fund, which she hopes will be a registered foundation by next year.
The Rocco Foundation will continue the mission they started last year to provide instruments and music lessons to special needs people of all ages in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
In January, Twinkle opened for Aerosmith in front of an audience of about 14,000 people at the St. Pete Times Forum. But Twinkle said she felt an energy unlike any other while on stage last year at the Family Music Festival.
"I felt a lot of wonderment," Twinkle said.
Children danced in front of the stage and some even got up on the stage, but the bands didn't care. The Family Music Festival is about exposing children to music and making them the stars.
"They are love and heart without self-concern," Twinkle said of Down syndrome children.
One of Twinkle's students, an 18-year-old girl with Down syndrome, was one of the dancers having the time of her life.
"From the time she was little, her father had the sense to let her pursue music. There were no limitations," Twinkle said.
Another musician and family friend, Tony LeClerc, has even thought out a great way to teach music to the children using open tuning. A guitar in open tuning means that strings are tuned so a chord is achieved without pressing the strings.
"While other chords might be too complicated and not possible right away, they could strum all they wanted in open tuning and have it in tune," LeClerc said.
According to a study done by music therapist Kathleen A. Coleman, music therapy has been a part of teaching for many years. Things like the alphabet or the days of the week are taught to children in songs and rhymes in order to help people remember.
"People have at least seven distinct intelligences. One of these intelligence areas is the musical area. Often people with special needs learn best through music because that part of the brain is an older part of the brain and less likely to be damaged from birth defects, accidents, etc.," Coleman wrote.
Rocco's responses to music have grown in his two years of life, said Gerolmo.
While Rocco was the inspiration for the Family Music Festival, Gerolmo stressed that this is a day for everyone. Music lovers, families and anyone else are welcome to come out to the free event.
In addition to Twinkle, there will be performances by The Chillbillies, Dyersburg, Florida Blues Brothers, Art Rollini, Sal Garcia & Omni and The Chase Vickers Band.
Chase Vickers is an 11-year-old drummer who has been blind since birth. He played the festival last year and his talent, combined with his inspiring story, made him a shoo-in for this year's event.
Gerolmo can't wait for the day a band of children with special needs get a chance to headline their own festival.
"Someday, at their festival," Gerolmo said, "they will perform up on stage because this community cared enough to provide them with not just the tools but the hope and the knowledge that they can."
Melissa Followell, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7920 or mfollowell@HeraldToday.com.
And you do come to understand that it's pointless to have specific dreams about who any of our children will be . . . just enjoy who they are! 
