→ON DEMAND TRAINING MATERIALS AND BONUSES are granted upon purchase.

→LIVE INTRO SESSION: This prerecorded Live 60 minute intro session and Q&A is available inside this on-demand training. It's the first lesson at the top of the list.

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Music and Mindfulness activities are easy, fast and effective ways that nearly anyone can learn to significantly improve well-being.

Prior musical experience and ability is not required.

The documented positive effects of both music and mindfulness on well-being continues to grow each year.

Unfortunately, many who try mindfulness find it challenging to quiet their mind, causing them to give up too soon.

In so doing, they miss out on a range of important benefits mindfulness can offer including: 

• Anxiety and stress reduction
• Decreased depression
• Increased emotional regulation
• Improved memory
• Cognitive improvements
• Stronger relationships
• Better physical health...

That's where Music and Mindfulness activities come in.

These unique interactive exercises and strategies combine the power of music with mindfulness.

Their purpose is to help you help your participants learn how to increase their own well-being daily.

In this training, you'll discover activities and strategies arranged in the following categories:

• Mindful Movement Preparatory and Transitional Activities 
• Sound Based Mindfulness Activities
• Guided Music and Mindfulness Meditations

You'll also have access to music that you can stream or download to support you in leading the activities.

If you're someone who works with individuals and/or groups...

And are looking for new ideas to increase joy, serenity and well-being...

The Music and Mindfulness Training was made for you.

"I like that you were able to integrate fun engagement, evidence-based practice and practical application so effectively. So many leaders struggle with that but you did it seamlessly, in a way that only experience can produce. Thanks for you passion, authenticity and for sharing that with the world!" P.S., CTRS

"Jim did a great job keeping us engaged and making sure we were comfortable with whatever we were doing. I had never done anything like this before so I was nervous going into it but it turned out to be a great opportunity and I am grateful I was able to join!" E.B., CTRS

"The content was very interesting and the application practical and easy to follow. This is simple enough to beginning implementing right away but so impactful at the same time." J.S., CTRS

"It was helpful to have the scripts along with the training to ensure you are getting the right message across to the participants." R.A., CTRS

"I appreciated the basic movements to the music that I feel all of my patients can participate in." J.M , CTRS

"Setting intention and shaking out the cortisol before entering into a mindfulness activity." R.P., CTRS

"I really liked the tips for how to engage resistant/reluctant people." D.A., CTRS

"I love the way Jim makes these trainings fun and light. I have learned a lot that I will share these techniques with the teens that I work with and those I will be working with. Jim's approach will resonate and be accessible to them I am sure. It's not woo woo and weird or too spiritual for others to accept." C.B., CTRS

"It works and it's fun!" F.m., CTRS

"I liked how the virtual training was broken into sections, so I could do 1-2 at a time and easily come back the next day and pick up from where I left off." S.W., CTRS

"The audience participation. Jim is very enthusiastic and made it fun." K.F., CTRS

"I enjoyed the training… I was excited for the information going in, what I did not expect was to have fun! I also appreciated the variety of interactive activities plus the section about dealing with resistance." J.B., CTRS

"I really liked the experiential activities, the ready to use resources, and the interaction with other professionals." L.H., CTRS

"Loved the information and way it was presented. I didn't realize it at first, but I felt so much better after the training! I'm motivated to share this with others." J.M., CTRS

"This was an excellent and well constructed program. I liked how specific each section was to detail." D.C., CTRS

"Jim was very engaging and easy to follow along with! Love the content especially the brain tapping and humming portion. The information on the vagal nerve was very interesting! Also liked the pressure point part!" A.L., CTRS

HOUR 1

• Training overview – 5 minutes
• The benefits of music-based mindfulness activities - overview of research – lecture and discussion, 10 minutes
• Music assisted facilitation, Body-based rhythm and movement warm ups – lecture and demonstration, 10 minutes 
• Facilitating beginner friendly body-based rhythm and movement activities – lecture, discussion and demonstration, 20 minutes
• Guided practice – practical experience, 5 minutes
• Process – debriefing discussion, 10 minutes

HOUR 2

• How sound-based mindfulness activities can support mental health – overview of research, lecture, 5 minutes
• Sound-based mindfulness exercises for self care – lecture and demonstration, 15 minutes
• The “brain tapping” concept – lecture and demonstration, 10 minutes
• Guided practice – practical experience , 5 minutes
• Process  – debriefing discussion, 10 minutes
• Interactive movement strategies and their effect on chronic stress – lecture and demonstration, 10 minutes

HOUR 3

• Introduction to music and mindfulness meditation practices – lecture, 15 minutes
• Overview of research – lecture, 10 minutes
• Rhythmic Walking Meditation – demonstration, variations, 15 minutes
• Guided Music and Mindfulness Meditation – overview of research – lecture, 15 minutes
• Process and summary– lecture, 5 minutes

HOUR 4

• Music and mindfulness listening strategies - overview of research – lecture, 5 minutes
• Strategies for reducing participant resistance and effective facilitation – lecture, 15 minutes
• Music and Mindfulness Activities for Transitioning – lecture and demonstration, 15 minutes
• Movement and Social Connection – lecture and demonstration, 15 minutes
• Guided practice – practical experience , 10 minutes
• Process and summary – lecture, 5 minutes

HOUR 5

• Music and Mindfulness Program Design Strategies – lecture, 15 minutes
• Strategies for facilitating your first group program – lecture and demonstration, 20 minutes
• Guided design – practical experience , 10 minutes
• Process and summary – debriefing discussion, 5 minutes
• Post-training support materials overview –  lecture, 5 minutes

At the conclusion of your training, you may request a personalized certificate of completion PDF with your name, contact hours, and credential (if applicable).

When you have completed all of the training modules, please email [email protected] to request yours.

Please include the name and professional credential you would like to appear on the certificate.

Example: Jane Smith, CTRS

The Music and Mindfulness Training and The Music and Wellness Training are two separate programs.

Each training contains its own unique content and focus.

In sum, The Music and Wellness Training aims at teaching you to lead activities to support social connection, brain health, building confidence, coordination and eliciting self expression. These activities focus on creative engagement and beginner friendly music making. Here you'll also learn how to integrate percussion instruments.

In contrast, The Music and Mindfulness Training teaches a different set of activities that reduce stress and anxiety, boost mood, mental clarity, and strengthen resilience. These activities focus on self-regulation, supporting mental health, sleep and managing chronic stress.

The Similarities 

Both programs:

• Are beginner friendly and require no prior music training.
• Compliment one another and contain activities that can be used side-by-side in the experiences you create.
• Increase overall well-being
• Show you enjoyable activities designed to be used over and over again.

◉ Anyone interested in utilizing the power of music and mindfulness strategies

◉ Professionals who are looking for new and effective tools to support the people they serve

◉ Recreational Therapists and Activity Directors (CE credits available)

◉ Counselors

◉ Social workers

◉ Addiction and recovery counselors and techs

◉ Educators

◉ Behavioral healthcare specialists

◉ Anyone who works with people with PTSD and returning veterans

◉ After school activity directors

◉ People who work with disadvantaged youth

◉ Music teachers

◉ People who work with children

◉ Church and spiritual group leaders

Jim Donovan M.Ed. Professional musician, Trainer, Assistant Professor and The Director of Music and Wellness at Saint Francis University and TEDx speaker.

Nice to meet you!

I’ve been training people in the "helping professions" since 2010, including those who work in recreation therapy—including the ATRA 2022 Conference— recovery, mental health, education, social work, autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Here are a few of the hundreds organizations I’ve had the privilege of working with:

✅ NCTRC
✅ Penn State University
✅ Carnegie Mellon University
✅ Saint Francis University
✅ Mid-Atlantic Region Music Therapy Association
✅ The University of Florida
✅ The Barber National Institute

My mission is to share the healing power of music through education and performance.

I'd love the opportunity to show you how.

As rates of anxiety, depression, addiction and social isolation rise, so does the need for 'antidotes' that don't cause more problems than they solve.

What many people don't realize is that music and mindfulness strategies can offer research based, low-cost solutions that can make a real difference.

That’s why I created this user-friendly Music and Mindfulness Training.

It's purposefully designed to save you time by showing you everything you need to know in a way that is as fast, easy and effective as possible.

In it, I share effective techniques, activities and step-by-step guidance on how to make the power of music and mindfulness practical and accessible. 

This training is completely beginner friendly and prior musical experience and the ability to read music is not a requirement.

I've tested the methods you're about to learn over the past two decades with tens of thousands of people of all ages and populations in over 3000 interactive presentations.

I've also been fortunate to have ongoing training relationships with a wide variety of professional organizations including:

✅ The State of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
✅ Veterans Administration
✅ Pyramid Healthcare
✅ Resources for Human Development (RHD)
✅ National Council for Therapeutic Recreation
✅ National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

When I'm not training, I'm performing with my band The Sun King Warriors and was a founding member of the 3-time platinum band Rusted Root.

There I co-wrote the song “Send Me on My Way” featured in the movie Ice Age and that became the first song on Mars where it “woke up” NASA’s Mars Rover.

I'd love the opportunity to help you make a lasting difference in the lives of the people in your care with the power of music and mindfulness.

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

Yes, I do offer group rates.

I also offer: 

• Personalized virtual and live training for organizations 
• Enterprise level on-demand solutions
• Virtual and live conference keynotes and breakout sessions

Click here to request pricing and more information.

*If you work for the Veterans Administration, please note that I am a VA vendor and can accommodate your needs.