Musicians moving beyond mental illness

Tunefoolery Concert Ensembles (www.tunefoolery.org) from Cambridge, MA, a group of 50 musicians living with mental illness, has a simple yet powerful message: Emphasize people’s strengths and focus on abilities, not disabilities.

While most psychiatric treatment programs are focused on minimizing the effects of depression, hearing voices, etc., Tunefoolery helps its musicians to move away from the mental health patient role and embrace new identities as professional musicians and performers. This transformation is essential for women and men with long-term illnesses who often get the message that they are not “well” enough to be creative contributors to our communities. As one member puts it: “Tunefoolery is a great example of how non-traditional mental health treatment truly can change people’s lives. Music is powerful medicine! I have a tremendous feeling of belonging with Tunefoolery. I have found great friends here. It’s a job and a creative outlet at the same time.”

The Tunefoolery musicians, who perform as solo acts or in small ensembles, play 75-90 gigs every year at mental health treatment programs, hospitals, nursing homes and anywhere else where music can bring joy and inspiration. To increase the level of professionalism, Tunefoolery also offers its musicians music lessons, workshops and a yearly three-day retreat in the Berkshires. Another inspiring project is the Education Outreach program where musicians visit schools and other institutions educating children and adults about psychiatric disabilities, focusing on people’s strengths and abilities rather than on the negative effects of mental illness.

In May, Tunefoolery members are sharing their music with the release of a new CD, Tunefoolery II, and a CD Release Concert. The two-disc CD is a compilation of 32 songs covering Early and Classical music, Jazz, Gospel, Folk and Rock. The CD release concert, featuring over 30 musicians, will be held at the YMCA theatre in Central Square, Cambridge, MA on Sunday, May 18th at 3PM.