It makes perfect sense that Noel McClanahan, a Berklee College of Music graduate, believes songs are perfect tools for therapy. Well-versed in drums, guitar, bass, and piano, he knows what’s packed into a tune.
“We can work on everything through music,” he said of the individuals he has worked with at Berkshire County Arc’s residential homes during the past five years, all who have experienced a brain injury. “When we work on a song together they are learning patience, teamwork, discipline, music, and strengthening their attention span. They are gaining on their goals every time and they don’t even realize that they are doing the work.”
There are projects Noel wants to pursue outside of his work with BCArc, like improving his finger-picking style on the strings, and building mandolins. “I stay with BCArc because I have a strong relationship with all the guys, and I think it’s important that I help provide stability in their lives,” he said. “Yes this is my work, but these are real human relationships, it would be hard for me to just leave them.”
He also sees himself as a mentor to the younger staff members, and works with them to maintain the tone and consistency of the house. Any observer will quickly see that Noel is gentle but firm with the individuals, all who routinely compete for his attention.
“When we all work together, everyone advances a bit, little things happen,” he said. “I learn, they learn, I get entertained, they get entertained. They are also experts at pushing my buttons—everyone’s buttons.”
Before BCArc Noel worked in Ohio, at a hospital for violent felons. “I loved it,” he said. “They were extremely challenging, and I had the confidence and skills to connect with a lot of them.” By comparison, his BCArc relationships he calls much easier. “I’m still challenged by all these guys,” he said. “Progress just doesn’t come. It takes work, and I make an effort to stay close to each of the individuals.”
He noted that all the people he serve have uncanny memories for old songs. “They remember the tune and the lyrics, just like we all do. Somehow music resonates different than other forms of art.”
Recently Noel worked with the individuals to build bat houses for a conservationist looking to save a specific species. The team raised money by selling plants to build the custom-designed houses.
“Through this project, we all got a little bit closer to one another, functioned as a unified team, and discovered our own special abilities along with skills from their lives before their injuries. We’re all trying to improve togeter, we’re all trying to learn together. We go at our own pace.”
