Something tells me you have a remarkable Contract in this lifetime, Jon....a soul to encounter...
- Caroline Myss, PHD, medical intuitive, author and teacher
Jon doesn't just give
piano lessons, he imparts a life
long love of music in his students.
- Cold Spring Harbour, NY
Thank
you for delivery an excellent lecture on Autism Spectrum Disorders
on September 22, 2008 in the
Psychopathology course within the Programs in Occupational Therapy. The
students were very impressed
by your clinical and scholarly
expertise and passionate commitment to your clients and research. The
students gave very positive
feedback about lecture in the
discussion that followed and in the course evaluation. Your lecture
broadened their understanding
of the breath and depth of mental
health practice and sparked their interest in exploring ways
occupational therapists can
make a unique contribution to this
field. I hope you will lecture again next fall.
- Emily
Raphael, MA, MS, OTR, Columbia University
Life's Worc and NYFAC
would like to take this opportunity
to thank you for presenting at our conference "Bringing Us Together."
Based
on participant feedback, the
information was well received. Your time and dedication to the field of
Autism is appreciated.
We look forward to collaborating
with you in future conferences.
- Rosemary Barlone- Schafer, Life's WORC
Chair and Andrew
Baumann, NYFAC Conference
Chair
The students here are all classified as having an
Autism Spectrum
disorder. Many of the students are
non-verbal, with little intentional communication, as well as other
typical ASD behaviors.
As a first year program, we were not
sure that music therapy would offer the students any beneficial
outcomes. We were proved
wrong. Jon was able to bring out the voices of children who had never spoken a word.
Amazing! Our students looked forward
to his arrival, many placing their music symbol on their independent
schedules without
reminders. This, in and of itself
from non-verbal, dependent children is worth speaking of. Others simply
smiled and gleamed
when they arrived in the morning to
see the Music symbol on their daily schedule. Jon worked closely with
classroom teachers,
related service providers, assistant
principal and autism coach in a collaborative effort to bring these
very special needs
children to higher grounds, by way
of music. This collaborative effort proved fruitful.
The music therapy program was a
success. We have asked that Jon return to our organization in September
of 2006 because his
talent and style brought on positive
behaviors that we want to continue to nurture.
I
would recommend Jon to any
organization that serves children with special needs, because he showed
us here that music is one
of the ways to a child’s heart. Of
course, Jon’s talent should not be limited to special needs children,
because
regardless of the type of child, I
know that Jon’s Music therapy and teaching abilities would benefit any
type of child.
- Rosa Amato, Assistant Principal, The Children’s School
I have observed Jon on several occasions during his Music Therapy
groups at the Brooklyn Conservatory
of Music. Jon is an amazing soul and it shines in his work . He is
gentle
with each child he works with,
taking special care and interest in each one. He is also clinically
skilled, highly perceptive,
and intuitive. The students are
overjoyed working with him and I have noticed improvement in their
communication, attention
span, sense of self, and motivation
in participating actively in their environment.
- Jennifer
Richman OTR/L - Senior Occupational Therapist for New York State Psychiatric Institiute and contractor for the NYC
Department of Education, specializing in Autism
Prior to Jon bringing music into her life, Dana was quiet in group
settings and tentative with
new experiences. With her new found
confidence playing the piano, she has emerged from her shell. Her piano
playing continues
to improve weekly as does her
assertiveness. Jon's teachings have exceeded all our expectations for
Dana's music training.
Dana's belief in herself is
priceless and we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude.
- Plainview, NY
My son has made tremendous strides since the beginning
of his lessons. Jon is incredibly
talented and brought out qualities in my son I never knew existed! He is
a wonderful teacher!!
-
West Babylon
Jonathan
Samson is an awesome and talented
musician and teacher. The therapeutic piano lessons my daughter has
received by Mr. Samson,
at the Brooklyn Conservatory of
Music, has given her much joy, inspiration and confidence.
With much
appreciation and gratitude.
- Brooklyn,
NY
My ten year old son always looks forward to each
music lesson with Jon. Never knowing
what to expect, my son is continually amazed and excited by the music
he is discovering.