Founder Debbie Major in front of Zylofone's studio

Founded in 2011, Zylofone's foundation in performing arts stems from founder Debbie Major's career as a musician. Drawing on her musical talent and her own experience raising her sons, Major developed a visionary approach to teaching that strives to empower students through music and performing arts. Her pioneering methods have already made Zylofone a community staple and a winner of the 2016 Arts in Healthcare Champions for the Orange County Arts Awards by the Orange County New York Arts Council.

Workshops at Zylofone's studio include Mommy and Me classes for newborns through age 3, Music and Movement classes for school-aged children, Sketch and Song, and more. All classes promote socialization, body awareness and sensory development, and are led by music therapists, professional musicians, and current or recent college students studying occupational therapy.

Zylofone also hosts community events, including monthly karaoke sessions at Noble Coffee Roasters, that build confidence and are just plain fun. It also holds workshops at dayhab centers, senior centers and nursing homes, and has plans to conduct workshops at schools in the fall. In addition, Zylofone offers in-home workshops for students who cannot travel to its studio in Campbell Hall—and this component is part of what makes Zylofone so special.

Karaoke fun at the coffee house

In addition to its regular in-studio and community-based workshops, Zylofone is so committed to bettering the lives of families that they will create customized programs for individual students. If a student cannot attend a workshop because of scheduling conflicts, travel obstacles, or even if none of the standard offerings are a good match, Zylofone will work with families to design a program that meets their needs. It will then promote that workshop to others in the community, and this is how new classes are born. If no additional students join, Zylofone will still provide the workshop for a single student—a true testament to this group's genuine enthusiasm and dedication.

They are happy to travel beyond Orange County for the in-home programs, so reach out directly for more information.

Major hopes to raise enough money to expand the studio and programming into a three-story building with a dedicated floor for visual art, a second floor for performing arts, and a third that will house a parent/caregiver lounge, creating a welcoming space that encourages communication and fosters community engagement. She envisions a place for the special-needs community where students feel completely safe as they awaken and explore their inner artists.

All photos courtesy of Zylofone.