Music Therapist and AwardWinning SingerSongwriter Releases New CD to Help Children Build Social Skills



May 5, 2005 -- Award-winning singer-songwriter Cathy Bollinger recently released her seventh CD comprised of 14 original songs written especially for children who find social interactions confusing or intimidating.

Bollinger, who has a master's degree in creative arts therapy from Drexel University College of Medicine, has been working with children for more than 20 years. Using descriptive, social story-like phrases to talk about concrete situations, Bollinger's wrote all 14 songs on the CD, My Turn Your Turn, with the hope of helping children build social skills. These songs touch on empathy, asking for help, handling anger, and other daily interactions.

Bollinger engages in songwriting workshops and music therapy as well as performing. There are seven children, ages 9 to 13, who perform on My Turn Your Turn, including fourth-grader Josh Tucker, who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, at age 3 1/2. Like many forms of autism, Asperger's manifests itself in many ways, including difficulty showing emotions and interacting with others.

Many of the song topics were suggested by Bill and Elly Tucker, Josh's parents, and the OASIS Network, an online support group for parents of children on the Autism spectrum. Bollinger also credits fellow artist Jeff Weisman and father of a child with autism for My Turn Your Turn. It was Weisman who initially got her thinking about writing songs for kids with social challenges after she worked with him on the music for his Ultimate Learning for Kids CDrom.

"Most people never talk about the abilities of children with mental and physical challenges," says Bollinger, who believes that as long as people work together, no matter what their abilities, they can always learn from each other.

Bollinger has been commissioned to write and sing for a variety of projects: including songs and sounds to help Chinese students learn English; songs supporting children learning to write; and songs emphasizing sounds and words used specifically in speech therapy.

Cathy Bollinger lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband and their three children, ages 7, 11 and 17. My Turn Your Turn CD retails for $15.98 and is currently available online at www.rivannamusic.com. 10% of all sales in 2005 will be donated to the OASIS Network. Bollinger is seeking other distribution channels including on-line retailers, educational centers, music stores and other commercial outlets.





Music Therapist and AwardWinning SingerSongwriter Releases New CD to Help Children Build Social Skills