SWFLMEC
The desire to provide continuing music education and promising pathways to a talented young adult who learns differently has quickly grown into a life-changing opportunity for neurodivergent musicians and the Southwest Florida community.
Rob and Sandra Moher were inspired by their daughter, who responded positively to music as an infant and became a talented pianist and singer. In high school, she created a demo CD and began playing at restaurants, preschool chapel time, and other venues.
Searching for post-secondary programs that accommodated students’ unique learning styles led the Mohers to the Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs (BIAESN) in Boston, which combines a commitment to musical excellence with a desire to adapt teaching strategies to meet the needs of students.
As a result of that visit, the Southwest Florida Music Education Center was launched by the Mohers in Naples in 2019 with an inclusion class through The Creative Group, directed by Dr. Jeff Leigh at Artis-Naples. The success of the program, a partnership with BIAESN, and a generous supporter challenged Rob Moher to build something bigger. The Southwest Florida Music Education Center partnered with BIAESN to unveil a groundbreaking, comprehensive music education program for young adults who might not thrive in the traditional college conservatory setting, to prepare them for independence and a successful career path.
“It is well documented that most neurodivergent young adults face significant challenges when preparing for higher education and the workforce,” said Rob Moher, founder and board chair of the Southwest Florida Music Education Center. “By providing state-of-the-art holistic music education and mentoring, we are preparing students for meaningful growth opportunities, while creating a pathway toward social integration, employment and enrichment.”
Very quickly, the nonprofit was on its way to becoming a world-class music education center that will serve as a model for other programs as one of only a few music education programs available to neurodivergent young adults in the United States.
The community quickly rallied around the center. A successful fundraising event this spring showed enthusiastic support in the form of donations toward instruments, equipment, and tuition assistance. With their sights set on a creating something that will have an impact for generations to come, visionary philanthropists stepped up with donations and a bridge loan to inspire the community to support the mission and allow the Center to purchase the former Hodges University Naples Campus at Immokalee Road and I-75, accelerating development of the Center’s long-term plans to accommodate up to 50 full-time students, include an onsite dormitory, and future semi-independent housing for program graduates.
This fall, the Center began offering two-year and four-year post-secondary music certificates for young adults ages 18 to 30 at Artis-Naples’ Toni Stabile Education Building. In addition, the Southwest Florida Music
The Center is opening new doors for opportunities, purpose, and fulfillment with highly trained professionals, small staff-to-
student ratios and proven program design to equip students not just with music education, but also critical soft and professional skills and work placement opportunities.
Throughout the year, The Creative Group will also continue to offer weekly highly collaborative ensemble programs for neurodivergent middle and high school students to grow in technique, music theory, improvisation, and composition, as well as monthly jam sessions, informal unique ensembles led by the Southwest Florida Music Education Center staff.
Encouraging the unique abilities of neurodivergent individuals with a strong interest in music brings their gifts to the forefront of society, allowing space for perceptions to be changed, connections to be made, and artists’ talent to be appreciated and enjoyed.
For more information about certificate programs or to support the project, contact Jennifer Clark at JenC@SWFLmusic.org, 239-205-8258, or visit www.swflmusic.org.