About Mary Knysh
~ Music Is My Life ~
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As founder of Rhythmic Connections, an innovative company advancing education, health, community building, and creative development through drum circles and music improvisation, and primary teacher for the International Music for People organization, Mary E Knysh has traveled internationally for over 35 years inspiring participants to tap into healing and human potential through the transformative power of music.
Mary is also a professional musician, recording artist, and published author who works with people of all ages. A sought-after facilitator, trainer, and Orff Schulwerk clinician, she is also a teaching artist for the Young Audiences of NJ, Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, and BOCES of New York State. Endorsed by Rhythm Band Instruments, Mary collaborates with community and private organizations to design programs for healthy active aging and memory care, classroom education and management, and corporate team building. Mary continues to travel throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia offering melodic drum circles, facilitator training, senior music for wellness programs, improvisation workshops, and performances. As an author, Mary has penned five books which assists and instructs educators, therapists, parents, and anyone interested in music, on improvisational drumming; Innovative Drum Circles: Beyond Beat Into Harmony; 1*2 Let's All Play; Rhythms All Around: Sing It, Clap It, Move It, Tap It; BoomDoPa: A Creative Guide to Ethnic Influenced Music Improvisation, and A Day in the Forest: A Story in Sound Designed for Creative Movement. In addition Mary has produced a DVD, Drumming and Storytelling, and a CD, Walk About, featuring 15 cultural songs from around the world. As an International educator and performer, Mary spends a lot of time on the road. When she's not living out of a suitcase she enjoys spending time with her 4 children and 3 grandchildren, and making music with her friends. Recent Conferences, Keynotes, and Collaborations
International
National
Presentations and Keynote Topics:
Results
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Click on the picture above to read an in-depth interview with Mary about her musical philosophy.
"Mary Knysh combines a very rare talent for facilitating skills on an international stage. Her synthesis of music education, movement, music therapy, recreational music making and performance are remarkable. I highly recommend her beautiful personality and talent.
David Darling, Grammy Winning Cellist Artistic Director of Music for People 
"The spirit, enthusiasm and talent you brought to our drum circles brought us all closer together. You quickly won over the people in our group who were initially skeptical."
David Hazen, Senior V.P. Marketing Putamayo Corporation 
"Mary Knysh has a personal and original approach to facilitation, full of creativity and grounded in a deep personal reflection. Musical, social and spiritual capital is what I've got at every attendance to her workshops. One of the most interesting aspects is the way she adapts to the group and gets them into the music in a natural way. Easily and from diverse starting points, Mary guides the group fulfilling the highest possible musicality of the participants. I've been in different trainings and no repetition at all, every time the experience is tailored to the group, refreshing, and full of resources that can be used easily. I think Mary adds to her broad knowledge this capacity of making every music experience the most enriching possible."
Pau Gimeno, VMC International Trainer, Spain 
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