By PAUL STANSBURY

Contributing writer

The Community Arts Center invites the public  to meet Lydia Dimartino-Ellis, who will describe and demonstrate her new role as a certified music practitioner — a type of therapeutic musician.

According to The Music for Healing and Transition Program Inc., therapeutic music “is intended to alleviate a physical, emotional, or mental concern. Common usage of the term usually refers to acoustic music played or sung live in a variety of healthcare settings, to enhance the healing atmosphere.”

Certified music practitioners are specially-trained, adhering to the highest standards and meeting strict specific competencies. CMPs are quick to point out that they are not music therapists.

Music therapists look to actively engage patients in the music-making process, have a rehabilitative plan of action and a measurable restorative goal for each music session. They frequently use recorded music. CMPs, on the other hand, deliver live acoustic music at the patient’s bedside, one-on-one, to accomplish their therapeutic goals.

Another difference is that traditionally trained music therapists do not typically think about the intrinsic healing properties of music.  Rather, healing comes from engaging the patient in music and music-making.

CMPs aim to create in-the-moment comfort for the patient. Bringing music and the patient together allows the CMP to address all aspects of the patient’s being — emotional, spiritual, mental and physiological. They use only live music and have no goal other than addressing a patient’s immediate needs and providing  a healing environment.

Dimartino-Ellis has been involved with music in Danville for over 30 years, having taught in the Danville and Boyle County school systems and local churches, and has been director and piccolo soloist with the Advocate Brass Band. She is president of Direct Experience In Artistic Living Inc., a non-profit that promotes and supports education in the arts in Kentucky, especially here in Danville and Boyle County.

Dimartino-Ellis invites medical administrators to come and learn about this drug-free form of complementary medicine.

The upcoming Lunch with the Arts calendar includes the following presenters: Young at Heart Band, Dec. 19; Dick Domek (Ragtime piano), Jan. 16; Maurice Manning (poetry), Feb. 20; Bruce Richardson (Japanese tea ceremony), March 20; Danville Dulcimers, April 17; Overtones (barbershop quartet), May 15; and Pioneer Playhouse, June 19.

Website: communityartscenter.net

IF YOU GO

Lunch with the Arts, featuring Lydia Dimartino-Ellis, will be noon-1 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Community Arts Center. Cost is $5 at teh door; ASL Interpretation will be available.

COMING UP

• The Art and Archaeology of Angkor Wat, noon-1 p.m. Nov. 13, by Drs. Robyn Cutright and Danielle La Londe, $13 at the door

• Ceramic Nativity Workshop, 5-6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and 27, for ages 8+, $35

• Opening reception: The Holiday Market, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, live music, holiday appetizers, drinks for sale by the glass

• Holiday Ceramics Workshop, 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, $35