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Upward Notes

@upward_notes

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Brings classical music out of the concert hall and into the community while teaching and encouraging well-being for the audience and performer.

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🎥 Behind the Music: Getting Off the Stage🌼
What happens when music steps off the stage and meets you eye to eye?

In this video, John Miller and Natalie Helm invite us into the heart of Upward Notes—a movement where musical tradition takes a back seat to something deeper: connection, presence, and emotional well-being.

For Natalie, it’s about more than performance-

“We bring music everywhere. And we’re learning that it heals.”

No hierarchy. No spotlight. Just shared sound and a shared human moment.

#upwardnotes #seedsofchange #musicandmentalhealth #dandelionnotes by @upward_notes

🌼 Hello, it’s been a while… 🌼

This past season was our biggest yet—filled with music, movement, and moments we’ll never forget. From prisons to safe houses, animal shelters to mental health centers, your support helped us bring beauty where it was most needed.

Thank you for believing in the mission of Upward Notes—spreading music like seeds on the wind, uplifting hearts in unexpected places.

As Debussy once said, “Music is the silence between the notes.” And sometimes, like flowers, the quietest things make the most profound impact. 🌬🎶🌼

More music is coming. Stay with us.
#UpwardNotes #MusicInUnlikelyPlaces #GrowWithMusic #FlourishTogether by @upward_notes

“That’s what life’s about!”

🌞✨ On a sun-kissed day, Upward Notes gathered with Sarasota Contemporary Dance, and the residents of The Haven, weaving a tapestry of movement and melody. 🎶🩰 An interactive performance blossomed like a vibrant flower, lifting our spirits and enveloping us in a shared joy. 💖

In this dance of connection, we were reminded of the beauty found in community and the magic of togetherness. Thank you to all who danced and dreamed with us, breathing life into this unforgettable moment! Let’s carry this energy forward, inspiring one another along our journey. 🎶💃🏻🙌 #UpwardNotes #SarasotaContemporaryDance #TheHaven #upwardnotes #imspiration #specialneeds #sarasota by @upward_notes

What a week of Gatherings!

Halloween gave us an excuse to get a little strange — spooky music, a little mystery, plenty of laughter, and a few moments we definitely didn’t plan.

Apparently, spooky season has a pretty good soundtrack.

People sang. People laughed. People jumped in. And, as usual, some of the best parts happened when we stopped worrying about what was supposed to happen next.

Thank you to everyone who made room for us this week — and especially to everyone who joined in.

#UpwardNotes #MusicForWellBeing #CommunityThroughMusic #Halloween2026 by @upward_notes

Stranger Things have happened at The Haven. But usually, they're not accompanied by a live quartet.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Upward Notes! 👻

🌼 Bring Music Where It Belongs.

#UpwardNotes #BringMusicWhereItBelongs #Halloween #StrangerThings #TheHaven #MusicAndWellbeing by @upward_notes

Once upon a time, he was the child discovering music. Today, he's the musician sharing that discovery with others. 🎶

Meet Nathan Frantz.

In one photograph, he's a young boy practicing his instrument. In the other, he's all grown up, performing for children who may be discovering the wonder of live music for the very first time.

Somewhere between those two photographs are years of practice, patience, curiosity, and a love of music worth passing along.

At Upward Notes, we believe music is something to be shared, not simply performed.

And when our musicians bring their talents into schools, senior living communities, correctional facilities, recovery centers, and the many community spaces where people gather, something beautiful happens. The joy of discovery comes full circle.

For the audience, it's an opportunity to listen, learn, and participate. For the musician, it's a chance to remember why the journey began.

That's

🌼 Bringing Music Where It Belongs.

#UpwardNotes #FacesOfUpwardNotes #BringMusicWhereItBelongs #MusicEducation #MusicAndWellbeing by @upward_notes

In just over a month, Upward Notes has brought live music into classrooms, community centers, and spaces where people gather to learn, heal, and connect.

From Keynotes and The Pines to Resilient Retreat, Lighthouse, and the Sarasota County Jail, every room has its own story.

Some people sing. Some snap along. Some ask questions. Some simply listen and smile.

And our musicians? They get to experience that joy right alongside everyone else.

That's the heart of Upward Notes. Music isn't just something we perform. It's something we share.

These Gatherings create opportunities for connection, belonging, and mental well-being—for audiences and musicians alike.

And every Gathering is offered at no cost to the organizations and communities we serve.

Because of our supporters, we can keep bringing music into more rooms, reaching more people, and making more moments like these possible.

🌼 Bring Music Where It Belongs.

#UpwardNotes #BringMusicWhereItBelongs #MusicAndWellbeing #Sarasota #CommunityThroughMusic by @upward_notes

At Lighthouse Vision Loss Center this week we all were welcome to join in however they like. However the music moves you!

That’s the beauty of an Upward Notes Gathering. The music, the experience is shared by everyone.

And the joy goes both ways. Our musicians come to share music, but they leave having shared something more: a moment of genuine human connection.

It’s a simple idea at the heart of Upward Notes. Music brings us together, and being together is good for us.

Thanks to our supporters, we bring these Gatherings into community spaces at no cost to the people and organizations we serve.

🌻 Bring Music Where it Belongs!
##upwardnotes #musicbringsustogether #mentalwellbeing #sarasota by @upward_notes

The simple joy of sharing the first time someone holds an instrument is often what our musicians gain from an Upward Noted Gathering!

Thank you Lighthouse Vision Loss Center for allowing us to gather in your space! It means so much to us.

Until next time,
Upward Notes by @upward_notes

Three ways to support the Upward Notes mission:
▪️ A One Time Gift - Any amount helps!
▪️ A Recurring Gift - A monthly gift to keep us gathering
▪️ Become a Sponsor - Help expand the mission to the greater community, the state, the country!

Here's a direct link: https://upwardnotes.com/donate/ by @upward_notes

It's Monday. Raise your hand if you're ready to participate! 🙋‍♀️🎶

Turns out, raising your hand might be the beginning of something wonderful.

Psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman's PERMA model identifies five elements of well-being:

💛 P — Positive Emotions: Experiencing joy, gratitude, and happiness.

🤝 E — Engagement: Becoming absorbed in an activity that captures our attention.

🌱 R — Relationships: Building meaningful connections with others.

✨ M — Meaning: Feeling part of something larger than ourselves.

🌟 A — Accomplishment: Experiencing the satisfaction of trying, learning, and achieving something.

Sound familiar?

At an Upward Notes Gathering, participation is an invitation. Raise your hand. Join the musicians. Try something new. Share a laugh. Make a connection.

You don't need to know how to play an instrument. You don't even need to know what comes next.

You just need to raise your hand.

And sometimes, that's where the magic begins.

Here's to a Monday filled with music, connection, and a little courage to participate.

Bring Music Where It Belongs. 💛

#UpwardNotes #BringMusicWhereItBelongs #PERMA #PositivePsychology #MusicAndWellbeing #Sarasota by @upward_notes

Thank you for allowing us to be in this moment!

The Upward Notes mission is to support the mental well-being of both our audiences and our performers. At the foundation of our approach is the PERMA Model:
- P – Positive Emotion: Feeling good. Experiencing joy, gratitude, hope, and contentment.
- E – Engagement: Finding flow. Becoming so absorbed in an experience or activity that you lose track of time.
- R – Relationships: Making authentic connections. Building supportive relationships and a sense of belonging with family, friends, and community.
- M – Meaning: Finding purpose. Serving or belonging to something larger than yourself.
- A – Accomplishment: Experiencing growth and achievement. Pursuing goals and developing skills for the satisfaction that comes from learning and succeeding.

Thank you to our partner in harmony: Key Choral

Thank you to Girls Inc. for everything you do!

#upwardnotes #perma #mentalwellbeing #mentalhealthmatters by @upward_notes