INSIDE RADY CHILDREN’S
FEEL THE BEAT Musician brings connection and calm to Rady Children’s, one note at a time We may all march to the beat of our own drum. But put those beats together and it can create a beautiful rhythm. That profound percussion can be felt twice a week in a surprising place: the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services (CAPS) unit at Rady Children’s. An inpatient unit for children under 18 struggling with depression, psychosis, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and other mental health issues, CAPS has offered a stage for musician Karl Anthony to bring the power of music to kids. For nearly a decade, Anthony has led hour-long drum circles at CAPS, engaging patients in an activity that gives them the opportunity to connect, listen, learn and lead. “I have been a drum circle facilitator for 35 years, and I realized long ago that drumming is something kids love to do,” Anthony says. “It’s unifying and equalizing, and you really have to listen, because the only way to drum as a group is to listen to each other’s rhythm. I teach them how to lead the circle, so everyone gets the chance to be a leader,” he continues. “Plus, it’s an hour STAFF SPOTLIGHT
26 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE SPRING 2024
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