Children’s optimal brain growth—and their healing—require them to build skills of independence and connection, self-confidence and empathy, achievement and cooperation.
In the Growing Brains framework, rhythm is the metaphor, and the method.
Hi, I’m Dr. Jessica—music neuroscience scholar, speaker & artistic creator.
I founded Growing Brains to support children’s optimal brain growth and promote community healing—especially through the power of musical rhythm. With a unique, integrative framework based in evidence from brain science, and wisdom from music arts and healing, I help organizations and families understand the actual needs of the growing brain, and implement strategies to meet those needs, always based on the principles of rhythm.
As a scientist-artist, I created the new children’s musical production, Finding Rhythm: A journey through the musical brain! This show—featuring the indigenous and official music of Washington DC, go-go music—teaches children and adults the biological origins of human rhythm, and exactly how rhythm grows the brain. Children learn that they are in charge of their own brain growth: when they find their rhythm, and grow their brain, then they find the source of their own individual power… and community connection.
Welcome to the Growing Brains community!
Rhythm Grows Your Brain!
The children’s musical production, Finding Rhythm: A journey through the musical brain, is changing the way adults think about brain development, and the way children understand their own power and community connection… all through the power of rhythm! Scroll down to watch the trailer and music video, hear the singles and see us perform live!
June 10th!
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June 10th! 〰️
LIVE SHOW!
Join us for a live, interactive performance of the music of Finding Rhythm! This is our first live show since our Kennedy Center debut, and we can’t wait to have you there!
Join us June 10th at 10:30am, at PG County Publick Playhouse! All ages. Click HERE for $5 tickets!
Supported by PG Parks and Recreation
WATCH THE preview for Finding rhythm: a journey through the musical brain!
Are you ready to take a journey on the rhythms of DC’s go-go music? Click below to find out more.
“Jessica is a pioneer, using her research skills and content knowledge to go where others simply have not. Jessica operates in an authentic relationship with her fellow researchers, community members, and system actors. She is truly interested and committed to their professional, personal, and organizational well-being and has helped build bridges of collaboration that are rooted in a fundamental belief in shared humanity and love.”
“Working with Dr. Jessica has transformed my arts education non-profit. An integral thought-partner in the development of many of our innovative arts and science-based early childhood programs, Dr. Jessica combines a rigorous scientific background with the creativity and skill of an artist—an exquisitely unique combination. Dr. Jessica is an invaluable resource for the children, teachers and families we serve.”
“I want to commend Dr. Jessica on her incredible show Finding Rhythm, and her educational curriculum for DC Public Schools based in music and brain science. It is really powerful to show how rhythm can be a tool for children’s brain development and learning, and then to implement it in the classroom. As an educator and a mother, I just really want to thank you for what you are doing.”