Testimonials
The purity of what Mark is doing with The Same Thing Project is inspiring. In many ways, the National Museum of Mental Health Project is likewise trying to keep our work pure, collaborative, and community-based - this is the principle of a "museum-without-walls" (or distributed museum as it is called in museum circles). Our connection with Mark and TSTP is based on a shared spirit that emphasizes creativity and community.
Mark possesses layers of creative genius. He is not alone in possessing the genius of being able to write music that connects to a group of people (a community) through lyrics, melody, and emotion. Thankfully, our society is blessed with others who possess this genius. Yet, Mark possesses another layer of genius. He can humble himself to be an equal to a group of people (a community) and through his genius of collaboration involve that community via emotions, lyrics, and melody in a common experience that explores the same things that connect us to one another. And, produce a beautiful and emotional song every time.
For some students, college can feel like a really lonely place. So, community songwriting seems like a natural art form for campuses. Community songwriting is this really miraculous kind of co-development that is happening live, and creates these very cool and positive shared emotions - kind of like the feelings when people build a house together through Habitat for Humanity. Mark's multi-faceted brilliance and collaborative spirit are on full display when he is leading a community songwriting workshop. A sight to behold!
Both The Same Thing Project and the National Museum of Mental Health Project help people create things that help people. We both are motivated by community/social goals vs. profit goals. We both believe creativity holds a special place in building community and wellness. Both NMMHP and TSTP were initially anchored in communities that have historically been stigmatized, isolated, and in some cases institutionalized.
I do love the name The Same Thing Project. In my day job, many of us go out of the way to get to know our students as people - we care about much more than academics. It is a great gift to work alongside caring student-leaders who see the deep connection between creativity and wellness, and to journey with them - not as a distant professor, but as equal human beings who share the same struggles and the same joy - THE SAME THING!
Paul M. Piwko
Co-developer
National Museum of Mental Health Project, Inc.
Mark has put together some great songwriting sessions with a wide range of individuals from students to adults with developmental disabilities. I have found Mark to be incredibly intuitive, kind with an uncanny ability to bring out the best in the group and the individual. Mark makes sure everyone is important and involved. He is also a great songwriter
Patrick Norton, Executive Director · Narrows Center for the Arts
We want to express our appreciation and delight to Mark Cutler and The Same Thing Project’s for the recent visit and presentation of the wonderful songwriting workshop to Block Island!! The engagement of the Community was pure magic and yet Mark made it seem so effortless. We LOVE our song - it captures the nuances of Island life so simply yet vividly that it brought tears to more than a few eyes that day. Everyone was energized and positively captivated by the process. We would love to have Mark back after the summer- perhaps to bring The Same Thing Project to the students at Block Island School.
With Our deepest and most sincere appreciation!
Best regards,
Maryann Seebeck, on behalf of
The Senior Advisory Committee and residents of Block Island
I am writing this review of Mark Cutler’s Same Thing Project and songwriting workshop. Mark came to my middle school in Niantic, Connecticut to work with a group of my students at the end of the school year, and the event was a huge success.
I am the science teacher on a middle school team of about 90 students. Mark joined us on a day where the band, chorus, and orchestra were off performing at a festival, and he worked with the remaining 50 or so “non-musical” students.
He started by asking if anyone played guitar. When one student raised his hand Mark passed him his guitar and asked him to play “G”, “C”, “D”, and “Am” chords. To my surprise the student did just that. Mark said “you’re the guitar player for the day”.
He then asked students for ideas about a theme for the song they would create. Since it was June, the students decided on a song about the upcoming summer. Mark then started asking for phrases that might fit and words that would rhyme with those phrases.
He introduced ideas about song structure and introduced terms like prechorus and bridge to go along with verse and chorus. The kids quickly picked up on the process and all became involved in contributing to the final piece.
Throughout the process he involved the guitar player, who had now been joined by a student on ukulele. By the end of the two hours we were able to sing through our new creation and work on enhancements to the presentation.
The students were very excited to tell their “musical” friends what they had done and those students wanted to immediately have Mark return so they could experience the process.
If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
Glenn Dewell
(401) 787-5725
In 27 years in education I have never left my job feeling more fulfilled and joyful than the day we brought Mark Cutler’s The Same Thing Project to Auburn High School. Over the course of two hours Mark worked with an integrated group of students, as well as staff to craft an uplifting song, listening carefully to student suggestions for both music and lyrics. Watching our students move from uncertainty to confidence as he carefully stepped them through the songwriting process, explaining as he went song structure and music fundamentals, was amazing. It didn’t take long for it to become clear that Mark’s goal wasn’t simply to write a song, but to create songwriters, often reminding everyone that participated that “you are all songwriters”. Regardless of ability, all students could be part of the process, working together in the most integrated way to write a song in which they could be proud. Staff and students were humming our song the rest of the day. Writing a song is not magic, but in an safe, open, and collaborative environment of The Same Thing Project it can be magical.
Eric Bouvier Director of Technology Auburn Public Schools
United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
67 Roosevelt Avenue
Pawtucket RI 02860
We have worked with Mark Cutler and The Same Thing Project over a dozen times at two different National Parks as part of our Healing Arts in the Parks program. While both National Parks are historical sites, we believe that the parks play a restorative role for our communities by providing a place to get away from the stresses of everyday life.
When we decided to offer a series of art therapy programs in the parks, The Same Thing Project was a natural match to what we were looking to accomplish. Mark has been a pleasure to work with. Along with his musical talents, Mark provides great positive energy for these programs. I would say his greatest strength for this type of program is that while Mark leads the sessions, he doesn’t dominate them. He has a great knack for encouraging participation but knowing when to jump in to keep the songwriting process going. By the end of every session, everyone was singing along to the song they had helped to create.
I have attended several songwriting sessions, and I have always felt a great sense of community and comradery among the participants. I believe that the visitors get a boost from the sense of working together as a team and the excitement of creating a new work of art. We look forward to continuing to host Mark Cutler and The Same Thing Project.
Kevin Klyberg
Director of Interpretation & Education
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Roger Williams National Memorial