Jazzarae Jones' mother served 26 years in the Navy and Jones saw the sacrifices she made for her work through frequent deployments.
But after her final deployment, a 10-month stint in Iraq during the war, Jones saw a dramatic, life-changing shift in her mother.
"I witnessed firsthand the invisible wounds of war," she said recently. "The shifts in her spirit, the quiet weight of PTSD, anxiety and depression."
That's why Jones, now co-owner of Music Theory Studios (MTS) in Norfolk, launched a "Beats by Vets" program for military members and their families two years ago.
Through the free, year-long program, veterans take AVID audio engineering courses to learn how to mix music; working with music has been proven to ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, addiction and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. People in the program also receive individual and group counseling to deal with anxiety, depression or the uncertainties that come with transitioning from the military to the civilian world.
As a Hampton Roads native, Jones and her business partner and husband, Vincent "DJ Karee" Jones, opened the recording studio 16 years ago, and it has expanded to offer voice lessons, a podcast studio, DJing and beat-making classes.
The couple received a grant from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and now, once a week, about a dozen veterans meet in an intimate studio to share what is often difficult to share outside of the studio. Following the meeting, each participant has a virtual therapy session with a counselor.
Theodore “Tee” Walker of Norfolk grew up in a military family in Washington, D.C. He then served in the Navy for 13 years. He loved the structure and commitment to discipline. When he got out and started working in management at a local McDonald's restaurant, he had a difficult time dealing with employees who didn't share the work ethic.
He started taking DJing classes at MTS for fun, then heard about counseling for vets. He signed up and it helped him understand his feelings as he gradually adjusted to life outside of the military.
Walker said talking with other vets gave him a safe space to be vulnerable about his experiences and now feels better equipped to discuss mental health with his friends.
Walker has seen the effects of PTSD on people he served with, including a friend who committed suicide. He wished he knew then what he could have said to prevent his friend from taking his life.
"I would have highly encouraged him to seek help in counseling,” he said.
Walker works at Naval Air Station Oceana and on his AVID Pro Tools Audio Engineering certification and wants to pursue work in the field.
The Beats by Vets program has funded three cohorts of about 10 service members, veterans and families and Jones would love to expand the program throughout Hampton Roads and along the East Coast.
“Right now, with the state of where the world is," Jones said, referring to federal cuts to the arts, "you need an outlet.”
Visit musictheorystudios.com for more information.
