Alex Macaluso, 68, has transformed his garage in Sun City into a musical workshop, where he spends his time preparing donated drum sets and other percussion instruments to be given away on behalf of a non-profit organization called Recycled Rhythm.
Recycled Rhythm got its start in 2018 when its founder, Anthony Maland, wanted a way to share the positive effects of music therapy with other young people. Maland, who was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age 5, benefited greatly from his musical training and refused to allow his diagnosis to hold him back.
On Recycled Rhythm’s website, Maland shares a personal testimonial where he refers to percussion as “my comfort and my outlet.” At age 16, he founded Recycled Rhythm as a way to bring comfort and positivity to others who have experienced being labeled and bullied — the way he was — in school.
Over the past 12 months, 18 drum sets have come and gone from Malacuso’s garage; he carefully refurbishes, restores, and recycles used percussion, restoring it to gleaming condition so that it can be donated to young people, ages four to 26, with ASD and other special needs. Since 2018, Malacuso says the organization has gifted 80 drum sets.
“My personal mission is to promote autism awareness,” says Malacuso. “I’m looking to change public policy. By being intentional about inclusion, we have to include these children who have been labeled.” Macaluso has observed that many autism schools provide lifestyle skills and a range of occupational, behavioral, developmental, and speech therapies. “But always at the end is music therapy,” he says. “Some don’t seem to want to embrace it, and I don’t know their reasoning why.”
Some of the donated drum sets go to organizations that serve children with disabilities; they end up in music rooms or activity rooms where children can experience the joy of playing an instrument. But other times, a donation to a home, where he is greeted by children and their parents.
“I just delivered a set today,” says Macaluso. “You should see how their faces brighten up. I’ve got two more deliveries next week.”
Macaluso and Maland put notices on public bulletin boards and attend drum shows, always on the hunt for used percussion equipment, hardware, or cymbals to take back to the workshop for a tune-up.
“To me, these children need to be recognized,” says Macaluso. “They don’t need to be put in the corner like some of the drum sets that sit in the attics, garages, or basements. The drums collect dust and they’re not purposeful anymore. But they are purposeful,” he emphasizes. “I make them purposeful.”
For more information on how to donate to Recycled Rhythm, visit recycledrhythminc.com.
