Find Your RGM Class
Stowell Learning Center offers Ronnie Gardiner Method® classes in Chino and La Verne for seniors, homeschool kids, and young adults on the autism spectrum. Choose a class to see dates, details, and registration.
RGM Adult
Mondays, 2 to 3 pm
Hillcrest Senior Living, La Verne
RGM Homeschool
Mondays, 11 am to 12 pm
Stowell Learning Center, Chino
RGM Connect
Free demo class: Thursday, Dec 10, 2026
Stowell Learning Center, Chino
What Is the Ronnie Gardiner Method®?
The Ronnie Gardiner Method® (RGM) is a brain training method that is fun, engaging, and challenging. Developed in the 1990s by drummer Ronnie Gardiner, this innovative approach to cognitive and motor rehabilitation combines rhythm, music, color, language, and movement. It was designed to help children or adults with neurological or developmental challenges improve cognitive and motor skills.
Enhanced brain health for living and aging well. Get connected. Have fun!
Who RGM Helps
RGM has been used to help people with a wide variety of challenges, including:
Learning and Attention
- ADHD and attention challenges
- Dyslexia
- Learning disabilities
- Developmental challenges
Brain and Neurological Health
- Stroke
- Parkinson's
- Multiple sclerosis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Brain fog / "chemo brain"
Healthy Aging and Wellness
- Seniors aiming to maintain cognitive and motor agility
- Healthy adults seeking a new approach to mental and physical stimulation
See RGM in Action
Original audio has been changed due to copyright. We use popular, upbeat music in our live sessions to keep things fun!
Inside Our RGM Classes
Skills RGM Develops
Thinking Skills
- Cognitive processing
- Executive function
- Attention and concentration
- Working memory
- Processing speed
Body and Movement
- Balance and coordination
- Mobility and motor skills
Communication and Emotions
- Speech and language processing
- Self-esteem and social skills
- Emotional regulation
RGM Also Improves
- Social awareness
- Social connection
- Motivation
- Confidence
- Mental flexibility
"Rhythm is life, and life is rhythm."
Ronnie Gardiner
Why the Ronnie Gardiner Method® Is So Effective
How the Two Sides of the Brain Work Together
Left Hemisphere Skills
- Verbal
- Rational
- Analytical
- Linguistic skills
- Reading
- Writing
- Math
- Details
- Rhythm
- Sense of individuality
Right Hemisphere Skills
- Non-verbal
- Emotional
- Intuitive
- Creative
- Perceives the "whole"
- Visual-spatial
- Imagination
- Sense of color
- Melody, intonation, and pulse
- Sense of teamwork
The Story Behind RGM
The Ronnie Gardiner Method was created by Ronnie Gardiner, an American-born jazz drummer who played with greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, and Benny Carter.
Ronnie Gardiner is born in the United States.
He moves to Sweden and becomes an important figure in Swedish jazz.
After a personal tragedy in 1980, he spends about 13 years developing RGM with input from neuroscience experts.
He receives the Swedish Mensa Award, and his life story is told in the Swedish documentary En ovanlig livsresa (An Unusual Life Journey).
RGM comes to the USA, and Jill Stowell becomes the first certified RGM trainer in America.
Today RGM is practiced in rehabilitation and community programs across Europe, including Sweden and the Netherlands, and in New Zealand, and it has been studied at Swedish universities including Gothenburg and Linköping.
What Does the Research Say?
RGM has been studied for more than a decade, mostly by researchers in Sweden. Here is what published studies have found so far.
Stroke Recovery
In a randomized controlled trial of 123 adults in the late phase of stroke recovery, people in a rhythm-and-music program based on RGM reported greater recovery than a control group, and the gains were still there six months later.
Parkinson's Disease
In a randomized controlled trial of 46 people with Parkinson's disease, 12 weeks of group RGM improved quality of life and confidence about avoiding falls compared with a control group. Participants also described better mood and alertness. These gains faded within three months after the program ended.
An Early Parkinson's Pilot
In a first pilot study of 18 people with Parkinson's disease, those who did RGM improved more in mobility, cognition, and quality of life than the comparison group. There were no adverse events, and participants stuck with the program.
What Participants Say
In interviews, stroke survivors said the challenging RGM patterns helped them feel connected to their bodies again and brought more joy and energy. They named the music, the group, the challenge, and a skilled instructor as what made it work.
The Research So Far
A review of 23 studies found early evidence of benefits for stroke rehabilitation and mixed results in other groups. Participants consistently describe RGM as motivating and enjoyable, and the authors call for more controlled trials.
New Research Underway
A new multicenter randomized controlled trial at four sites in Sweden is testing 12 weeks of RGM for balance, walking, thinking skills, and quality of life in 84 adults living with stroke.
RGM Comes to the USA
After more than 30 years of use in Sweden and Europe, the Ronnie Gardiner Method came to the USA in 2023, and Jill Stowell, founder of Stowell Learning Center, became the first certified RGM trainer in America.
We are so honored to offer RGM groups at Stowell Learning Center in Chino and at Hillcrest Senior Living in La Verne. The training supports all levels of our Learning Skills Continuum and offers an opportunity to provide group experiences for increasing executive function, social skills, regulation, and cognitive enhancement.
RGM on the LD Expert Podcast
Learn more about the Ronnie Gardiner Method from Jill Stowell and her guests on the LD Expert Podcast.
The Ronnie Gardiner Method: Unlocking Brain Potential Through Rhythm and Movement
With Carolyn Haney
Jill Stowell talks with Carolyn Haney, founder of Duluth Core Learning and the U.S. practitioner trainer for the Ronnie Gardiner Method, about how rhythm, music, and movement develop the brain skills that support learning.
In Sync: The Hidden Role of Timing in Learning
With Jill Stowell
Why timing may be one of the most overlooked foundations of learning, attention, and social success, plus an introduction to the Ronnie Gardiner Method.
Ronnie Gardiner Method for Building Social Connection, Executive Function and Attention
With Jill Stowell
Jill Stowell explains the Ronnie Gardiner Method and how it builds social connection, executive function, and attention. Watch till the end for a demonstration by Ronnie Gardiner.
Want to see the method's creator in action? Watch Ronnie Gardiner's original demonstration video.
Ronnie Gardiner Method FAQs
What is the Ronnie Gardiner Method?
The Ronnie Gardiner Method® (RGM) is a brain training method developed in the 1990s by drummer Ronnie Gardiner. It combines rhythm, music, color, language, and movement to build cognitive and motor skills.
Who can benefit from RGM?
RGM has been used to help people with ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, developmental challenges, neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis, brain fog, and traumatic brain injuries. It also helps seniors maintain cognitive and motor agility and gives healthy adults a new kind of mental and physical challenge.
What RGM classes does Stowell Learning Center offer?
We offer RGM Adult for seniors and adults 55+ at Hillcrest Senior Living in La Verne, RGM Homeschool for homeschool kids ages 7 to 12 at Stowell Learning Center in Chino, and RGM Connect for young adults on the autism spectrum in Chino.
Who teaches RGM at Stowell Learning Center?
RGM came to Stowell Learning Center through our founder, Jill Stowell, who became the first certified RGM trainer in the United States in 2023.
Is the Ronnie Gardiner Method backed by research?
Yes. RGM has been used for more than 30 years and studied for more than a decade, mostly at Swedish universities. A randomized controlled trial in late-phase stroke recovery found greater perceived recovery that lasted six months, and trials in Parkinson's disease found gains in quality of life, mobility, and fall confidence. A 2024 review calls the evidence early but promising, especially for stroke, and a larger multicenter trial is now underway in Sweden.
Where are RGM classes held?
RGM Homeschool and RGM Connect meet at Stowell Learning Center, 15192 Central Ave, Chino, CA 91710. RGM Adult meets at Hillcrest Senior Living, 2705 Mountain View Dr., La Verne, CA 91750.
How do I register for an RGM class?
Choose your class above to see the dates, location, and cost, then fill out the registration form on that class page.
Not Sure Which RGM Class Is Right?
Call Stowell Learning Center at (909) 598-2482, and we will help you find the best fit.