I very rarely sport a hat, but I had fun wearing this one and recalling the fun memories that come with it.
Music therapy is a fascinating career. So many incredible things happen! This experience was definitely one of those. No, not wearing the hat – although that can be an adventure on a windy day – but being featured on national television! This story is a great party trick if I ever play “Two Truths and a Lie,” although after watching this you’ll know my answer!
This morning I had a hard time getting rolling. For one, my coffee pot was descaling and I stumbled around uncaffeinated for longer than usual. I love my morning cup of coffee!
Secondly, I tend to be led by feelings, and I was feeling unexplainably blue. I had the “I don’t wannas.” (That’s a thing.)
I am usually excited and motivated to learn new things, meet new people, and make new connections. Today I felt motivated to stare at the walls!
“What’s wrong with me,” I thought, “where is the joy?” Because y’all, I’ve usually got some joy going on. Sometimes if I skip my daily Bible reading I’ll be missing it, but that was not it this morning.
After getting going a little bit and returning some emails, mostly about the business of music therapy, I remembered what has been missing from my life for the past week: music making. Music listening is an excellent pastime, but there is nothing like active music participation to excite and motivate. Now I remember telling my husband last night, “I’ve got to make some music tomorrow.”
As therapists, we ask our clients to work, and sometimes they, too, have the “I don’t wannas.” Enter, music.
Music is both effective and motivating as an agent for change and growth. This makes therapy engaging and fun, even when it is hard work. We are not just goofing around over here. We ask a lot of our clients, and it’s not all easy. But there’s always music! That rocks (and rolls).
Later this afternoon I received some disappointing news. A contract I had been working on fell through. I drove around aimlessly for awhile, and then I remembered that I had my ukulele the car! I pulled over, got it out, and sang a little tune, “Put on a happy face.” And do you know what? I felt better. I’m still disappointed, but I also have the greatest job ever. There will be other contracts, and I will be there with music on!
Where is the music in your loved ones’ life? What songs motivate you personally? If you regularly engage in active music making, please share what that looks like for you.
Let’s make music!
Music therapists frequently hear the question, “What is music therapy? Do you have people listen to music?”
Yes! And no.
There is a lot that goes into playing a musical instrument. When I play the piano, my hands and feet play the instrument, my ears hear what is happening musically, and my brain processes the auditory feedback I receive. Sometimes I use my vision to read music, and other times I improvise as I go, using a different set of skills and processes. In a typical music therapy session the client actively plays musical instruments including keyboard, guitar, and rhythmic instruments.
Although our bodies my be passive here, music listening is far from a passive activity for our brain. When we listen to music we hear melody, rhythm, tempo, timbre (sound quality), instrumentation, and language in the form of song lyrics. Music activates all of the different areas of the brain. Brains like exercise! In a typical music therapy session, there might be a small amount of “passive” listening, depending on the client’s needs.
Music therapists do have people listen to music – and so much more. After conducting an individualized music therapy assessment, the music therapist will determine the goals of each client. She will then design appropriate music therapy interventions to address those goals. This might include music listening. However, much of what I do as a music therapist requires active participation from my client or student and active direction from me. Music is also a valuable social tool. It is often more fun to make music with others.
Lastly, if you’re saying to yourself, “I don’t play a musical instrument,” I will challenge you to reconsider. Your voice is a powerful instrument! Ask any soprano. 😉
I have been a blogger in the past, back when we were in an intense process called adoption! That was 11 years ago, so I guess I’d might as well get back to it.
I have been a board certified music therapist (MT-BC) since 2000. Lucky for me that’s an even-numbered year, so without calculation, I can tell you I’ve been a music therapist for 17 years! I have worked with children as young as two-years-old and adults as old or older than 90 years old. I have loved every group I have worked with, there is something valuable and beautiful in everyone!
In my career as a music therapist I have been on national and local television, witnessed the power of music too many times to count, and even received a marriage proposal from a World War II veteran during my internship. I have worked in a internationally known music therapy clinic, 
clients’ homes, memory care facilities, and even participated in a music therapy session while sitting in a bathtub during a tornado warning (fully clothed, of course)!
Eleven years ago we welcomed our first child by adoption, and have gone on to add two lovely little ones to our family by birth. I have spent their youngest years at home with them, working part-time as a music therapist when I was able, and now I am a proud public school mom of three. I am honored that you would join me here at Oak Song Music Therapy and Consulting Services.