The Thrifty Therapist: It's Asking Time Again for Music Therapists

Every so often, our administrators remember that the educators in our school have things that we need, so they ask us for wishlists. I always get surprised by these requests - they usually require answers immediately, and I get startled by the request and all thought goes out of my head - so I never add things to the list because I can't remember what I need. I have been starting to keep a wishlist in my journal to help me with these moments. Of course, since I started this wishlist, no one has asked what I need.

Isn't that often the way?

Anyway, this list is a handy thing for when folks ask me what I want for various holidays as well. I have a long standing request from family members for any kind of instruments that they find in different places. My family protests that they do not want to get me things that I already have, but the nature of instruments is that they break and need to be replaced, so I am always happy to get another one. Also, within the therapeutic process, it helps when both therapist and client can have an instrument. That's my justification! 

Other people need more direction, so I keep my list going.

At the moment, my clinic area needs a really good keyboard. I've managed to keep my keyboard for over 20 years, but it is disintegrating inside, so it is time for something new. I also need a stand for an expensive keyboard that I was gifted back in 2013 that was the center of the event that caused me to have ACL replacement surgery in that same year. During that event, the stand was destroyed and the original power adaptor was ruined. Without the stand, the keyboard is difficult to use - it is a full-sized, heavy, beautiful piece of equipment that is useless to me right now. It would be nice to remove the upright piano that the tuner refused to try to tune, replace it with this keyboard on the stand, and then use that instrument more in therapy sessions.

I can always use guitar strings. My usual session guitar popped a string last week, and I could not find a replacement easily. I think I will make some string storage boxes where I can separate the strings into their sizes so I can easily see what I have and what I need.

I also always need storage boxes. That request is going to happen more often now because I am looking at the types of storage that I use that are things I purchased that hold things that are not mine. I have a couple of shoe holders that organize my strings, my microphones, my electrical cords, and my different materials for different instruments. Those things will need storage when I move on, so I need to start asking for containers and boxes now.

Since it is asking time, I am making my list and waiting to be asked.

What things are on your list for music therapy??