Tuesday

I am struggling with all sorts of things on this Tuesday morning. I am not really wanting to get going to work. I really want to spend time doing things other than work, but I don't know what those things are. I just know that I don't want to put on outside clothing right now. I think I got used to being home during my recuperation and am now wanting that to be the reality. Ten more months to go until things will change around here.

So, Tuesdays are five group days. I have two groups in the morning and three groups in the afternoon. This is a relatively new schedule for me on Tuesdays, and I am still having to remind myself that I have three groups in the afternoons. Fortunately, the third afternoon group is one that seems to enjoy being in music therapy, so it makes the addition something pleasant.

I have melody writing on my schedule for this week during the school year, but I'm not really all that excited about writing melodies. One thing I know is that I do not tend to do well when I'm not interested in the topic that I am presenting. So, I am not sure that I will teach my students anything about melody writing. It just don't know what I will end up doing.

This is not an unfamiliar state for me. I tend to view my session ideas as extremely flexible and never set in stone. There is something good about being a therapist who provides "educational enrichment" services without much detail about what that entails for a constantly revolving set of students. I can change things to accommodate my students in their presented states. If a group enters and students are agitated, I can change my session to provide them with a therapeutic music experience (TME) that will assist them in navigating their emotional state. I often start with my session strategy, but I tweak it over and over again to accommodate my clients' interactions.

My first group would be polite about writing melodies. They would do it, but I am not sure that they would enjoy it or learn anything. They would just go through the motions if they were uninterested. I am just not interested.

So, what now?

Who knows?

See you tomorrow??

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Going on a Squeegee Hunt

One of the songs that I sang over and over and over again as a song leader in Girl Scouts was "Going on a Squeegee Hunt ." Now, you may be wondering what a "squeegee" is - good question! It is an imaginary creature that was probably invented by some obscure girl scout in Southern California many, MANY years ago! Anyway, similar to the traditional children's song of " Going on a Lion/Bear/Tiger Hunt ," the song takes you through a sequential process over, under, around, and through various obstacles towards a goal. Today, as I am sitting here writing, I am thinking about the poor squeegee being hunted. It is just in its cave, trying to do its squeegee things without interruption, when suddenly, BOOM! Some Girl Scout arrives to poke it! The poor squeegee does what it can - it jumps up and chases the Girl Scout all the way home!! This has not been a good work week. It is amazing how people will make mountains out of molehills. Here is the deal. I se...
Read more

Songwriting Sunday: Client Goals First and Foremost

Image
When I am writing music, I tend to do one of two things. I either start with a specific client in mind and write for that client's goals and objectives, or I start with an idea and let the idea grow regardless of the clients that I am serving at the time. I spend time with lots of hypothetical clients - thinking about the vast number of clients and their unique goals as I develop songs and therapeutic music experiences (TMEs). Today, though, I would like to start with the first focus - that of a specific client and his or her or their goals. Currently, I am sharing a wall with a class of students who are experiencing lots of life and school changes. Two students have transferred from residential care to home care and are now day students. One student is brand new to the classroom. Another student recently left the class. All of these changes have shifted the dynamics in the classroom group, and old behaviors of concern have reemerged as well as finding new behaviors to contribute. ...
Read more

Dear AMTA

Dear American Music Therapy Association: I am debating long and hard about remaining in this relationship. I have been in this relationship since college, and this is not a decision that I am taking lightly or without great cost.  I am not happy with what you are bringing to this relationship. Now, I have been a selfish partner over the past several years - mainly because I am not feeling like we share a common mission anymore. It is easy for me to place the blame on you, but I know that this is not all on me. I have tried to be invested in communication and support and understanding, but everyone comes to a time where enough is enough. I am trying very hard to decide if the benefits that you provide to me are worth the feelings that I have about where I think you and I are going. I am not sure that our destination is the same anymore, and this makes me sad. To be completely honest, I am only in this relationship these days for the music therapy interns. I don't think that is a hea...
Read more