TME Tuesday: The Formula

When putting together a therapeutic music experience (TME), I always strive for a complete, well-thought out, and stimulating plan. I want something that my clients will complete, even if they think it is stupid to begin with. I want something that will help my clients move towards their therapeutic outcomes. I want something that I enjoy as well. So, I have a formula to help me accomplish these things.

Now, just because I have this formula doesn't mean that I hit the mark every single time on every single statement offered in the paragraph above this one. This formula, though, means that I am thinking about what I produce and share with my clients, so nothing is a bad thing.

Formula element #1 - There are no wrong ideas - only things that don't work right now.

This is important because any creative impulse is valuable. My attitude has become "this might not be right for this group of clients, but it will work with others someday." So, if an idea for a great GIM session comes to you but you are not working as a GIM practitioner at the time, then write it down and save it for a future you working in that role.

Formula element #2 - I have to know my music up, down, and sideways for the TME to work with clients.

Taking a half-memorized piece into a music therapy session in my situation means that the musical quality plummets. Now, there are many music therapists out there who do not have the luxury of memorizing all of their clients' music. That's okay, but you need to be able to use that music and activate all of the musical elements as needed for those clients as well, even if you are sight reading a song for a bedside session. Knowing music is important for all of us, and there is no excuse for not being able to figure out chords, melodies, modes, dynamics, and all those elements of music.

Formula element #3 - I can only control what I put into the session. My clients are the ones who ultimately have to decide whether they will engage. If I do my best, they often respond positively, but not always.

This is one of the most difficult lessons to learn in this profession. My clients are responsible for their responses to what I offer - if they are uninterested, then things will not work. It can be a bit demoralizing when I work to memorize my music, when I practice the song so much that I can sing it in my sleep, and my clients respond by saying, "meh." When this happens, I try to remember element #1.

Formula element #4 - Things don't have to be complicated to be effective.

Many times, my clients respond the most to the simplest ideas and TMEs. When I am trying to design TMEs to fit them, I often try to go for the most complicated things, but they often seem less than enthused when I present those TMEs in sessions. Some of my most requested TMEs are the least sophisticated, and that's okay.

These elements help me when I go into TME development mode. They help me more when I am debuting a new TME. They help me when my clients refuse to engage or just shrug their shoulders when I present something that I have worked really hard to produce. I hope that they will help other music therapists when the reality of the job sets in.

Happy TME Tuesday!

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