music, therapy, and me

If you haven't seen it, the World Federation of Music Therapy has released a definition of music therapy. You can find it here . I gotta tell you that I really like this definition. Defining what we do as music therapists is difficult because what I do with clients may be completely different from what you do with the same clients, and that is fine in the grand scheme of things. We do not have to agree exactly on what we are doing and how we do it to share this profession. As our society moves towards more egocentric behaviors and attitudes that opinions are facts and difficulty with others, I feel that having a shared definition is important. What I do in music therapy sessions is enveloped in the WFMT definition, and yours is as well. I think that we do better when we realize that each of us has a unique way of doing this job and that we need these paths to enrich the lives of our clients. In other words, I do music therapy the way I think it is appropriate and you do it your way...

Well, here we are on the brink of Day Five of my current break and another day at the World Congress of Music Therapy. Today is Friday - I have to repeat this to myself because I never really know what day it is during conferences. So, today is Friday, and all of my travel companions and I go home tomorrow to our various places in the world. They are going to stick close to the hotel today while I do more today than I have at the conference so far - one more session during today, if I last that long. I have been promised poutine when I get home - the one thing that I wanted to try while we were here in Canada - so that is the anticipated highlight of my day. I woke up this morning with a runny nose and a horrible sinus headache. I took some meds to help and am hoping that I will be able to be something other than a horribly sniffly mess during today's discussions and papers. It's been four hours so far, and no change, so I'm not really hoping for much. I had ice cream for d...

It is 5:49am here in Vancouver, and I am showered and getting ready for the second full day of the World Congress for Music Therapy, the fourth full day of our visit here, and the third to the last day that I am going to be here. I am enjoying everything except for some hip pain which is exacerbated by sitting and then having to hike up some really mild hills and the VERY soft beds that are here at the hotel, but other than that, I am enjoying things. The first full day of the conference was my presentation day. I presented on thinking critically about the future of music therapy and clinical training. The presentation started off with two delegates but ended up with nine. We had some interesting discussions about possible futures that we might experience at some point. I am looking forward to writing up the comments and sharing them after the Congress is over.  Before my presentation, I attended the Spotlight session, saw some friends, and sat with John Lawrence who I know from th...

Today is the third day of the World Congress of Music Therapy (or is it "for" music therapy?? I haven't paid attention.), and it is my day to present a workshop that will, hopefully, provoke some ideas about the future of music therapy education and 9clinical training. I am hoping that people will come to see me, but I am convincing myself that I will present what I need to present to the people who are there - whether it is 1 or 100. (Oh dear, I just stubbed my toe on a chair leg and nearly went down on the floor. I am in my hotel room, trying to be as quiet as I can because my mom is still sleeping. I am wandering around in the dark a bit, and was watching my tablet and not my location. Silly me. This is NOT the way to start off the day!) ANYWAY... I have been very nervous about this presentation, and I am not sure why. This entire trip has been anxiety-producing for me. I don't know if it is the fact that I have stepped away from things like music therapy conferenc...

It is early on day two of my break, and my Mom is starting to stir a bit in her slumber. I have taken a shower and am waiting for her to wake up so I can change the pant selection I made in the dark. I decided that jean leggings were just too casual for tonight's World Congress Opening Ceremony. I'll go for black leggings instead. The Congress starts off tonight with the opening ceremony and a welcome reception. Even though I have paid for the reception, I am going to skip it for several reasons. First, I do not relish being out that late and having to walk back to my hotel by myself. Second, I think I will have enough socialization and interaction with folks during the opening ceremony. Third, I have a workshop in the morning that I must go over again and again and again. My nerves are getting more and more intrusive as the time goes on. By this time tomorrow, I will be a nervous wreck, but, by this time on Thursday, I will be calm as a cucumber because I will be able to simpl...

I just received one acceptance and one rejection for the World Congress for Music Therapy that will be held in Vancouver. British Columbia next July. I am a bit disappointed that I didn't get both ideas accepted, but I am happy to be leading the one that was accepted! I am happy to be a workshop presenter with an audience of music therapists from around the world. My last World Congress for Music Therapy was in Brisbane, Australia in 2005. I gave a workshop there as well. My sister invited herself along on the trip (after not inviting me, but going with her best friend to Hawaii the year before - yep, still holding onto THAT one, sis!), and we spent two weeks in Australia together. We took advantage of a trip package that was offered by the conference coordinators and went to both Brisbane for the conference and Sydney for purely touristy reasons. It was mostly a good vacation, but hormones arrived and complicated the end of our vacation. (I did get to go to Hawaii with my sister ...

I admit it. I was not someone who was very knowledgeable about music therapy outside of the United States for much of my professional career. My views on what music therapy was (and, to some extent still, is) is very US-centric. Most of the texts that I have accrued since my undergraduate days are by US authors, and most of the research that I read (when I read anything at all) comes from the US journals that I receive.  In 2010, however, I saw a thought on the Music Therapy listserv. Yes, fellow MTs, WAY back in 2010, our primary way of communicating with one another was a listserv with emails sent out to people who wanted them rather than posting comments on another platform. The email was sent by a music therapist from Canada who was interested in starting an online conference for music therapy. It sounded like something that combined my interests nicely, so I reached out and said that I would be very willing to help, but I didn't really want to have a large role. Bam! I b...