music, therapy, and me

I have to admit that I now have enough money to purchase many of my music therapy instruments, but there were times when I was unable to spend money on the luxuries of things like shaker eggs or tambourines. In those cases, I learned how to make many of the instruments that I wanted to use with my clients.  Making instruments takes time, and time is valuable, so keep that in mind when you are making budget decisions. So, how did I make instruments? I looked through every single Bible School curriculum that I had access to. I searched through kids' books about crafts and making things. I used the internet to find resources. I scrounged through my recycling to find materials. I bought lots of glue and mod podge and tissue paper and duct tape. I would make things and then bring them into my clinical environment to test them. (My clients are WONDERFUL at breaking things, so they are the ultimate test for all my instruments!) Then, I would take the pieces back and figure out what to do ...

It is Sunday again. Today's randomly selected post comes to us from May 22, 2015 - the day after my birthday - and is all about music-themed gifts. Do you ever get things that are musical because you are a music therapist? I don't get them very often, so when music-themed gifts arrive for various celebrations, they make an impact. On this birthday, I found a music and cat themed necklace in my gifts. It is still one of my favorite pieces of jewelry because it combined things that I love into one representation. My jewelry is still in a box somewhere - I need to find it and unpack all that stuff so I can wear it again. (Not at work, but when I am not at work... you get it!) Most of the things that I own that are music-themed are things that I have found for myself. Most of the things that I own that are music instruments are from my family members. Most of the music that I own is something that I purchased, but some of it was gifted to me. It is interesting how things arrive in ...

This was the year of t-shirts. I got six different t-shirts this year - my father found several places on the internet to purchase novelty shirts, and HE DID!! The ones in the bottom picture are from him! One is a Girl Scout themed one, one says, "I'm the oldest - I make the rules," and the other says "These are difficult times" under a picture of 6/4, 9/8, and 11/16 time signatures. I think I'll wear that one when I do my next webinar - all about chord progressions that I think ALL music therapists should know by heart and by hands. If you are interested in the webinar, check out this link for details. Did I mention that it is free? The top picture is the collection I received from my mother and my sister. One is from our trip to Hawaii and the other two are Star Wars themed because my sister knows me so well. The one with Darth Vader on it has the Imperial March notated in bass clef with the lyrics, "dum dum da dum, dum da dum, dum, da du...

The day after Christmas is always one of reflection for me. I do as much as I can to enjoy the actual day itself - not many pictures or rituals other than the ones that my family has always completed - and very little in the way of cataloging or thinking about work stuff. The next day, however, I am usually awake way before any other member of my family - two hour time difference, and I don't acclimatize to sleeping in well - so I spend most of my time thinking about the holiday and about all the things I want to get finished during my break from work. It almost always includes things for work as well as thing for my home - which is currently far away from where I am.  Today's reflection is coming from a place of jet lag. I have five days of being here with my family - loose plans for two of those days - lots of time of shopping with my mom and my sister - we have a deal: I go to two stores without complaining. After two? They can either put up with my crankiness or take me...

This is a strange therapy week. I was gone on Monday for a post-surgery appointment and x-rays, and yesterday, I had no voice, so singing was completely out of the question. I still have no voice today, so my session plans very much revolve around karaoke and Peter and the Wolf , things I can run without having to sing or talk. I think I am feeling better, but my throat is still sore and my voice is completely uncooperative. The medication I am on hasn't really done much to kick out this yuck, so I need to go back to the doctor this afternoon (oh joy!!). I am hoping that my issue from last Wednesday was resolved in a meeting on Monday. I need to check in with the administrator to see what happened during the meeting so I know what the plan is for a particular client. He will NOT be happy with the options that I have available for me right now in music therapy, so it would be nice to know what the intervention plan is to run as soon as he walks into the therapy session. I receiv...

It's the time of year when I am busy, busy, busy! I am sure that you are as well. All of the end-of-the-year festivities are starting, and, as a musician, I am increasingly more and more involved in celebrating! I am taking a day today to get my gifts for others in order. Now, I am usually one of those annoying people who have most of their gifts made, purchased, and sent by the beginning of October (because my sister has a birthday in October, and I am motivated to send things at that time!). This year, however, it is December, and I don't have my gifts figured out at all! By the way, I am blaming the American Music Therapy Association for this - conference in October REALLY messed up my timeline!!! So, for today, I am focusing on finding gifts for my friends and family members for my upcoming holiday celebration. This year most of the gifts will be crafted. It is a necessity since 2012 has been a difficult year financially, and this month especially so due to illness a...