music, therapy, and me

Yesterday's Presentation This is day two of the Midwestern Region conference , and I am about to stress the cat out more than usual because I am taking my suitcase with me. I'll be leading a 3-hour Make and Take continuing music therapy education this morning, and I have to have lots of stuff in order to get these projects going and done. LOTS...OF...STUFF. Conference time is different from regular time, and I think it truly exists out of the regular space-time continuum. I'm exhausted and only got about 3 hours of sleep last night - this is typical for me at conference time - nerves and lack of sleep tend to make me less effective or less coordinated or something. I'm currently feeling lots of self-imposed nerves because of this new adventure - sharing things that I love with people who have paid the region money to learn from me. (To be completely honest, these are the same types of twinges that I feel whenever I release any of my ideas into the wild - whether ...

On this day, all roads lead to conference! Today is the day that the Midwestern region conference begins, and I am sort of ready. I have all the pieces that I need to have in various places. I have about 8 hours until the conference officially starts, and I have a list of to-do's that's about 15 things long. All of these things are needed in order to get myself pulled together, but none of them are extremely difficult to do - they're things like take a shower, put on makeup, address the eyebrow situation which is out of hand, and move things from the living room to the car - stuff like that. There is more to conference than simply going to conference. I have lots of things to arrange - presentation materials up on my website and scrapbooking materials for my CMTE as well as for the presentation for this afternoon - that reminds me, I need to rearrange my materials so I can easily get what I want to get for this afternoon rather than having to sort through everything a...

I woke up in a bit of a panic this morning, wondering what I was going to write about for Cultural Considerations today. My panic may have been influenced by the argument going on in the apartment above mine - I couldn't hear what was being argued about, but I could certainly hear the emotion happening. It took me a bit of time to remember that it is Friday and not Saturday, so I still have some time to think about tomorrow's post. This is the type of thing that happens when I am coming to an end of a break - difficulty with time perception. My break has been full of the things that always happen during one week off - a bit of cleaning, lots of rest, and some return to creative exploration. I do better with all of these things when I have two weeks off. At the end of two weeks, I tend to be really bored with my own company, and I am itching to head back to work! I don't get that same itch when I only have one week off. Oh well. That's what I get for being a therapis...

My view every morning... Today is just a Sunday for me - not a Song Conversion Sunday or a Synthesis Sunday - just a Sunday. What is the reason, you may ask? Well, it is the last day of the AMTA annual conference, and I am getting tired.  I am so very glad that I came to conference. I always am during and after the conference itself. This conference has been one of significant growth for me. I have stepped outside my comfort zone many times this year, and that is something so very exciting (after it stopped being scary). I've made one new Facebook friend, talked to folks about new opportunities and ideas that I have for myself and for others, and have given out several small stacks of business cards. I made a goal-based paper chain last night in the art room (that HAS to continue - it was perfect for me to be creating something in a space with others and without much constraint!) - I even got an invitation to submit a presentation for the annual Art Therapy conference next ...

It is the first day of 2018, and I am back at my home with my cat, celebrating the New Year by sleeping in, unpacking, and playing with my new stuff. I arrived earlier this morning and was greeted by a loud cat who was expressing her displeasure at being left alone. She yelled and cuddled and then yelled again. Just for good measure, she vomited on the carpet. It was quite the homecoming, but I'll take it. Today is a day for rest. I have only today left of my Winter Break, so it is for things just for me. I've put the luggage away in the closet (it causes Bella-cat some anxiety when it is around), the box of presents is on its way to me, and the rest of the presents are here. I've sorted them into things for the craft room, things for hygiene (yes, we are THAT sort of family), and things for work. I'm not ready to go back to work (I could really use another week to get bored), but I know that it has to happen, so I am resigned to the fact that I will have to spend m...

...since I started my vacation and since I've been in my music therapy clinical space. My house is starting to be a bit cleaner (still have LOTS to go until it's somewhat clean), and I'm finding my way into a vacation state of mind. The importance of self-care rings true to me, especially in vacation times. I need the time to be by myself, to be quiet, and to be away from the responsibilities of being a caregiver. It is important to do so, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have time off from my job. The other side of things is important for me as well. I need time to get bored with my own company. I have a need to feel like there is more I want to do with my clients and with other people. As an introvert (who is told she's really good at masking her introversion in social settings), I have a need to be away from others to refresh and renew my energy. I need to spend time in the company of my cat and only my cat in order to restore my desire to be around other...

Today is the first day of this new year that I've had some time to sit and figure out my path into 2015. The first two days of the year were full of travel, presenting information to co-workers, and trying to organize my work place. Today is reserved for getting my professional life up-to-date and in order. I read a blog by a woman named Liz Ryan. Here's a link to her one of her blog posts. I enjoy her blog for several reasons. First, she offers practical advice for people who are looking for jobs. Now, I'm always in search of another situation, but not always formally, but my interns are formally looking for jobs, so I like to keep up. Second, she includes pictures that go along with her themes. These pictures are drawn by her and are watercolored or inked by her. I am a visual learner, so these pictures drew me into her blog world. Well, in a recent post , Ms. Ryan suggested several things to do at the beginning of every year. First and foremost, take a bit of time t...

It is now the official middle of my Summer Break from work. I have as many days in front of me as I have behind me. I like long breaks from work because I get to the point where I have had enough rest and relaxation. I refresh as a therapist and get ready to get back into the daily routine of my job. Before I get to that point, however, I have to go through the depths. I'm there. I am a person who needs time alone in order to refresh my energy. It is part of being an introvert. Not a bad thing, all in all. It is just part of who I am and how I interact with the world. There are downsides to being an introvert, though. One of them is that I get tired of being away from my routine and my schedule, and I get bored with everything that is before me. I'm tired of my movies, my books, my television options, the chores sitting in front of me, and the food that's in the refrigerator. Everything just plain old disgusts me right now. Now, I've been through this enough to kn...

I am on Summer Break from my full-time job as a school music therapist. It has been four days now, and I am already starting to get restless. This is a good sign - restlessness often means productivity. I decide to do something and finish jobs. It doesn't generally start so quickly in a break, but that's just the way it is today. In the past four days, I have had a couple of brainstorms, a very successful blog post (see the one right before this one for information on Sing a Song Sundays), taken most of the stuff out of the craft room, laminated things for my giveaway, and have made lots of meals. These things are very good and are helpful to my well being, but I still have 14 days before I get back into my routine. Fourteen days to fill with something... Self-care should ALWAYS include fuzzy slippers! I have always needed solitary time and make time alone a priority in my self-care plan. Recently, there has been lots of discussion in the music therapy world about self-...

I am enjoying a lazy day today. You know the ones? You don't change out of your pajamas, and you stay home all day doing the things that need to get finished. That's my day today. It has been a productive day even though I am still in pj's at 3:14 pm. I slept in late (6:30 am!), and then started some chores that I had neglected. I finished an internship review, wrote a letter, spent time putting together a presentation for regional conference next weekend, and then finished one of my pizza box projects. All I need to do now is print it out and glue it to the pizza box, and, PRESTO! Finished substitute plan for some of my groups! I think the best thing about days like this is that there is no need for anything specific to have to happen. I didn't have to do any of the things that I finished, but I am glad that I took the time to do so. Now I can spend some time with my other chores - a presentation for Tuesday evening, arrangements for my trip to conference this upco...

I was sitting outside two group sessions today, listening to what was going on in music therapy as sessions were led by my interns, when, WHOOSH, my creative spark returned. I've been writing quite a bit about my recent lack of creativity, but I knew that it would return at some point. This flood of creativity was a bit surprising. I was expecting that there would be a gradual return. This was not gradual at all. It was more like a dam bursting and all the floodwaters sweeping through the spaces in my brain. I'm currently hoping that it wasn't a one-time thing, but I will enjoy it as it happens. So, what does a creative rush look like for me? Today it was the creation of three therapeutic music experiences (TMEs) - lyrics and some rhythms. Every kid that I heard, saw, or interacted with during the day sparked a new verse or a new song. Whew, kids were very vocal about lots of different things - "being fair," "being cranky," "people who bother ...

It is time to go back to work. Sigh. Now, I am not complaining! I enjoy working, but I really feel that I need substantial amounts of time to refresh and renew my therapeutic resources after a long stretch of working. This break wasn't nearly long enough to accomplish my cycle of enjoyment, boredom, and refilling my bag of tricks. Oh well. Today was originally supposed to be a day full of meetings, packing, and moving from my big, beautiful music room into a closet office to accommodate the upcoming school renovation. That plan has changed. We will now be starting off with kids from the get-go. I have no problems with seeing kids first - I ABHOR days without clients, but I am not sure about this whole renovation thing. I found out several weeks ago that the plan is to take the big, beautiful music room that I helped design and was assured would be my room throughout this planning process and place me in a smaller space after the renovation. Today, I will be starting to communic...

I have exactly one more thing to do this conference, and that is to attend exactly ONE presentation this morning before hopping on the shuttle and getting outta Dodge (obscure Kansas reference ;-). This conference has been a busy one for me, mostly meetings, greetings, and talks with folks on the way to different meetings and greetings. I have enjoyed myself this entire time and have felt less exhausted than in the past several meetings. I consider this to be a good thing and hope the trend continues next year in Jacksonville, Florida. As AMTA 2012 comes to a close, there are several things that I want to emphasize and review for myself. Please indulge me as I think "out loud," so to speak. My AMTA membership is important to me. It is important to be an active part of the organization that represents what I do on a daily basis. Sure, the dues are significant and sometimes difficult to accomplish on my limited budget, but the things that AMTA does for me on a daily basis ...

So. The summer session at work has ended and with it a part of the happiness initiative that I took on for my own well-being. The past few days have included struggles with thinking about positive things happening around me. So, I have wallowed a bit in the realm of negativity. I will get back to positivity! I like myself and so many others so much more when I can easily see positive things and am feeling happy. It is now Fall Break. For the next two weeks, I am blissfully unencumbered and have very little to do except clean, sleep, catch up on projects, vote in the primary, go to Office Depot's Star Teacher Appreciation Breakfast, attend Aida at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, start a research project, color things, make Christmas gifts, clean and rearrange the bedroom, and chase the cat. Whew. I think most of my recent struggle with my happiness initiative has been related to the environment surrounding me. It is very hot. Now, I am from Southern California a...

Today is the last day of my summer break. Tomorrow, I go back to work for our Extended School Year. It is time to get back into the therapy groove, into supervisor mode, and finding new ways to engage clients in using music to reach their goals. Vacation is one of the best things to refresh my work ethic. I enjoy time off, but I also enjoy my job. There is something about being alone for an extended period of time to reinforce that I enjoy being around my clients. I look forward to getting back into the routine of groups, individual sessions, and daily interaction with people. Over the past week, I have spent time by myself. This is an essential part of my renewal and refreshing routine. I looked through my music therapy texts, songbooks, and TME file. I have completed a project and have started a couple more (of course!). I am now getting back into "work mode," and I am starting to make plans for the next seven weeks of summer school. There are several things that I ...

The school year is officially over! There are 10 bliss-filled days of vacation stretching in front of me until the Extended School Year session starts. The opportunity to "vacate" is thrilling to me at this point right now. You can never underestimate the importance of being alone (now, I am speaking as a VERY strong introvert at this time!). I love being around people, but I need time by myself to truly refresh and reinvigorate. The next ten days offer a chance for me to be alone, seeking interaction with others on my own schedule, and to prepare for the next chapter in my music therapy life. I will not be idle, however. List of things to do in the next 10 days... Composition and Creativity: Part One Webinar (this evening at 7pm - register on my website) CLEAN my home! There you go. I will also spend some time making visual aids, composing songs, cooking food, swimming in the pool, taking walks, settling in for long naps, and chasing the cat from room to room. I...

I am very interested in how music therapists get ideas for what to do with their clients. How do you figure out what to do with your clients? Do you use ideas from other people all the time? Do you develop your own songs and experiences? Do you enter a session with a scripted plan, or do you improvise everything? I tend to do a combination of the questions above. I often have a sketch of a session plan in my head, along with all of my previous experiences, improvisation formats, and my equipment. I go where my clients take me, wherever that may be. My ideas for Therapeutic Music Experiences (or TMEs as I will refer to them from now on) often come to me in a flash of creativity. The flash comes and goes, and I have learned, the hard way, that if I don't capture that flash immediately, it is just plain old gone. The flash is an elusive thing. Sometimes I wake up in the morning singing a fully formed song - everything falls into place without effort. Other times, I get stuck i...

It is important to be a part of a community. This weekend, I spent time involved in the second annual Online Conference for Music Therapy. I was part of this conference last year and decided to continue this year as treasurer and a member of the organizing committee. The reason I enjoy being a part of this group is the sense of international community in music therapy. The last 36 hours have been spent sitting on my stool in front of a community of music therapists from around the world. With webcams, microphones, and high-speed internet services, you can communicate in real time with real people and get insights into music therapy that you have never considered before. I was reminded about how much I feel alone as a music therapist at times. At work, I am unique (except for interns who enrich and renew my music therapy community). I work at a church as a music director - most of the people there do not even realize that I have another job that pays the bills. When I start to des...

A week from today, I am traveling to Atlanta for the American Music Therapy Association National Conference. I will be joining therapists from around the world in celebrating what we do best - helping others through music. Conference week will include lots of discussions, lots of meetings, lots of difficult decisions for the profession of music therapy. There will be some celebrities - Mickey Hart, Jodi Picoult, and Ben Folds are going to be there during the week. (I probably will get into conversations with these people and not have a CLUE who they are until someone tells me later - I am notoriously famous for finding out later that the people that talk to me are "names.") There will be many more friends, colleagues, mentors, and idols around than celebrities (thank goodness!). I look forward to conference every year. I insist on attending for the chance to be around therapists who do many things in their facilities that I never envisioned. I spend lots of time reeval...

Finishing the Relaxation Part of the Summer I have four days of fall break left before I return to the daily routine of the school year. Today it is raining outside. This is the first time that rain has actually fallen on my little home since I started break some 14 days ago. The change in the atmosphere is wonderful, and I am finally feeling like autumn is coming sometime in the future. Tomorrow I get to go to the Office Depot Star Teacher appreciation breakfast for some stale donuts, a bag full of goodies, and the chance to win a drawing. I NEVER win, but I always try. I will spend some money on ink cartridges for the computer and for some other things that I really do not need, but want. Last year I had a migraine headache come on as I was waiting for the drawing results. I am hoping that doesn't happen this year. So, what does this have to do with anything but the "me" part of this blog?? I feel strongly that music therapists often do not have an awareness ...