There are only a few times thus far in my music therapy career when I’ve felt that I provided a truly successful session. One time was just yesterday. I have a client who has some tendencies toward explosive behaviors and language. Using some improvisatory keyboard skills that I am always surprised to find that I have, I was able to help him relax to a state in which he was nearly sleeping. This is not always my goal, but yesterday it seemed to be necessary. What is more is that his mother has been sitting in on some of our sessions together, and she even seemed to have fallen asleep! I was happy to help provide an environment in which both my client and his mother had some respite.
“Boléro” in the morning
I have always had trouble listening to music unless it is for a specific reason. Sometimes that reason is for research, sometimes it’s to keep me at a certain pace while exercising, and of course sometimes it’s to change or augment my mood.
I came across the idea of creating a “waking playlist” (as I like to call it) or a playlist to hear in the morning which has the function of staging the coming day. I read about this in a couple of different music therapists’ blogs, and I really like the idea. The first piece that I choose for mine is “Boléro” by Ravel. I discovered this piece when I was in fifth grade, and have adored it since.
Recently I heard a Radiolab podcast called, “Unraveling Bolero,” in which the hosts reported on a very unusual story involving one Anne Adams, a biologist whose path resembled Ravel’s in a peculiar way. Here is a synopsis of the episode:
At some point, Anne became obsessed with Maurice Ravel’s famous composition and decided to put an elaborate visual rendition of the song to canvas. She called it “Unraveling Bolero.” But at the time, she had no idea that both she and Ravel would themselves unravel shortly after their experiences with this odd piece of music. Arbie Orenstein tells Jad what happened to Ravel after he wrote “Bolero,” and neurologist Bruce Miller and Jonah Lehrer helps us understand how, for both Anne and Ravel, “Bolero” might have been the first symptom of a deadly disease.
Find “Unraveling Bolero” here:
Reporting to caregivers
There are a few things about working in private practice that I’m “testing.” One is to report to the parents or caregivers of my clients and students directly (meaning within the same day if they’re clients or students I see weekly, or within the same week if they’re clients I see monthly) following each session or lesson I provide. I’ve been doing this for each of my clients and students for the past three weeks, and am already finding this to be a productive practice in that the parents or caregivers respond to me quickly with questions and ideas.
The reason I do this is because, though I’d like to, I don’t have the ability to meet with the parents and caregivers in person on a weekly basis. Most of the time, my time slots are filled back-to-back. (I may revise this in the future, but for now, this is how I’m operating.) I’m finding that regular and timely reporting via e-mail is the most effective way to include family members.
I try to cover three topics:
- Strengths in the session or lesson, and progress being made toward goals.
- Progress I see that can be made in future sessions or lessons.
- Plans I have for future sessions or lessons.
I’m pleased with this method, but I’ll keep looking for a more streamlined approach.