Oh, the power of Ted Talks.
Here is another Talk I enjoyed:
Ted Talks on autism
I love Ted Talks, as I’m sure most of everyone else does, too.
This is a great Talk on autism.
Another shift
I am beginning something of a transition in my approach to my music therapy work. I’m beginning to shift my perspective into a process oriented approach.
The most poignant thought I took away from clinical supervision tonight, and the realization that I hope to focus on throughout this next week, is, “Because I am asking my clients to use music to express, communicate, relate, and learn, I should use music in the same way.” I don’t use music. I make it for purposes of providing music therapy sessions, but I do not use music in those ways.
Perhaps I will.
Coming up for Sound Matters
Upcoming events at Sound Matters Music Therapy
Meeting of the Minds in Music
September 29, 2012
4:00-6:00 PM
Music Therapy in Mental Health:
A Presentation on the Effects of Music and Its Use as a Tool
November 18, 7:00 PM
In “Well”
In the New York Times Well section:
The last of the weekends
I believe that today will perhaps be my last “light” day, as I’ve taken on a number of new clients and contracts that will be starting this week. I am pretty thrilled, however feeling a headache come on with all of the scheduling that it’s taking.
Inaccessible music
I keep a limited amount of music on my iPhone, because it doesn’t have enough capacity to hold my whole library (and frankly some of my music is embarrassing). My husband has thousands and thousands of tracks on Google Music, and though I know the password and where to log in, I am not able to do so when suddenly, for instance, a client says, “I like [this artist].” I know we have that music available on Google Music, but it’s obscure enough that I don’t keep it handy in my iTunes.
This happened three times tonight alone.
Dang. It. 
“Special Ed”
I do have a fantastic love for podcasts. One that has always been playing through my speakers is “This American Life.” I imagine you’ve heard it. A few weeks ago, the podcast rebroadcast the below episode called “Special Ed.” Take a listen.
On environmental music
I love when I find other musicians who feel similarly about listening to music as I do. I went to a Labor Day Eve party (there is no reason Christmas can have an Eve and other holidays cannot; why not get even more excited about a day when not laboring is celebrated?) of a really good friend of mine who happens to also be a music therapist, and though I knew that she prefers not to listen to music during her “down time,” I didn’t realize that she gets as distracted by environmental music as I do! We all were seated around the table and my friend’s fiancé controlled the music. Several times my friend asked him to either turn it off or turn it down. I can hardly handle environmental music because as soon as it begins, my attention snaps to it and evaporates from any conversation that is happening around me. Sometimes I find myself analyzing the music, but most of the time I am pulled very strongly to a memory that is attached to the music. Or, if the music is new to me, I’ll listen for its rhythm– essentially, I am too absorbed by the music to function in other ways.
My friend and I have had a couple of short discussions about why we love but also need our space from music, but I’m not sure if she feels exactly the same way I do. One of my favorite parts of the night, though, was when we all convened in the living room, and as soon as there was a mention of turning on music, the two of us snapped, “No music.”
I do like music, though. I promise.