Author: Erin

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From metal to melody

I have a client who is very interested in anything heavy metal — the clothes he wears, the guitar he has, and, of course, the music he wants to hear and learn. I have had a lot of difficulty finding ways to engage him musically, though he speaks of little else. Last week, I asked him to bring in CDs that he likes, and thankfully, he did. So my night began with some Rammstein — yes, we listened to “Du Hast,” among other tracks. He was immediately attentive, and his affect changed immensely. (I was not surprised in the least, but there are many other factors that are attached to this client’s sessions.)

My very next client is much more enraptured by live music (not to say that my first client wouldn’t be, were I to have the ability to pull off live music that had a metal sound), but we did use some recorded music tonight, too. However, this client’s recorded music was written and performed by a good friend of mine, who also happens to be an MT-BC. Lynn O’Brien writes outstanding music. Not only does she work as a music therapist, but she also is an actively gigging musician. Many of her songs would likely work well with adolescents and young adults. You can find two of her CDs out there in the world — iTunes, for instance. Find more information on Lynn here.

Oh, how different music can be for you and for me.

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A plan to plan

Because I do not have much time in a given day to plan for my upcoming sessions at the care center, I am always excited when I come up with something novel and engaging. I have approximately 20 minutes at the beginning of the day to put together my entire day’s doings, and most days I facilitate five group sessions of 10 to 20 residents with a wide range of ability. So, to bridge this gap in preparation time, I’ve come up with a variety of techniques. One technique I use is to focus on one domain for the entire week, and then fashion a series of similar experiences that I adapt for the group for which I’m facilitating (may sound like common sense/knowledge, but I stressed about this for weeks). This week, I’ve designed an experience that went really well with a group of my most independent residents, and has also been very successful with my memory care group (whom I see daily).

Anyway, my point is that it took a great deal of planning to compensate for the lack of time I actually have to plan!

Does anyone else have similar challenges? How much time do you spend planning?

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MTAM Fall Conference

Happy Monday.

For those of you who live in Minnesota, or who are in traveling distance from Minneapolis, the Music Therapy Association of Minnesota will have its Fall Conference this coming Saturday, October 1. You can find details here. (And, if you go, fill me in; I will not be in attendance.)

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The importance of connection

Ah, welcome. Welcome to the new, prettier home of my music therapy reflections and accounts.

Thank you to Thomas for helping me with the set-up. (And the whole idea, to be honest.)

I read through the minutes of the last Music Therapy Association of Minnesota meeting, and its Fall newsletter, and reading made me look forward to a time when I don’t isolate myself from my fellow colleagues. There is a conference coming up soon for which I am not available, but I look forward to hearing about it from the colleagues with whom I do keep in close contact.

How active were you in your state organization during your first year as a professional?

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Time before the game

On weekends in the care center where I work, I typically do not provide music therapy sessions. Usually, I assist with other events or sessions or… well, I’ll just admit that sometimes, on weekends, I call BINGO. 
(Actually, I don’t hate it. I use my performance-enhanced enunciation and public-speaking-volume, and much of the time I get compliments from the residents. So there, it’s a morale-booster.)
Every so often, I get the chance to spend time catching up with the residents while we wait for the game to start. Today I had that chance, and I am so grateful to be reminded how much I love these people. One of the residents’ roommates just died, and I was able to listen to her relate how sad she was. I can’t imagine how bizarre it must be to become friends with people, live with people, whom you realize may not survive the month. 
Some people are really impressive. I am sorry for their loss.

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In sickness

I have been really ill this week, and didn’t go to work for one and a half days while also canceling my private clients this week as I tried to figure out what was going on. I have a better idea, but even though I worked through a whole day today, I still felt/feel somewhat miserable. And this distraction I feel leads me to feel something else: guilty for not providing my residents my full attention. (What’s funny is that my guilt may be aggravating my “sickness.”) I am sure no one likes being sick, but being sick while working as I do turns out to be really difficult for me. I can just hope that soon enough I will be able to give all that I want.

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And we’re (hopefully) back

Finally, I am finding some inspiration again.
Tonight was the first night of my private clients’ Fall session, and I saw two of them. I realize that the less time I spend doing something, the more I absolutely panic surrounding planning for it– because I am still rather new to my private practice and the clients, and because we’d had a break at the end of summer, I had a lot of anxiety going into this evening. But, as has been the case with my care center work, I imagine I will find comfort somewhere down the line.
I actually used technology in the studio tonight. 🙂 My fiancé has given me a set of iPhone/iPod/iThings speakers (probably not the most correct name for it), and– guess what– I used it. Now, I need to find some metal to add to my library as well as some Justin Bieber. Two very different clients…

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Problematic

There is a resident at the care center where I work whom I respect and admire a great deal. I am reasonably sure this resident has no idea of this, and so isn’t doing anything intentionally (I’ve never thought that about any of my clients). I am quite intimidated by this resident, though. I don’t know her well, but I am distracted by her presence in the groups I facilitate on her unit. So much so that I notice sometimes I am tempted to change the flow of the session to include or highlight experiences I know she likes. Which is not wise of me, and pretty negligent. But, at least I notice it before I actually do it. I am happy that today I was successful in fulfilling a session plan that provided experiences most of the other residents could find useful in some way, even though many of the experiences I know that particular resident didn’t enjoy. I am aware of this hang-up of mine, but I’m sure it’s not too uncommon. I just need to learn to re-frame my perspective, I think. 

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A break

Well hello.
This summer has been nuts. Clearly, I’ve not been writing much. At all, anywhere. 
Honestly, I’ve had trouble finding inspiration. As one of my very favorite music therapy instructors seemed to like to say, I’ve been incubating. Meaning, I’ve been internalizing most of my ideas lately, waiting for a reason or something to let them out.
My private clients are on break between sessions. I lost one client, but have kept the rest. I am still acclimating to private practice. 
I am loving my work at the care center. I love having opportunity to see the residents in most factions of their daily life. People are fascinating. One very dear resident died late last week, and that brought me down some. I am happy to have known her. 
Happy Labor Day to you. 

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Acquisition of tools

I am a private contractor who is starting from scratch. Do you know what I’d like? I’d like to have a list of must-have instruments and materials for those music therapists working with children. (And I’d also like to have the budget to acquire those things right now.) I am trying to accumulate a cache of tools as I am able, and I also find many, many ideas from other bloggers, but I still feel under-armed, if you will. I am trying to realize that this kind of business-building process will take its time.