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
Upcoming music therapy events in Twin Cities
I have been wanting to attend these bi-monthly ukelele group workshops, but since I got sick, adding things to the list wasn’t something I did.
But, coming up on January 28, I am definitely going to “Latin Guitar Styles Master Class,” held at the Schmitt Music Minnetonka. Following this, some of us Minneapolis/St. Paul-area music therapists will get together for our monthly meeting.
Latin Guitar Styles Master Class information here.
Next meeting
Happily, this month there will be a Minneapolis music therapists meeting. We missed last month because, well, I’d just gotten married, and many of us were out of town.
Our next meeting is Sunday, July 29, at 10:00. Pass on to anyone in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area! Thanks, and happy Friday (the 13th).
Upcoming new music therapists group meeting
I work on my own, as a contractor and in my own private practice. I don’t co-facilitate with another music therapist, and I don’t work on a team (at the moment). For these reasons, I’ve found that seeking out the support of my peers is crucial, not only for feedback or questions, but to answer, “Is there anyone else who is having the same issues/troubles/concerns/successes?”
I’m looking forward to our next new music therapists meeting here in Minneapolis. Currently, the date is yet to be determined because many of us are out of town in the summer, but I will be sure to update this information as soon as it’s solidified.
Back in the saddle again
Good Monday to you!
Clearly, I’ve been away. In June, I got married. Leading up to the wedding, I decided to shift my focus much more to all of the end-of-planning work that needed to be done, so I sacrificed my blogging for that. But, I’ve decided that this week is the week I get back into it all.
Much has been happening here in Minnesota. We’ve still been holding our monthly meetings. I’ve been finding new clients and even new students. I’d been considering new ways to approach a couple of places in my community (though admittedly, I knew I wouldn’t get to that until July or August). I’ve decided to try to hit up a ukelele group that happens every other Monday night.
For our honeymoon, we flew down to Florida and then road-tripped along the Gulf Coast and stayed a day in New Orleans. The most striking part about New Orleans, for me, was the first half hour walking around a city square and hearing a band play on the street. Comprised of a trumpet, trombone, tuba, guitar, and bass drum, they improvised inside the song “We All Scream for Ice Cream,” to the extent that I teared up a little– they were fantastic. (Of course they were. New Orleans.) That night we spent some time on Frenchman Street and were happy to hear all kinds of amazing music spill out of each door that we passed.
I did love the South.
Vitamin M
I am having trouble with my site at the moment, so I’m hoping that this post at least shows up… Oh, how technology can (and does) make and break my day.
I want to say that on Saturday, a smallish group of music therapists in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area met for our monthly meeting to take the opportunity to support one another and to share resources. We’ve created a group on Facebook that we call Vitamin M. Feel free to ask to join if you are a Minnesotan!
Poise in public
I had another awesome opportunity to attend a Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra concert, this one being the Chamber Music Series #5. I grew up playing violin, and have had a somewhat tenuous relationship with the instrument over the past few years, but I was very engaged in the music tonight.
The non-musical benefits of music instruction have always been of most interest to me, which is probably why I am so excited about music therapy. I have always touted music instruction as being integral in the development of poise and confidence in front of others. Tonight I enjoyed watching the musicians’ movements, and noticed that their bodies were absolutely synchronized with their music. This didn’t surprise me, but I loved being a little bit more aware of the musicality of their movements, and knowing that the poise with which they engrossed their audience in the performance came directly from the music they produced. I hope to be in their audience again soon.
Sayuk on Friday
I had the opportunity to participate in what I will call an “arts in-service” at the site of the life enrichment contract I hold in Dundas, MN. I was excited for the day because I knew we’d be experiencing some gamelan music, however I had no idea to what extent that experience was going to be. Joko Sutrisno of University of Minnesota School of Music provided a basement-full of the instruments he uses to perform, teach, and show. He spent a little more than two and a half hours teaching this room full of staff members, most of whom declared they weren’t musical, how to play one four-line “piece” he calls Sayuk, meaning “together in harmony.”
Here is a video that explains more about gamelan:
Weekly workshops
Tomorrow I will be conducting a workshop for staff members at the facility where I work on Fridays. I am looking forward to it. I am planning to provide some basic drumming techniques that the staff can use with the clients, as well as show staff some additional ways to learn music when the staff member does not read music.
I believe this is going to be a weekly occurrence. I will be sure to write up on the experience…
Monthly meeting
Tomorrow we’re having another monthly music therapist meeting. I am excited for this one; we’re including one of our friends who has moved to another state. I’ll be excited to see her (even though it’ll be on a screen).