I had a meeting with the director of my care center’s pastoral care department today regarding bringing music therapy into staff bereavement services already offered by pastoral care. I am really excited to now be a part of the services. I’d like to be more integral in the care of those residents in hospice and in creating more support for grieving staff. Just this morning, I had a conversation with a staff member who was angered and emotional about the fast decline and death of a resident. Of course I thought she could benefit from the bereavement services that will be happening, but I also know that there is such little time any staff has to process the losses of those residents in their care. So, I am sure many staff will choose not to participate. I’d love to be able to make such services available and easily accessible to all. The next services are on Friday.
Music Therapists Unite!
I am excited that a meeting I had organized tonight went really well. I invited all of the music therapists I know personally who live in Minneapolis and its surrounding areas to get together and catch up, share knowledge, and plan for future meetings. I found a space to hold the get-together, which, unfortunately, didn’t prove to be ideal. I am so happy we got together, though.
Beyond re-connecting and sharing where we’re working and what we’re doing, we talked about CEUs, supporting each other in performance endeavors, and what we want out of this group in the future. None of us happened to be very versed in how, when, or where to obtain our CEUs, so we’ve decided that our next meeting’s big topic will be learning just that.
Ideally, we’ll have time to make music together in some fashion. Tonight, we didn’t.
Care center competition
Happy Halloween!
I was truly surprised when I went to work in the care center today. Each department came up with some elaborate decorations and costumes.
Back in June or July (I’m not kidding), during one of department’s monthly planning meetings, one of the coordinators mentioned Halloween. The director of our department is new and hasn’t been here for a whole year; he was not aware of the complexity that Halloween apparently involves. According to that particular unit coordinator, many departments had already begun planning their themes and performances (!) for Halloween. Again, this was in mid-summer.
I love Halloween. So I got all into it when one of the suggested themes was “cops and robbers.” I changed it to “cops and convicts” because I like the alliteration, and immediately decided that half of the department could be cops, searching out the convicts.
I wrote up short scripts for coordinators who were cops and those who were convicts. The day included “pass-bys,” where one or the other coordinator spotted the other and staged a chase through the halls, thereby involving all of the residents in sight and earshot. We took mug shots of the convicts, and showed them to residents to help the cops seek out those pictured. We prepared a song and even created a jail for this portion of the day where all of the departments’ themes were judged.
We did pretty well. I thought the whole thing was pretty fun.
We did not win, though. We didn’t even get second place. Not even the department whose theme was “Clue,” and who dedicated different offices and conference rooms to the various spaces in the movie, won or took second. The winner was an Egyptian theme, but I don’t know what their shtick was. Or how they engaged the residents.
Seems that I don’t like losing. But I love Halloween.
CBS
Thank you, CBS, so much for this CBS segment on music therapy.
First blog birthday
One year ago today, I wrote my first post in In Flux. There was where I started writing (publicly) my reflections on working as a music therapy intern with primarily hospice patients. And as I decided I liked blogging, I included family/personal stuff, and then decided to separate everything out. So, now I have three blogs, but this one is the reason I started blogging (though I’ve moved it and re-named it).
Anyway, happy birthday, blog. Love you.
Pianist to the Presidents
Roger Williams, playing an excerpt from “Autum Leaves.” Known as the “pianist to the Presidents,” Williams died yesterday at the age of 87.
I wanna be sedated: This Date in Music History
This date in music history
in 1988, Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” left Billboard’s Hot 200 Album Chart after a record 741 weeks.
in 2003, Coldplay singer Chris Martin asked police to drop a charge of malicious damage after allegedly attacking a photographer’s car. Supposedly, he was charged for breaking the windshield of the photographer’s car after he or she took pictures of Martin surfing. Martin did not appear in court.
in 2007, Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” won Best Album at the Q Awards in London. I miss her.
Born on this date in 1948 was Johnny Ramone, the guitarist of none other than The Ramones.
Support group
When I was in coursework, I had such a neat opportunity to be a part of a music therapy support group, aimed at students. We met monthly, discussed questions and issues that came up for us in our reading and practicums, and also shared music therapy experiences. Our groups were facilitated by an MT-BC who shared with us how she created a support group for her fellow professionals.
I am trying to develop one for my fellow newly-credentialed music therapists. When I was an intern, I organized a few get-togethers of the like, but even though I made all these promises to my colleagues and myself, I just didn’t have the mental energy this summer to go forward. I have found a community space that could be perfect for us– I think they may even encourage our music-making. I just have to get all the logistics down.
Is there anyone out there who is a member of a professional support group? My goal is to share resources, experiences, and to build a much bigger network. If you are a member of a professional support group, please share with me your experience in it.
Mind “Nevermind”: This Date in Music History
Nirvana’s “Nevermind” is now officially 20 years old. On September 24, 1991, the album was released (OK, I’m a few days late to recognize its birthday). I still consider “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to be one of my favorite rock songs… I will always have a special place in my musical heart for Nirvana.
What else happened this date in music history? Well…
in 1978, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John had their second UK No. 1 with the song, “Summer Nights” from “Grease.”
in 1989, Tina Turner went to No. 1 with “Foreign Affair” on the UK charts.
in 1995, Mariah Carey made history with an eight-week stint at No. 1 in U.S. singles chart with “Fantasy,” becoming the first female artist to enter the chart in “pole position.”
Born on this date in 1952 was John Lombardo, of 10,000 Maniacs.
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.)