Tag: private practice

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Kind of like that dollar bill trick Johnny Cash did

I felt like a fantastic guitarist today because I wore a sweater.

I’ll explain.

If you play ukelele with any variety of strum patterns, you know that there are quite a few patterns that use muting or slapping. (I’m sure there are correct terms for these techniques, but I just don’t have them on hand right now.) I’ve never been great at that kind of strumming, but I’ve always loved it. Today, while at my first site, I noticed I was affecting my guitar strings the way I’ve always wanted to affect my ukelele’s — all because my sweater was getting in the way of my strumming.

I’m glad that that Saturday-after-Thanksgiving-that-doesn’t-have-a-name Sale got me something good.

I was adding suspensions and letting my sweater do its work all day today, and alas, I wasn’t boring myself with the guitar skills I have.

What will I do in the summer, when there are no sweaters to be worn?

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November catch-up

I know I’ve been absent from my website and blogging. All I can say is, my list of daily to-dos shifted considerably for a couple of months there.

A short catch up of what’s going on at Sound Matters:

  1. I have a clinical supervisor with whom I Skype (when Skype works) or talk on the phone (when Skype doesn’t work) once a week. I am so happy that I have professional support when I feel stuck or confused about a situation.
  2. I presented to two different groups earlier this month. One was a group of college students at Macalaster College in St. Paul, Minnesota, who gather on Wednesdays for what they call “Wellness Wednesdays.” I also presented to the Parish Visitors group at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who were interested in different ways to take music to the people they visit.
  3. The LLC is a little over one month old now. I am still in the process of establishing insurance reimbursement ability.
  4. The peer support group that I head is taking a break over the holiday season and will resume in January. I look forward to seeing all of my local peers and learning about what new trainings and conferences, etc. that they’ve attended.
  5. The Music Therapy Association of Minnesota had its fall conference at the beginning of the month. The sessions focused on guitar and drumming techniques.
  6. I bought a djembe that I love dearly.

Our Thanksgiving was great, and even though it’s really hard to believe, Christmas season is upon us. We’ll see where that takes us.

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Macalaster College

Thank you to Macalaster College for having me present during Wellness Wednesdays. I enjoyed the group and look forward to answering any further questions.

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Limited liability company

I am so happy to announce that Sound Matters Music Therapy is now Sound Matters Music Therapy, LLC.

I look forward to all that will happen with it in the coming year.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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. 

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“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.

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Respite

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.