Music Therapy is not only a wonderful resource for individuals with special needs or illness, it can also be a great tool for people seeking health and wellness. When I have explained music therapy in the past, a typical response has been, “That makes sense! Music definitely can change my mood, motivate me, or help me relax depending on what I’m listening to!” While individual music listening isn’t the premise of music therapy, I can certainly see where people make the connection. They are right, music can help with mood, motivation, and relaxation in every day life, but there are many more benefits to working with a music therapist. Healthy individuals can use music thearpy for stress reduction via active music making, such as drumming, as well as passive listening for relaxation. Music Therapists can facilitate interventions for stress management and relaxation. Music Therapists can also work with clients who are grieving, dealing with chronic pain, chronic illness, depression, stress, or who are looking for spiritual or personal growth. Music therapy can also be used in assisting labor and delivery. Some Read More
Category: Resources
We Are… Goal Oriented
GOALS & OBJECTIVES! Those are two key words in the realm of music therapy! GOALS is even an essential word in the AMTA definition of music therapy: “Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” After an assessment, music therapists create individualized goals for each client. One of the biggest misconceptions I deal with is the thinking that these goals are music oriented, like learning to play an instrument, when in fact nearly all of the goals are non-musical. Major goal areas include, but are not limited to, the following: emotional well-being physical health social functioning communication abilities cognitive skills motor skills These goals can then be addressed through music-based interventions such as: music improvisation instrument playing receptive music listening song writing lyric discussion music and imagery music performance learning through music MTs continually re-evaluate their clients’ needs, assess their progress, and modify goals as needed. MT interventions and interactions are all directly based on the Read More
We Are… Collaborators
Definition of collaboration: “The process of working jointly with others in an intellectual endeavor to bring about change, and it implies shared responsibility” (Hobson, 2006) Music therapists (MTs) focuses on facilitating positive change and work with a very VERY large network of people to do so! All of our clients have specific goals and objectives that are determined not only by the music therapist but often also by teachers, parents, caregivers, doctors, nurses, and other therapists. MTs collaborate with these individuals to create and carry-out the best treatment plan for each individual. Often, this requires co-treating with other therapists (including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists, etc), collaborating with others to create appropriate resources, and communicating with a large team of people instead of just a single client. I love having opportunities to collaborate and co-treat with other professionals. Not only do I get to share my unique expertise and experience, I have the opportunity to learn from others and grow from the interaction. Check out these amazing resources from music therapists talking about Collaboration! Rachel See Smith wrote this Read More
Last Minute Music Therapy Intervention Ideas for the Holidays
We’re already in the middle of December! Can you believe it? If your clients are anything like mine, they all want to hear the same three Christmas songs over and over. If you’ve mastered Jingle Bells and sung all of the fa la la’s out of Deck the Halls, then it might be time for a a couple fresh ideas. Below are a couple of my wintery songs as well as links to some other amazing holiday resources posted by music therapists! Songs – It’s Christmas Time Counting Snowflakes Free Christmas Sheet Music HERE Educational snow and winter chants from Tuned Into Learning 12 Goals of Christmas from Music Therapy = <3 Music Therapy Christmas Carols from Coast Music Therapy Holiday Piggy Back Songs also from Coast Music Therapy Fresh Holiday Intervention Ideas from Sound Scape Music Therapy Happy Holidays! Read More
It’s Christmas Time! – An Original Christmas Song
Looking for a new Christmas song to add to your play list! Try out this catchy tune! It's Christmas Time by On A Good Note Read More