2016: Simplify, Streamline, Selfcare

After a very long and productive meeting on Tuesday, Rachel and I established  three key words for the new year. Simplify, Streamline, Self-care I have been in an constant state to growth, movement, and just trying to keep up over the past several months and needed to take a moment to assess where I’m at and what the next steps are.  Personally, I think the business will continue to grow and develop without much extra work, which is good because I’ve run out of hours in the day to add new tasks.  That’s not to say that I won’t be working, but that I’m  attempting to not take on anything EXTRA that will distract from the awesome growth that is happening and instead use any additional time I have (outside my normal work load) to focus on enhancing what is working and eliminating or adjusting what is not.   In 2016, I believe we can ALL benefit from is implementing the words above.  I have decided to adopt these words as not only a work motto but as a personal theme Read More

Back to Blogging

These past couple months have been a whirlwind!!  Between getting married, merging my company, moving into new offices, starting new services, growing the number of clients I see, interviewing potential interns, AND so much MORE cool and exciting stuff, it has been crazy!  However, it has been completely worth it!  I have never been more satisfied with where my business is headed and the changes we have made. Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: All students will now be registered through Music Therapy Connections, LLC My primary office is no longer my car!  It is now located in Springfield at 3730 Wabash Ave.   AND my office is beautiful! Early childhood class have been expanded and will take place at our new office. I only teach in Lincoln on Fridays. I have the absolute pleasure of working with another music therapist on an almost daily basis!  Check out her awesome blog!  I am loving my “new” life and cannot wait to share more with you soon!  -Katey Read More

Apps I Love for Songwriting – MOGUL

I was in a lesson with a teenage student when I saw they were writing down the lyrics to a new song using an app.  Within the app she was able to look up rhyming words, synonyms, antonyms, download beats, and more.  I was really excited by the idea of this app and had to share it with you all!  I have not personally used it, but it looks really interesting! The App is called MOGUL and is for the iPhone and iPad. The following is part of a description from http://prmac.com/release-id-46722.htm Songwriting: MOGUL is a simple to use, yet fully featured songwriting app. Songwriter’s can use the built in reference tools to define words and find rhymes, synonyms and antonyms. Words can be collected and saved in an idea bank for later use. It allows users to create and store all of their lyrics in one place and for the serious songwriter it provides the ability to easily search and sort through hundreds of documents. Recording Studio: MOGUL comes equipped with three vocal tracks for recording audio and one beat Read More

We Are… Yearning

Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month is all about advocating for the growth and recognition of Music Therapy across the US. WE ARE YEARNING for state recognition  acceptance/coverage by insurance new accredited university education programs New accredited internship sites and overall growth of our field   You can help MTs achieve these goals by becoming an effective advocate! What is an advocate? “Advocacy is…for anyone Regardless of experience or professional training, a successful advocate is someone with passion and commitment for a cause or an idea, who tells a convincing story expressing their beliefs and passion.” How can you help? Check out these ideas from the American Music Therapy Association and the Illinois Association for Music Therapy!  OR contact your state music therapy organization and attend MT events in your area!  http://musictherapyillinois.org/about/music-therapy-advocacy/ http://www.musictherapy.org/policy/effectiveadvocate/ Read More

We Are… Xylophone Players

Now let’s be serious, how many adjectives do you know that start with the letter “x”.  If you know any that are appropriate for music therapists, please let me know and I while certainly update this post. However, for the moment, I am sticking with xylophone players.  It’s true, many of us have played a xylophone or another instrument similar to a xylophone.  There are some amazing improvisation interventions based around xylophones and Orff instruments. MT’s also play tons of other awesome instruments as well! AND often lug them everywhere they go! As evidenced by this picture:   Some of the other wonderful instruments I keep in my arsenal include these items: Djembes Rainsticks Bongos A Ukulele Kalimba Ocean Drums Shakers Paddle Drums Boomwhackers Handdrums Shakers AND tons of other small instruments  I, along with many other MTs, am continually acquiring new instruments and still my “wish” list is growing!  MT’s play so many instruments and are always learning new things! Read More