I recently started a practice journal. I don’t know why I had never used one in all my years of being a musician but now was a great time to start. Like a lot of us, I’m finding that memory and concentration are a little more difficult right now. Keeping a journal r...
Usual disclaimers apply. I am not a researcher but conducting and understanding research was a part of my degree. I regularly review music therapy research to stay current in my field and believe that a proper understanding of research is vital to all of us.
As a music therapist, my goal is to help others through music. However, there are times when music can be more harmful than beneficial. A group of researchers tackle the idea of creating a “Theoretical Model of Music-Induced Harm” in the latest issue of the Journal o...
I’m not normally a big fan of homemade instruments. They can be great for a craft project but often pose a choking hazard for younger children. In addition, children may internalize the sound of an instrument and think that it doesn’t sound good because they’re not p...
I was reflecting recently on the people and influences that shaped me musically. I grew up in a family that struggled to make ends meet so public school music was very important for me. I’ll admit to being a goof off but had the chance to participate in a wide variet...
Long before our current pandemic, Infection control has been an important part of music therapy. Shakers and other rhythm instruments are generally wiped down after every use. Scarves are washed after every use. Right now, I am look at using more body percussion or d...
When I first heard about using a tablet instead of paper sheet music, it didn’t seem worth the expense. I didn’t feel like I would recoup my investment before the tablet became obsolete. In addition, there weren’t many options for apps and the platforms they worked o...
As a business owner, I have made a commitment to serve everyone who needs my services. What economic or societal structures prevent people from seeking my services? Are there inequities that I can address? As a music therapist, I recognize that music has the potentia...
A colleague shared the phrase “grace, grief, and gratitude” as a coping mechanism. We’ve all been impacted in some way by the events of the last few months. This in turn can affect our physical and mental health. We might be struggling with sleep disturbances, low e...
I recently went through a short bout of back pain. One of the areas we commonly address as music therapists is pain. I’m going to share what I learned.
Pain is exhausting. I was never incapacitated but needed to be careful about everything I did. Pain disrupted...
