Music Therapy Tech[nology]-ies

This year, my employer provided all the music therapists with new technology to be used during therapy. We received a mac laptop with recording software: garageband, sound studio, and band in a box. We also received a midi usb keyboard, usb portable microphone, 120 gb ipod, external hard drive, and a class to teach us how to use all our new presents.

I like having better equipment to do multi-track recordings for consult materials, but I'm not completely sold on using more technology during my therapy sessions.

I'm using the recording software to take data/language samples during sessions, and students utilize behavioral incentive charts to earn "recording studio time" where they can make their own CD (while working on IEP related goals), and I'm using the ipod for recorded music, but when is too much recorded music and techno-spiffiness "too much?" And where do you draw the line between recording artist and music therapist?

I'm extremely picky when it comes to using recorded music in my sessions. If I'm using a recording on the ipod to teach a skill, I'm usually pausing the ipod and waiting for a client response, just like I would with my voice and/or guitar during a live music presentation. But I'm curious to know if my colleagues do the same thing...? I remember reading all the music therapy research journal articles about live versus recorded music presentation and how live music is usually the better choice. So, how do we, when presented with such wonderful technology, justify using it over live presentation?

Besides using the recording equipment for reinforcement and data collection, the only big change for me is how I do my consultative materials to colleagues. I'm recording more often. My recordings are of higher quality and I'm also doing enhanced podcasting for skills. Many of my teachers are making a "music therapy" center during their center time in the classroom and having students listen/watch podcasts created by me. But is that still the same as a live presentation or a teacher singing and waiting for a response? I don't think so.

Bottom line. If you want a student to be "exposed" to a topic, learn something by rote memory, or practice a social skill situation, then I think recorded music and podcasting can be effective. If you want to do direct learning with a student with decreasing response time or your hierarchy of prompting, then lay off the techie-geek stuff and do the more flexible, live presentation.

Ewwww!

A great way to teach science and health concepts during cold and flu season.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

Today was the home opener for the St. Louis Cardinals (my home team). And when I think about baseball, I think about music therapy. Yes, I do! How can you attend a baseball game and not consider the power of music?

For example, before each game the song "Meet Me in St. Louis" is played by organist Ernie Hays with the lyrics on the large screen with the entire group of fans singing and swaying along. When the Anheuser Busch Clydesdales proudly prance around the stadium on opening day with the beer wagon in tow, the "Budweiser Clydesdale Jingle (Here Comes the King)" is played on the organ to cheering fans humming and singing along, tapping their knees and clapping in perfect rhythm. Would you ever think that more than 40,000 people, unrelated, not knowing each other, would be able to synchronize so easily?



Let's think about cheering on your favorite team. How do you root for the Cardinals in a group? The most effective is to join in a rhythmic melodic repetitive phrase. I'm sure you can remember how you would cheer "Let's Go Cardinals." Usually followed with a rhythmic clapping pattern -- ta ta ti-ti ta. It's amazing how a large group of people can instinctively match this minor 3rd interval and rhythm in the cheer.



And what about the famous "Charge" cheer? In the clip below, see how a simple music cue gets the crowd to cheer. Also, the music helps to cue clapping and cheering.



That's not all. If you are, indeed, a Cardinals fan, you will remember songs such as "The Heat Is On" as the 1980s rally song, and "Start Me Up" for when a new pitcher was warming up. What about individual players? Mark McGwire's song that was played when he came up to bat was "Welcome to the Jungle." I know I always think of these certain musical associations when I hear these songs.

So, next time you are at a baseball game, take a moment to admire the greatness of cooperation in the midst of the music and sing along.

Autism and the Family

April is Autism Awareness month, so I thought I would go ahead and start sharing some awareness information. This video came across my "myspace" page this evening, while I am in the middle of finishing a research paper about Autism and the Family. I think it is important to remember, when working with an individual with Autism, that they are part of a family. They are not just a case, they are someone's beloved daughter or son, sister or brother, grandchild or cousin. Enjoy.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

More on Visual Media

This was forwarded to me today. The lyrics really spoke to me, and so I ask you to please watch and pass along.



<3

Visual Media

Sometimes, simply listening to a song isn't enought to make an emotional impression. But what if the official music video of a song doesn't have a positive message? What if the visual doesn't correlate with the lyrics? Make your own. With the invention of YouTube, stock photos on the internet, and easy video editing software, it is not difficult to make your own music slide show. My current favorite song, seen below, is much more powerful with the visual. You can search YouTube for this song and there are several different versions. Why not make your own music video or musical slide show? Video/film is art, too, ya know...

Walk For Autism - St. Louis