Supportive Sundays

Welcome back to Supportive Sundays! This post is for you to voice problems, concerns, and difficult situations for others to help you with in this online community. Do you have a difficult assessment case? Out of ideas for a challenging client? Pulling your hair out over something with your own child or family member? Do you have writer's block and absolutely cannot crank out song lyrics about buttoning a shirt? Need some info on the music from the 1930's? You can share your story here, and the community can brainstorm possible solutions.

How to participate:

1. Scroll down to the bottom of this post.

2. Type your story, problem, or brainstorming solution in the comment box.

3. Remember to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Post your comment.

5. Read the comments of others and respond.

Let's support each other in the great work we do every day, even if it's challenging at times!

*This information is not a substitute for professional advice or consultation. The information in the comments section is opinion based, and requires your own research on the topic and the application of common sense.*

Bag of Tricks Friday!

Happy Friday! Do you know what that means? That's right, kids! It's bag of tricks Friday! Here's the background info...

When I was an undergraduate music therapy student at Maryville University, on of my beloved professors, Rosalie Duvall, told us that when we became professional music therapists to always have a strategy in our "bag of tricks." I didn't really know what she meant until I was in my internship and my first session did not go as I planned. At ALL!

So, let's share a new strategy or something that we keep in our "bag of tricks!"

1. Scroll down to the "comments" section of this post.

2. Type your strategy in the comment box and post.

3. Don't forget to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Read and comment on other people's strategy posts.

5. Beg, borrow and steal strategies! Teachers are the best thieves known to man!

Thank you in advance for sharing! I hope you add something to your "Bag of Tricks!"

What's Going Well? Wednesday

It's Wednesday again! That means it's that time of the week to talk about the positives that are happening in regard to our practice, music therapy, education, family, wellness, personal goals...whatever! Even if it is a small success, share it with the Accent on Music Therapy community!

Here's how it works:

1. Think about your successes in the past week - big or baby steps.

2. Scroll down to the comments section.

3. Type a comment with your story. Don't forget to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Submit your comment.

5. Read comments from others and respond to their successes!

I'm very excited to support one another in the great work that is going on in Saint Louis and beyond!

Disability and Assumptions

Tonight, one of my former music therapists in training posted this video on my facebook page:

She seemed very surprised by the miraculousness of this video.

I was not surprised.

Does that shock you? Watch the video. Go ahead, I'll wait ...

It depicts the story of a young woman diagnosed with Autism who is non-verbal, yet can type and communicate via a laptop like most tween/teen girls. Did you know that many individuals with Autism have normal intelligence? Did you know that Autism is not an intellectual disability?

Do you know what shocks me? I'm appalled at the number of times I witness people talking about people with disabilities. While they are standing right there. Within listening distance. Individuals diagnosed with a disability can hear you (or lip read). And, even if they are diagnosed with Autism, it doesn't mean they can't understand you, have their feelings hurt, or have their relationship with you broken by the way you talk about them. They are not invisible.

I try to not make assumptions about my clientele. Everyone (including myself) has strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes... That's how I look at my clients. A great person with strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes...just like me. And, just like me, some people have bad days! I cannot imagine how I would react if I couldn't communicate my wants, needs, or deepest desires.

How would you feel, react, behave if...

• You could not say "I love you" to your family and friends.
• You could not indicate that you absolutely loathe the ugly sweater your Mom insists you wear every day.
• You could not raise your hand in class to get a bathroom pass.
• Your classmates and peers were scared of you because you scream in class.
• What if...

Please take time this week to reflect on your own assumptions about others. How is affecting your relationships? Rapport? Professional judgement? Please be brave and stand up for individuals with disabilities. Ask that professional conversations be done in a confidential setting. If talking about a client's deficits to another, either include the client or move to a confidential location. Stand up. Be brave. Shine.

Supportive Sundays

Supportive Sundays is a new series that I'm starting in order to voice problems, concerns, and difficult situations for others to help you with in this online community. Do you have a difficult assessment case? Out of ideas for a challenging client? Pulling your hair out over something with your own child or family member? Do you have writer's block and absolutely cannot crank out song lyrics about buttoning a shirt? You can share your story here, and maybe the community can brainstorm possible solutions.

How to participate:

1. Scroll down to the bottom of this post.

2. Type your story, problem, or brainstorming solution in the comment box.

3. Remember to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Post your comment.

5. Read the comments of others and respond.

Let's support each other in the great work we do every day, even if it's challenging at times!

*This information is not a substitute for professional advice or consultation. The information in the comments section is opinion based, and requires your own research on the topic and the application of common sense.*

Bag of Tricks Friday!

When I was an undergraduate music therapy student at Maryville University, on of my beloved professors, Rosalie Duvall, told us that when we became professional music therapists to always have a strategy in our "bag of tricks." I didn't really know what she meant until I was in my internship and my first session did not go as I planned. At ALL!

So, let's share a new strategy or something that we keep in our "bag of tricks!"

1. Scroll down to the "comments" section of this post.

2. Type your strategy in the comment box and post.

3. Don't forget to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Read and comment on other people's strategy posts.

5. Beg, borrow and steal strategies! Teachers are the best thieves known to man!

Thank you in advance for sharing! I hope you add something to your "Bag of Tricks!"

Storytelling

As musicians, music therapists, and educators, do we realize the amount of storytelling that happens in our classrooms and therapy sessions every day?

Literacy, history, journaling, song lyrics, songwriting...these are all forms of storytelling. Wikipedia defines storytelling as "the conveying of events in words, images, and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment." The definition of storytelling *screams* music therapy and education to me!

Do you have a friend or colleague that can always gain your rapt attention by the way they tell a story? What makes it so grand? What keeps your attention? Really think about it...you should embody those characteristics in order to engage your audience. Maybe they include the following elements:

• Make eye contact
• Use natural, comfortable gestures and body movements/posture
• The story has a beginning, middle, and end
• The storyteller projects their voice and has an appropriate, pleasing tone
• The storyteller is sincere
• Tells at an appropriate pace
• Enthusiastic

Did you know that St. Louis has the largest storytelling festival in the world? That's right, St. Louis, the WORLD! The St. Louis Storytelling Festival is in May, and I encourage you to hear some stories if you have never been before. Now, I've been several times to this local festival, as my former art teacher (from Kindergarten!!) is a storyteller with this association. :)

Next time you are singing a song, writing a song, or relaying information to a student, remember to put on your storytelling hat! Make each moment worthwhile and engaging!

How do you use storytelling in your therapy sessions or classroom?