Most people might look at this picture and see an old piano and bench. That’s what my students saw…until I opened up the bench at the end of their lessons or music therapy sessions to reveal the hidden treasure they now look forward to each week:
That’s right…stickers. The $1.99 variety you find at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or even the grocery store. Who knew that kids could be so easy to please?
“Sticker time” has been a part of my lessons and music therapy sessions for several years now, but only this summer did I think to put them in the piano bench (before, they were in a boring old expandable binder).
After the last piece has been played or the goodbye song has been sung, my students have the opportunity to choose a sticker from the bench and place it on that day’s date in their monthly calendar. And let me tell you, they don’t take their selections lightly; sticker time is serious business (well, as serious as anything involving stickers can be) to many of them.
It’s amazing how my students find such joy in something so simple, but I’m definitely not complaining. It’s the little things, you know?
To potential clients, that is. (I promise I’m not trying to pry into your personal life!) I made the decision to include my phone number on my studio/private practice website last spring when I was really trying to grow my business, and now am going back and forth about removing it.
Here’s the thing: I really dislike talking on the phone. I’m an email gal all the way, especially when it comes to interacting with new people. But I understand that a parent might want to talk voice-to-voice with a potential music therapist or music instructor, which is why I posted my phone number in the first place. And it worked.
But now that my studio is full with a long waiting list to boot, the phone calls from potential clients are starting to wear on me. Instead of answering a call from an unfamiliar number, I let it go to voice mail instead. As I type this blog post, I have at least 10 voice mail messages waiting for my attention and response. Terrible, I know!
Before I take my phone number down, I thought I’d ask your opinion. Do you post yours? And if so, is it a dedicated business number or your personal number? Help!
After reading the inaugural issue of Imagine — the first online magazine dedicated to early childhood music therapy — last September, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next one. Luckily for me and the other music therapists of the world, it’s here!
Once again, I had the opportunity to submit an article to be included in the resources section. It’s called “Building Your Own Business in Early Childhood Music Therapy”. Flipping through the magazine, it’s obvious that I’m in good company. A few highlights:
“Advocating for Music as an Essential Early Childhood Experience” by Dena Register
“Understanding Development in Early Childhood Music Therapy” by Rebecca Wellman
“Biddy Biddy: A Song Without Words” by Carol Ann Blank
“Cool Music Apps for Little Ones” by Petra Kern
“Laughter in Music Therapy and With Young Children” by Kalani Das
“Music Therapists Talk About Self-Care: A Video Interview” by Kat Fulton
All of this excellent information in one place is getting me fired up for the American Music Therapy Association’s national conference, which is coming up in less than two months. I just booked my plane ticket last night and can’t wait to see many of the contributors to Imagine in the flesh!
Fall officially begins on Friday, and I’ll tell you what: I’m going into it kicking and screaming. But it’s going to keep getting darker earlier and chillier whether I like it or not, so I might as well just accept it.
I wrote “Fall Into Fall” almost three years ago, maybe I’ll come to terms with the arrival of fall by writing a new song about it. That would be a much more productive coping mechanism than complaining, huh!
When I look at this picture of my best friends and I at our high school graduation, I find it extremely hard to believe that ten years have passed. We’ve taken many pictures like it since — at each other’s bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, and other milestone events. And I’m sure we’ll take lots more this weekend at our high school reunion.
My husband has been hard at work planning this event (after all, he was voted “Life of the Party” in our senior yearbook) along with the rest of the committee. It’s going to be so much fun to see all of the people I’ve only kept in touch with via Facebook for the last few years. I keep reminding myself of that, rather than dwelling on the fact that this reunion has me feeling a little old. Ridiculous, I know :)
But despite feeling old, I also feel accomplished — and that is a good feeling :) I love that I’ll be the only music therapist at my reunion, though I’m not so much looking forward to explaining my profession dozens of times. I guess I’ll have to rehearse my elevator speech between now and tomorrow!
Welcome! I’m Rachel Rambach, board-certified music therapist and creator of Listen & Learn Music — educational songs and musical materials for children. I love sharing my work with you, along with my behind-the-scenes creative process, adventures in business ownership, and life as a mom of two.
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