by Rachel | Guitars & Granola Bars
There are very few music therapists who DON’T know JoAnn Jordan. She’s one of those people who goes out of her way to hello at conference, celebrates your good news on Facebook, and retweets you on Twitter.
I always love talking with JoAnn because not only is she an innovative music therapist, but she also has lots of wisdom to share on the topic of motherhood. So naturally, having her as a guest on the podcast was a no-brainer.
JoAnn talks about discovering her passion for working with two seemingly opposite populations, raising her daughter and building a private practice in a rural area, and adjusting to life as an empty nester in Episode 30 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast.
Be sure to check out the show notes page for more information about JoAnn, along with links to the resources she mentions in the episode.
This episode is sponsored by Music Teacher’s Helper, which is software for music teachers and therapists that helps manage your private music lesson studio and/or music therapy practice. I’ve used Music Teacher’s Helper every single day since 2011, and it is one of the best tools I have to keep my private practice running smoothly.
Sign up here for a 30-day no risk trial. If you choose to sign up after the trial using my link, you’ll save 20% off your first month!
Click here to subscribe on iTunes, or search “Guitars & Granola Bars” in the podcast app on your Apple device.
Click here to listen and subscribe on Stitcher, or download and search the app on your mobile device.
by Rachel | Resources & Tips
Earlier this week as I organized all of my singable stories on the bookshelves of our brand new studio, I took note of my favorites and those that have been most effective in classes and music therapy sessions. Five Little Ducklings ranks in the top 10, although if you ask my son Parker, he will tell you it’s #1.
I’ve shared other Melanie Gerth books here on the blog before, but this one takes the cake for a few reasons. First of all, the ducks: they are big, colorful, and fuzzy. They’ve stood the test of time (I’ve had this book for 7+ years!) and still look good as new. Second, there’s counting involved as in all of her books; I like that there are only five ducks to count and therefore it’s a bit shorter than the others. This fits my younger kiddos’ attention spans — or lack thereof — quite well.
And third, the familiar melody is easy for little ones to learn and remember. I think Parker had the entire song memorized after one or two listens, and he’s 2. (Of course, at this point he could sing it in his sleep, as we listen to it on every single car ride.)
I have used this singable story in my early childhood classes, both with the book and as a standalone song. If you don’t have the actual book, you could make picture cards to go with it or even have your students “act out” the story. Another way to get creative with it is to change the ducklings to other animals and replace “quack, quack, quack” with the appropriate sounds.
I’m on the hunt for some fresh new singable stories to add to my collection, so please share your favorites with me! You can find a whole heap of singable stories I’ve shared right here.
by Rachel | Guitars & Granola Bars
I’ve heard some pretty fascinating stories on this podcast, but Alana’s might just take the cake. I’m sure you’ll be just as riveted as I was when you hear all that Alana has been through — including the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — and overcome to get to where she is today.
Alana’s perspective on life and her approach to both motherhood and music therapy is inspiring, and as I mention in the episode, I could have continued chatting with her for hours on end.
Alana talks about having her life interrupted by not 1 but 4 hurricanes, the birth and postpartum experiences she had with her two girls, and the parallels between being a mom and a music therapist in Episode 29 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast.
Be sure to check out the show notes page for more information about Alana, along with links to the resources she mentions in the episode.
This episode is sponsored by Music Teacher’s Helper, which is software for music teachers and therapists that helps manage your private music lesson studio and/or music therapy practice. I’ve used Music Teacher’s Helper every single day since 2011, and it is one of the best tools I have to keep my private practice running smoothly.
Sign up here for a 30-day no risk trial. If you choose to sign up after the trial using my link, you’ll save 20% off your first month!
Click here to subscribe on iTunes, or search “Guitars & Granola Bars” in the podcast app on your Apple device.
Click here to listen and subscribe on Stitcher, or download and search the app on your mobile device.
by Rachel | Business Ownership
We signed the least on our new building back in May, but it wasn’t until I spotted this sign from the street that it hit me: Music Therapy Connections has a new home!
What started as a solo music therapist traveling to clients’ homes now has 2,300 square feet of dedicated space and a team of 6. Our doors at 1234 Centre West Drive open in less than two weeks, and I couldn’t be any more excited!
I designed our exterior signage based on our logo with the guidance of Matt Larison at Ace Sign Company here in Springfield, and they did an amazing job producing and installing it. I feel a little silly admitting this, but I drove past our building four times on Monday just to admire the sign from the street. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing it and knowing that thousands of people drive by it every day.
In fact, I’ve already gotten two phone calls from people who drove by and were curious about our services. I guess I never really considered that having our own building and sign would be marketing in and of itself.
This is only one of many exciting moments to come in relation to our new headquarters. Tomorrow the carpet installation will be complete, which means we can start moving in furniture, instruments, and equipment. We’ll have the whole team together the week after next, and then we’ll actually start working with our students and clients there — the culmination of 6 months of planning, saving, and hustling.
But until that day comes, I’ll be driving past to get a glimpse of our sign at every opportunity and pinching myself each time.
by Rachel | Motherhood
This is the 3rd consecutive year I’ve celebrated World Breastfeeding Week by — wait for it — breastfeeding. We’ve attended the annual World Breastfeeding Week Zoo Walk, hosted by the West Central Illinois Breastfeeding Taskforce, each year since 2012, when I started providing musical entertainment during the event.
In 2013, I was just a couple months in to motherhood and still working to get the hang of nursing Parker. He was a huge supporter of breastfeeding from the start, as you can see ;)
In 2014, he was down to nursing just in the morning and at bedtime, but neither of us were quite ready to give it up altogether. (He self-weaned a little over a month later, literally on the day I found out I was pregnant.)
And this year, I’m right back at the beginning with Mia, who is just 10 weeks old. Nursing her has been so much easier than it was with Parker, which I attribute to knowing what I’m doing this time around and feeling much more confident.
We always have a great time getting together with friends I’ve met through the mom & baby group at St. John’s Hospital, and this year was especially fun now that Parker is old enough to really enjoy the zoo.
I’m hoping that I can celebrate this week next year by continuing to breastfeed at least until then, if not longer. As exhausting and consuming as it can be at times, there is nothing better than having this girl snuggled up to me.
