My Word for 2023

Word for 2023 | Rachel Rambach | Listen & Learn Music

The older I get, the faster the years go…so it makes sense that 2022 flew by in a blink. In comparison with previous years, this was a really, really good one, though it was not without its challenges. My word for the year was PERSEVERE, which I chose with the intention to “just keep going” no matter what curveballs came my way. As has been my practice for the past several years, I didn’t set any big, lofty goals; rather, I wanted to focus on living my word without any extra stress (because my regular daily life brings more than enough of that!).

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Adventures in Going Back to School

Adventures in Going Back to School | Listen & Learn Music

Back in August, my friend told me that she was going back to school for her PhD in speech-language pathology. I have a lot in common with this friend: we both have two kids (our boys play competitive travel soccer together), busy careers, and full social lives.

So when she shared this news with me, the first words out of my mouth were, “Oh wow, I could never do that.”

I’ve been saying that for years. I went straight to graduate school after finishing undergrad, so the only life I knew was student life. That served me well, and helped me stay focused as I earned my master’s degree in music therapy. My mom went back to school for her doctorate shortly after turning 50, and I was just in awe of her ability to do so. I couldn’t imagine the rigorous schedule and responsibilities of being a student ON TOP OF regular life.

After that conversation with my friend, though, I rethought my words. Why couldn’t I do it? School was my thing; the only B I ever got — like, literally ever — was in a dance class my freshman year of college, and I’m still not over it. (Kidding, kind of.) I love to learn, and I had been feeling the itch for professional growth over the last year or so.

A few days later, I found myself googling “counseling programs” and taking copious notes. Wait, what? Did I want to become a counselor? Apparently, yes I did.

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My Word for 2021

Word of the Year 2021 | Rachel Rambach | Listen & Learn Music

Last year on this very day, I wrote that I had “mixed emotions about leaving 2019 behind”. Well, I can tell you for certain that my emotions are NOT mixed in the slightest about 2020 ending. It’s been a hard year for everyone, and I know we are all more than ready for 2021.

My word for 2020 was OPTIMIZE. I had high hopes for streamlining all areas of my life, but little did I know when I chose this word that life would be anything but optimal in the months to come.

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The Life of a Music Therapist During a Pandemic

The Life of a Music Therapist During a Pandemic | Listen & Learn Music

Wow, what a wild ride the past half year has been! It’s been an interesting several months, and I’m so glad to be back on the blog to share what life as a music therapist has looked like during this time.

Going back to my previous posts, the last one I shared was in February: A Week in the Life of a Music Therapist. Little did I know that the world would soon be flipped upside down with a pandemic. As I’m sure many people have experienced, my typical week does not look much like it did back in February!

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A Music Therapist’s New Year’s Resolution {2020 Edition}

A new decade is here, and with that, new exciting challenges and opportunities are upon us. Last year, I resolved to learn or write a new song every week. I’m not sure I quite accomplished my goal, but I learned so many songs and wrote quite a handful too!

In 2019, I finished my master’s degree, started a new job, began working with older adults, and began teaching at the collegiate level. Who knows what will happen in 2020, but my professional goal is clear: I want to remain focused on my students’ and clients’ goals. 

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