I have to admit: pulling a cart from classroom to classroom took some getting used to at first. Four years later, though, my trusty cart is like an extension of myself. That and my guitar, of course.
I know very well that I’m not the first music therapist or teacher to travel with a cart. The speech therapists and art specialist at my school do the same, and it works extremely well for our students. They get to stay in their classroom or activity room, where they feel the most comfortable, and we take only the materials we’ll need on that particular day.
That being said, I wish I had a third eye to keep on my cart during particular music therapy sessions. It can be a little too tempting for several of my students at times, especially when there are favorite instruments or equipment on it. Some teachers keep a sheet over their carts while working with students, which is not a bad idea at all.
So what do I put on my cart? Well, the instruments change from week to week, as do any visual aides or props that accompany my activities and interventions. Every so often, I’ll bring along my iPod and speaker, which I use as positive reinforcement for a few classes. My visual schedule and guitar stand are cart staples, since I use them every day in every classroom.
Pretty soon, I’ll be passing my cart down to my intern, who will be taking my place when she graduates and I go full-time with my private practice. It has served me well over the years, though I’m not sure how much I’ll miss the fun of squeezing it in and out of my office several times a day!
Do you travel by cart, too?
I travel by cart too- although mine is more like a collapsable rolling crate since I travel from school to school! (People often tell me I look like a flight attendant headed for my next flight) You nailed it on the head when you say it’s like an extension of yourself. I feel the same way about mine! It took some getting used to initially, but now I can get in and out of doorsways without the use of my hands! haha. I’m sure it’s good training for when my husband and I decide to have a family one day and I’ll be lugging around a stroller, etc. :)
Sarah, I can totally relate! Back in my intern days and when I first started my private practice as a traveling music therapist, I had one of those collapsible rolling crates too. I loved it! And you’re exactly right — it is EXCELLENT practice for lugging child-related equipment in the future :)
Yes, but it’s usually not that neat! :) I keep mostly songbooks on my cart at the hospital, along with a few small (and quiet) hand instruments, drawing materials (for music and imagery experiences), and a CD player with various CDs ranging from relaxation music to Big band and hymns. My main issue right now is keeping it organized and finding spaces for all the little instruments and materials that seem to find their way into the cart every week. :)
Justine, you’ll be happy to know that my cart usually isn’t as neat as it looks in the (staged) picture!
I also travel by collapsible rolling crate, since I also go from school to school. I also have lots of different sized fabric bags, for light days when I only have a box or 2 of small instruments, like shakers or bells. Besides my guitar & the instruments for the week, I also carry around various props & pictures. :)
I bet your loads of instrument and equipment are getting lighter and lighter as the baby gets bigger and bigger, Kristen…or at least, they should be!
I inherited a big red cart from my facility. They use to put T.V. sets on it for movie days. All the kids have to see is that big red cart and they know its music time. Some of my toddlers go crazy when they see it coming down the hall. I put all my instruments in cubbies (I bought a shelf with lots of cubbies from Target). This keeps the excitement down a little but they know its either lummi sticks, shakers, kazoos, or other hand percussion instruments. The kicker is when I bring the parachute…they go nuts over that!
Jennifer – nice! Isn’t it great to be the music therapist and have all the kids LOVE you? :) I have to ask, though: what are lummi sticks?
A lot of people ask me that! Lummi sticks are the same thing as rhythm sticks. I had a quirky professor in college and he called them that so it kind of stuck. It wasn’t until after I got out of college into my internship when I found out the widely known term was rhythm sticks!
Ahh! Sounds so much more interesting than rhythm sticks…I might have to adopt that term, too ;)
Because I also travel to several locations each day, I use a scrapbooking case. I find it works better than the collapsible crate for a few reasons. 1. It’s covered, so the instruments and materials don’t get wet in the rain or snow. 2. It conceals the materials when they are not in use so the kiddos are less tempted to dig. 3. It rolls with the same mechanism as a rolling suitcase with retractible handle. Because it stays upright, the materials don’t all fall down to the bottom as they might in a suitcase or rolling duffle.
I also love that there are small pouches, pockets, and spaces meant for markers that are perfect for mallets and art supplies. Combined with my backpack gig bag, I find it fairly easy to get around. Finally, it was significantly less expensive than a rolling suitcase. :-)
Good idea, Julie! I’ve seen those in craft stores and thought that they’d be perfect for that purpose. I just might be picking one up for myself soon!