by Rachel | Uncategorized
The countdown is finally over. After waiting anxiously all summer long, Kimberly Sena Moore, Michelle Erfurt and I are thrilled to launch Music Therapy Pro.
Music Therapy Pro is a community. Music Therapy Pro is exclusive information and valuable resources. Music Therapy Pro is all of the following:
- Receiving the business training you didn’t get in school.
- Becoming a savvy networker, online and offline.
- Empowering both beginners and experts.
- Accessing an exclusive online community.
- Downloading relevant information and resources…instantly.
- Learning through bonus monthly podcasts.
- Watching quality step-by-step “how to” videos.
Head on over to Music Therapy Pro to watch a video that gives you the full scoop, and take advantage of our charter membership, which we’ll only be offering for a limited time. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Perhaps you’ve already heard. But if not, head on over to
Why, you ask? Because we’re letting the cat a little further out of the bag with a brand new pre-launch video, that’s why!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
I have found that some methods are more effective than others when it comes to keeping parents up-to-date with their music students’ progress. As in, my old method didn’t work so well…but luckily, my new one does.
Old method: I sent a form home in each student’s binder outlining that day’s assignments, practice tips, and new repertoire. There was a space where daily practice could be recorded, as well as a signature line for both parent and student. While I did have a handful of families who very diligently filled this out each week, most did not.
New method: I send an email to parents (and/or students, if they are old enough to receive email) outlining that day’s assignments, practice tips, and new repertoire. While not all families record practice time in the log provided on my website, many of them respond to my emails with notes of their own, or even specific questions related to the lesson.
I wrote about my method for taking notes during lessons in a previous post, in case you’re curious. But the purpose for today’s post is to stress the importance of parents being involved in their students’ education.
Just today I received an email from a parent:
Thanks for this great information every week! I like being able to show Elly what she needs to do/remind her what she needs to work on.
If the parent values his or her child’s progress, then the child is more likely to do so, as well. My most motivated students are those who are encouraged (but not forced) to practice at home, and whose parents take the time to respond to my feedback and pass it along to their children.
When I was growing up, my mom dropped me off for my piano lesson, I was sent home with nothing but my current piece or book each week, and there was never any communication between her and my teacher. No wonder I didn’t apply myself very well back then!
I love the fact that my students’ parents call me on my cell phone to discuss practice strategies, chat with me before and after lessons, and keep in touch regularly via email and Facebook. All of the above makes me a better teacher, and my students are more successful as a result.
by Rachel | Uncategorized
This drum has been a fixture in my studio for a couple of years now, but lately I’ve been incorporating it into music therapy sessions more than ever.
Here are the three things that I like best about this tubano drum by Remo:
- Sound. It can be played loudly, but does not cause problems for my kids with noise sensitivity. And of course, it also sounds great when played softly or somewhere in between. Anyone can play it and make it sound good!
- Size. This drum seems pretty big to my smaller students, and they like that it can be played while standing up. At the same time, though, it is not so cumbersome that it can’t be easily moved. It has a strap for this purpose, too.
- Appearance. This month I’m rocking a jungle theme, and this drum fits in perfectly. I follow up the singable story Rumble in the Jungle with the tubano drum, and identifying the jungle animals on the side of the drum is the perfect segue.
Added bonus: the drum makes a perfect mini side table when not in use. I keep it next to my piano, and my caddy for pens/pencils/antibacterial gel/other small items sits on top.
I’ll have to write another post about the specific songs, activities, and interventions I’ve come up with just for the tubano drum. And as always, feel free to share your own uses for it!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
As you might have previously read, I got an iPad 2 for my birthday. The primary reason I wanted one was for use in my studio, and I didn’t waste any time putting it into action yesterday.
Up until this past spring, I’ve sent my students home with written assignment sheets and lesson or music therapy session notes in their binders. However, with so many students to see every day, I hated the thought of going through so much paper — not to mention all the time spent handwriting notes.
So I whipped up a notes template on Pages (a word processing app I have on both my Macbook Pro and iPad 2) and then created a document for each day of the week. Each document has a page dedicated to every student I see on that day, with the notes templates all ready to be completed during lessons and music therapy sessions.
At the end of the day after my last student has left, I copy and paste each student’s lesson/session note into an email to either the student (if he/she is an adult) or the parents. That way, we both have an electronic record of everything that happened in the lesson/session, as well as any assignments.
I also include a reminder at the bottom of my notes template to students and parents that they can log practice time, comments, and questions about that week’s lesson/session in their account on my website.
I knew the iPad 2 would be great for educational music apps and playing and recording music, but this use of it is worth the price alone. Do you use your iPad or another electronic device to write and share lesson or session notes, or do you stick to paper and pen?
