by Rachel | Uncategorized
My former high school’s show choir is coming to perform for my students today. I was a member of Seven & Senators at Springfield High School from 1998-2001, and can’t wait to see and hear how the group has evolved over the last ten years.
I wrote about my show choir experience (which is probably the reason that I am a total Gleek) last year, but think it’s worth bringing up again…this time, in relation to my career. Because as far-fetched as it might sound, those three years in Seven & Senators actually helped prepare me for life as a music therapist:
I gained an appreciation for all genres of music. We performed Broadway, golden oldies, love songs, classic rock, jazz, and just about everything else under the sun. Now there’s a special place in my heart for “Blue Skies”, “Bill Bailey”, and lots of other music therapy standards.
I got experience singing in front of audiences of all ages and abilities. Every year, we made the rounds at elementary schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and facilities like The Hope Institute (where I work now). I always enjoyed talking with the students and residents and brightening their day with our performances.
I learned how to improvise. Both vocally, and otherwise! Reinterpreting choreography when my dance partner was MIA, riffing with the audience when our sound system failed us, and creatively solving various other issues were par for the course as a member of show choir.
I taught myself how to memorize at lightning speed. Not only did my brain have to remember all of the music we sang, but it also had to remember countless dance steps, positions, and song order. Now, working with children, I memorize all of the music I use in music therapy sessions so that I can focus on my students — not the lyrics or chords. All that memorizing I did back in the day has served me well.
I bonded with others through music. We all know that the therapeutic relationship is a crucial aspect of music therapy. There’s something about music that speeds up a budding friendship, as I realized early on being involved in show choir and musical theatre. And though my clients aren’t necessarily my friends, our relationship is strong because of the music that we make together.
I’m sure there are other ways in which show choir helped shape me into the music therapist I am today. It’s so cool to look back at my past and realize how all the dots connect perfectly. What about you? Did your past experiences (show choir or otherwise) prepare you for your current career?
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Each morning as I decide what to wear, a few thoughts go through my head: what’s the weather like? Do I have any floor groups today? Am I going to be lugging instruments and equipment around?
As a music therapist, my job duties and work environment changes on a daily basis depending on which clients I’m seeing and in which setting I’ll be seeing them. I spend most days in multiple settings, going straight from my job at a school (where I need to adhere to a certain dress code) to my private practice (where I can keep my outfit a little more casual). So the key is finding a good balance.
There is a list of rules I follow during the school year that make getting dressed a little easier, no matter what I’ll be doing on any given day. Here are some things I stay away from:
- open-toed shoes
- uncomfortable heels
- short skirts
- shirts that are too short
- pants that are too low
- sleeves that don’t let me lift my arms easily
- overstated jewelry
In other words, I pretty much stick to the basics. My wardrobe feels pretty boring at times, but it’s better than being uncomfortable!
In the summer I can be a little more lax, since I work mainly in my home studio and don’t have to do any hauling or walking around. I still need to look professional enough, but I want my students and parents (who most often are dressed down during the warmer months) to feel comfortable and “at home” in my studio.
There’s so much more you have to take into consideration when you spend your days with children. What rules — whether your own or a strict dress code — do you follow when you get dressed for work?
by Rachel | Uncategorized
This was my bible during my first year as a professional music therapist. Throughout the nine months prior that I spent in internship, I compiled songs that I thought might come in handy (or already had) for music therapy sessions. I’m so glad I took the time to do that way back when, because here I am, four years later…still referring back to it and adding new songs as I go.
Of course, not every song is relevant anymore, especially now that I write most of my own material. But every single song on my recent list of 12 Songs Every Music Therapist Should Know can be found in this giant binder, as are many of the songs I’m about to add to that list.
I received several requests for my FULL list of essential songs, and since I aim to please, here goes! Note: I am not elaborating on each one as I did in my original list, because if I did, you’d still be reading this tomorrow…
- “Ain’t No Sunshine” (Bill Withers)
- “All Good Gifts” (Godspell)
- “All Star” (Smashmouth)
- “American Pie” (Don McLean)
- “Amazing Grace”
- “Apples & Bananas”
- “Be OK” (Ingrid Michaelson)
- “Blackbird” (The Beatles)
- “Blue Skies”
- “Blue Suede Shoes” (Elvis Presley)
- “Boogie Baby”
- “Boom Boom, Ain’t it Great to be Crazy”
- “Breakaway” (Kelly Clarkson)
- “Brown-Eyed Girl” (Van Morrison)
- “Bushel and a Peck” (Guys & Dolls)
- “Change the World” (Eric Clapton)
- “Circle of Life” (Elton John)
- “Clap For Love” (Little Miss Ann)
- “The Climb” (Miley Cyrus)
- “Colors of the Wind” (Vanessa Williams)
- “Day by Day” (Godspell)
- “Defying Gravity” (Wicked)
- “Do-Re-Mi” (The Sound of Music)
- “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (Bobby McFerrin)
- “Everybody” (Ingrid Michaelson)
- “Fire & Rain” (James Taylor)
- “Firework” (Katy Perry)
- “Fix You” (Coldplay)
- “For Good” (Wicked)
- “The Girl I Mean to Be” (Secret Garden)
- “Glory of Love”
- “God Only Knows” (Beach Boys)
- “Hallelujah” (Jeff Buckley)
- “Happy Together” (The Turtles)
- “Here Comes the Sun” (The Beatles)
- “Hero” (Mariah Carey)
- “Hey Jude” (The Beatles)
- “Horse With No Name” (America)
- “How Sweet It Is” (James Taylor)
- “I Believe I Can Fly” (R. Kelly)
- “I Can See Clearly Now” (Lee Towers)
- “I Don’t Care if the Rain Comes Down”
- “I Got Rhythm”
- “I Have a Dream” (ABBA)
- “I Will Remember You” (Sarah McLachlan)
- “I Want To Teach the World To Sing”
- “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
- “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”
- “In the Jungle”
- “Jingle Bells”
- “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt”
- “Jump, Jive ‘n Wail” (Louis Prima)
- “Just the Way You Are” (Billy Joel)
- “Lean on Me” (Bill Withers)
- “Let It Be” (The Beatles)
- “L-O-V-E”
- “My Favorite Things” (The Sound of Music)
- “My Girl” (The Temptations)
- “My Wish” (Rascal Flatts)
- “Never Never Land” (Peter Pan)
- “No Day But Today” (Rent)
- “No One is Alone” (Into the Woods)
- “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing” (Schoolhouse Rock)
- “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” (The Beatles)
- “The Rainbow Connection” (Kermit the Frog)
- “The Raindrop Song”
- “River of Dreams” (Billy Joel)
- “Seasons of Love” (Rent)
- “Shake Your Sillies Out”
- “Side by Side”
- “Someone to Watch Over Me”
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
- “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King)
- “Sunrise, Sunset” (Fiddler on the Roof)
- “Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay!”
- “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
- “This Little Light of Mine”
- “Three is a Magic Number” (Schoolhouse Rock)
- “Three Little Birds” (Bob Marley)
- “The Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)” (Greenday)
- “Top of the World” (The Carpenters)
- “Twist and Shout” (The Beatles)
- “Under the Boardwalk” (The Drifters)
- “When You Wish Upon a Star” (Pinocchio)
- “Wide Open Spaces” (Dixie Chicks)
- “You Are My Sunshine”
- “You Gotta Be” (Des’ree)
- “You Raise Me Up” (Josh Groban)
- “Your Smiling Face” (James Taylor)
- “You’ve Got a Friend” (James Taylor)
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (Randy Newman)
- “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”
Notice the nice little scroll box? Right around song #35, I decided it was mandatory. Hopefully I’ve given you some new ideas for songs to add to your own repertoire…and like my last “essential” songs post, I want to know: which tunes am I still missing?
P.S. Did you know that you can gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs (mp3, lead sheet, and instrumental track), videos, tutorials, and visual aides, plus ALL new releases from Listen & Learn Music?
by Rachel | Uncategorized
I had the pleasure of spending Wednesday morning with a great group of middle school students (I’m the non-student wearing stripes in the middle) from Lincoln Magnet School. They contacted me last month about interviewing me for a project in their video journalism class, and of course I said yes!
These kids were pros, let me tell you. I had reserved the board room at The Hope Institute for our interview, and as soon as we walked into the room, they began discussing the best placement for their video camera and me as the interview subject. They had already sent me a list of questions, so I looked over those as they finished setting up.
This was just page one of the excellent questions they had for me. It was interesting to listen to their reactions as I explained what music therapy is all about, and how my students benefit from it. They came up with some fabulous on-the-spot questions, as well.
After the interview was over, I took the students and their guidance counselor (who I had as a teacher when I was in middle school!) on a tour of the building. They had the chance to meet some of my students, chat with my principal, see lots of cool aspects of our facility, and get an idea of all the kinds of services an organization like Hope has to offer.
The students will be editing their video into a short piece that will be shown at their class’s end-of-the-year movie screening, and I can’t wait to see the final product. Not only was this a fun opportunity for me, but it’s one more way to get the word out about music therapy in my community.
by Rachel | Resources & Tips
As music therapists, we all know that the contents of our repertoire depend on the populations with which we work. But there are just some songs that transcend populations, and can be used in almost any setting — whether in a school, private practice, nursing facility, hospice care, or otherwise.
Your list might look different from mine, but based on my experience, here are the 12 songs that I think can be used with just about any music therapy client, regardless of age, diagnosis, or ability.
- “American Pie” – This song is obviously a classic, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like singing along to the chorus. It might not be your first pick for a piggybacked children’s goodbye song, but it was mine :)
- “Amazing Grace” – It’s most often associated with seniors and hospice patients, though everyone should have a few hymns in their collection.
- “Blue Suede Shoes” – My students dig this tune, even though most of them have no clue who Elvis Presley is! Older clients, of course, are familiar with both him and the song.
- “Blue Skies” – I use this as a weather song sometimes, or to give everyone a mood lift. It has always been one of my favorite songs.
- “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – This one is great for discussing positive feelings, and I use it often as the basis of a songwriting activity.
- “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Also known as “In the Jungle” or “Wimoweh”, I adapted it for young children and sing the original version on a regular basis.
- “Lean on Me” – It’s all about knowing there are people to support you, and that’s applicable to everyone. Plus, it’s repetitive and easy to sing.
- “Ob-La-Di” – Did you know that this song makes an excellent hello song? I rewrote the words a few years ago, and use it all the time.
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – I think a lot of people have an emotional connection to this song. It’s interesting to hear what’s “over the rainbow” for clients who are verbal and capable of abstract thinking.
- “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” – Baseball is America’s pastime, right? It’s fun to bring out this song every spring and hear about everyone’s favorite teams.
- “This Little Light of Mine” – I learned this song for my internship interview and have been singing it ever since. As a movement song, as an inspirational song, and however else I feel like adapting it on a given day.
- “You Are My Sunshine” – A traditional song that almost everyone knows. It’s easy to adapt for just about any client and setting.
Speaking of songs for music therapists, members of Listen & Learn Plus have instant access to my vast collection of over 200 songs (mp3, lead sheet, and instrumental track), videos, tutorials, and visual aides, plus ALL new releases from Listen & Learn Music. Click here for a free inside look, including several useful downloads!
