by Rachel | Uncategorized
I’m assuming that since you’re here at Listen & Learn, you are probably interested in music therapy, music education, or just music in general. If that is the case, then you’ll definitely want to stop by the Erfurt Music Resource, a new website created by my friend and fellow music therapist, Michelle Erfurt. Read as Michelle describes it in her own words:
“The idea of creating an online resource for music related products, services, and information came from a conversation I had with Raymond Day, adaptive instrument maker and long time music therapy supporter. I had published a music songbook for Rachel Rambach and really needed to show it off at the next national American Music Therapy Association conference. I wanted a table in the exhibit hall but was looking for someone else to share the rental cost in order to be as fiscally responsible as possible. I had heard about Raymond Day from my days volunteering with the AMTA membership committee and gave him a call. Turns out that he wanted to sell his products at conference but wasn’t able to physically be there. So we worked out a deal…and together we were able to spread the word about our products.”
“There are many people out there just like Raymond, Rachel and myself. Individuals with products, services and information that would be of interest to music therapists, music educators, parents, and more. But we need help connecting our great products with all of you out there. So, that’s exactly what we have done. The Erfurt Music Resource: A collection of individuals working to promote our items together.”
This site truly is a comprehensive collection; you’ll find other music therapy bloggers like me, video lessons, e-books, and lots more. It’s nice to be part of a community that is growing so quickly and receiving such a great response.
by Rachel | Uncategorized
You may be wondering why I’m featuring music therapy in Arizona today, when I live clear across the country in Illinois. Well here’s the thing: one of the main reasons I write this blog is because my readers (YOU!) continue to provide such positive feedback and support. It is the very least I can do to give that back to you, and that’s what today’s Friday Fave is all about.
One reader in particular is a music therapist like me, originally from Illinois, who is currently doing all that she can to advocate for music therapy in her state of Arizona. Like many other states, Alison and her colleagues are faced with incredible budget cuts that would deprive them of a sustainable income. Alison explained the situation in an email to me, and this is what she had to say:
Arizona has fallen on hard times as most states have but they are constantly targetting music therapy. In February of last year the state tried to give music therapists a pay cut of 55% which is not a sustainable income. Sadly we would all make more money giving piano lessons at that rate. Other therapies were given a ten percent cut and as I recall AMTA sued the state for discriminatory cuts and managed to get us an equal 10 percent cut. On Monday Arizona state legislators are voting on more budget cuts which would cut music therapy down 50% again if passed according to DDD’s proposed budget cuts plan. We are having a push here to educate all of our legislators as well as workers at the Department of Developmental Disabilities. We have been fighting an uphill battle in Arizona for almost a year now but seeing results in our clients is well worth it.
Alison wrote back a few days later with this unfortunate news:
We found out Friday night that the cuts passed and music therapy has been cut by 50% and other therapies 10%. It is very sad. I have many higher functioning clients with autism who become upset and cry when I tell them I am going out of town next week but will see them in two weeks. I can’t imagine how they will feel when I tell them that this will be the last time they will see me.
We were asked last week to collect some data from our clients; how many clients were funded by the state, how many had speech/communication goals, how many received speech therapy, and how many received no other therapies. My clients have been the most grateful and appreciative of any I have had the pleasure of working with. Some were on waiting lists for music therapy up to 7 years and finally started receiving it once I moved here. I have 35 clients that I see in home on a 1:1 basis and of those 20 have a speech related goal, 21 do not receive speech therapy, and 15 do not receive any other therapies. It’s so unfair to the kids. Many of the therapists are going to try to do private pay but I know that isn’t a viable option for most of my families. I just hate to see these kids left without any services. My youngest clients are the ones who do receive Speech and OT but I know they will be dropped once they require after school hours as most of my after school hour kids do not receive these therapies.
We are fighting right now for recognition as a therapy and not just as habilitation with a music component (which is what the state of AZ has us listed as). So any letters from music therapists across the country could help us with this.
This is such an awful situation not only for music therapists, but also for the clients who will most likely have their services terminated due to these budget cuts. Alison is not the first person I’ve talked to who is effected by the cuts, and sadly, she won’t be the last. As she wrote above, you can help by writing a letter in support of music therapy recognition in her state, no matter where you live. You can even use the letter she wrote as a template:
Alison’s Letter
You can email me with your letters in support of music therapy recognition in Arizona, and I will make sure they get into the right hands. Or, you can contact Alison directly.
The music therapy community is small in comparison with other fields, which is why it is so important to support one another. You, as a reader, support music therapy just by visiting Listen & Learn Music, and for that I thank you!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Has it really been two whole weeks since I returned from the AMTA conference in San Diego? According to my calendar, it has, but it feels like just yesterday. My first national conference was an experience I won’t soon forget, and I’m already thinking ahead to next year. You can read some of the highlights I shared early on during my stay, but more important, in my opinion were the lessons I learned not only about my profession, but about myself, as well. (I know…how cheesy am I?)
Yes, there are actually others like me out there! Ok, so I knew this already, but it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of other music therapists out there, with jobs very similar to mine, when I am on my own in good ol’ Springfield. Having face-to-face contact and trading stories and advice was worth the price of admission, in my opinion.
The internet really is a good place to meet people. Of course, I mean that only in the most professional sense :) I’ve made quite a few online connections with fellow MTs over the last couple of years, and I was thrilled to have a chance to meet many of them IRL (that’s “in real life” for those of you who don’t speak internet!) at conference. Several of us joked that we felt like old friends already, but it really was true. And let me tell you, hanging out with music therapists in person is much more fun than sending tweets and writing on Facebook walls!
I’m on the right track. Having been in the field for only 2.5 years, I tend to question my knowledge, professional abilities, and the decisions I make as a therapist from time to time. I had this false notion that every other MT knew exactly what he or she was doing every step of the way, but I quickly learned from the vets at conference that those question marks are normal. Based on the feedback I received regarding my career, I came home with a brand-new sense of confidence and even clearer vision for my future path.
Public speaking is actually fun. This was probably one of the most valuable lessons of the bunch. In submitting my presentation proposal, I basically forced myself to face one of my biggest fears: public speaking. Little did I know that the key to this art is finding the right topic, which I definitely had by presenting “Music Therapy in the Blogosphere”. I enjoyed myself so much that I couldn’t wait to give another presentation two days later. I’m officially hooked on public speaking!
Good ideas lead to big things. I knew that I would finally get to see and hold the new Listen & Learn Songbook once I arrived in San Diego, but it wasn’t until it was actually in my hand that I was able to grasp the reality of it. What began as an idea was now, after lots of hard work, a product that people were buying! The picture above shows Michelle Erfurt (my wonderful publisher, on the left) and I at our booth in the exhibit hall.
I could spend another hour telling you all about the specifics: the presentations and workshops I attended, the people I met, and the conversations that were had, but I have a feeling those will unfold over time as I put them to good use. This conference was just what I needed to recharge my battery, so to speak. Do I really have to wait an entire year for the next one?
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Can I just tell you how excited I am to be writing to you from Springfield for the first time in over a week? Really, really excited. As much as I love traveling, attending/presenting at conferences, and meeting new people, it feels good to be home. I can’t wait to see all my kiddos today, and get back into the old routine.
But first, I wanted to share with you the information that I presented yesterday at the Illinois State Board of Education’s nonpublic schools conference. It was great to be able to meet teachers and administrators from across the state and educate them about music therapy, and I can’t wait to do it again next year! Below, you can download my handout and slides, both in PDF format.
Download: Music Therapy for Children With Disabilities
It’s funny to think that just a few days ago, I had a completely unfounded fear of public speaking. But I’ve quickly realized that if you’re passionate about your topic, standing up in front of people and sharing information is easy and – I thought I would never say this – fun. I’m already looking for opportunities to present again in the near future!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
After five days in warm, beautiful San Diego, I can’t say I was thrilled to come home to the cold, rain-soaked Midwest. But such is life, so here I am, back in Springfield, though I am about to leave and head north to the suburbs of Chicago (where it is undoubtedly colder and rainier). I have one more presentation to make, this time at a conference put on by the Illinois State Board of Education, before I can return my suitcases to storage.
I have had several requests by people who were not able to attend the national music therapy conference to see my presentation, so I am making it available to anyone who is interested. All you have to do is follow the link below to download a handout and my presentation slides, both in PDF form.
Download: Music Therapy in the Blogosphere
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask away. And for those of you who want to hear the full conference scoop? Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon to spill it!
