Music Therapy: A Hybrid?

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That is exactly how it is described in an article from Time Out New York, which I found via a blog post by Brown Music Therapy. The article is titled “The New Hybrids” and leads in as follows:

We’re not talking about eco-friendly cars, but innovative fields that blend disciplines in unexpected ways – and could kick-start your career.

Other “hybrid” jobs mentioned in the article include narrative medicine, urban agriculture, and food media. I’ve never used that particular term to describe music therapy, but in a way, it sort of fits. Music therapy is still considered to be a new and, for some people, unconventional field, and there is always a lot of curiosity at the mention of it.

If you are a music therapist, you know how difficult it can be to explain your job to someone who is completely unfamiliar with the field. I still struggle with this, even after almost three years. I’ve read so many magazine and newspaper articles where music therapy is either misrepresented or poorly explained, so I was impressed with the short write-up featured in this article. Read it for yourself here.

A New Way to Say Goodbye

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

When I introduced a brand-new goodbye song in one of my classes this morning, I was met with mixed emotions…from the staff! The students seemed to respond very positively to the new tune, while several of my coworkers didn’t hide their disappointment that I strayed from the usual goodbye song. They were good sports, though, and were quick to adapt and sing along. I’m lucky to have classroom staff that are so supportive of the music therapy program :)

Like the hello song I discussed yesterday, today’s goodbye song replaces several old standbys that have passed their prime. See what you think:

It’s time for me to go, oh, oh, oh,
Music is over for today.
It’s time for me to go, oh, oh, oh,
So tell me, what do we say?

Goodbye, goodbye,
Farewell, and so long.
Goodbye, goodbye,
This is the goodbye song.

Wish I could stay, hey, hey, hey,
But I’m afraid our time is through.
Wish I could stay, hey, hey, hey,
But I have to sing goodbye to you.

Goodbye, goodbye,
Farewell, and so long.
Goodbye, goodbye,
This is the goodbye song.

And now I must say goodbye to YOU, because it is my bedtime! Now that school is back in session, I find that I need an extra hour or so of sleep in order to keep my energy up all day long. My job is extremely gratifying, but it is also extremely exhausting!

Music Therapy in the News

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If you live in Springfield and happened to watch the news tonight, you’ve already seen this. But for my long-distance readers: you can see the story for yourselves HERE. I’m so proud to share the work I do with my community, especially since music therapy is not as established in Springfield as it is in other places. Any chance I get to spread the word about the positive effects of music, I gladly take it!

If you are new to Listen & Learn, thanks for visiting. Please let me know if you have any questions about music therapy or the songs I write by sending me an email. Also, be sure to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Music Therapy as a Career

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One of the most fun aspects of writing this blog is the feedback I get from readers via email. I absolutely love hearing from you, whether you’re sharing a success story or asking a question. One of the questions that I get asked the most is “how do I become a music therapist?”. I receive one of these at least twice a week, with people wanting to know what kind of education and training are required, how long it takes, where a music therapist can work, etc.

So I was thrilled when I came across a blog post by one of my Twitter friends, fellow music therapist Kimberly Moore, addressing this very topic. For those of you who are curious about the path that leads to a music therapy career, please take a moment and read How to Become a Music Therapist. And keep the emails and comments coming!

Music that Motivates

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Believe it or not, I’m one of those crazy people that gets up and goes to the gym at 5 am. It sounds completely awful, I know; but I love getting a jump start on my day and having my workout finished before most people are even out of bed. Besides a really loud alarm clock placed strategically out of my reach, there is only one thing that keeps me going every day: music.

I have filled my little iPod shuffle with songs that I know will keep me moving from the second I step onto the treadmill, through all of my strength training reps, to my cardio cool-down at the end. A few current favorites are the Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, All American Rejects, and Kelly Clarkson.

Music is a great way to motivate my students and keep them moving, as well. As a music therapist, I always forget how useful recorded music can be – in fact, I was just having this conversation with another music therapist recently. I have been trying to use it to my advantage more lately, and I am being reminded that it can really give my students the push to do their work and meet their goals.

So here is a little list of the songs on my iPod that my students are digging, and that they will work extra hard to hear at the end of their session:

The Jungle Book – “Bare Necessities”
High School Musical – “We’re All in This Together”
High School Musical 2 – “You are the Music in Me”
Laurie Berkner Band – “Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)”
Alvin & the Chipmunks – “Witch Doctor”
Smashmouth – “All Star”
Jonas Brothers – “Live to Party”
The Lion King – “Hakuna Matata”
Justin Roberts – “Hey Hippopotamus”
Lou Bega – “Disney Mambo # 5”

This is just a short list of the many songs that I find myself humming after a long day of music therapy! Are there any others you can add to the list? If so, I’d love to hear them.