A Week in the Life of a Music Therapist

What does a music therapist do in a week? Well, each music therapist will probably tell you something a little different depending on where they work and the populations they serve. However, each music therapist’s schedule should have at least these three things on their weekly agenda: sessions, prep and planning time, and documentation. 

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To Memorize or NOT to Memorize Repertoire?

To Memorize or NOT to Memorize Repertoire? | Listen & Learn Music
I always keep my music next to me in my Listen & Learn classes.

Memorizing repertoire can be a daunting task. For some people, it is incredibly difficult to do. It is time consuming. You may not even be sure if those around you care or benefit from the music being memorized or not. It can be an internal battle when deciding whether to memorize a song or not.

When teaching classes and providing music therapy sessions, memorization of pieces can be crucial to the success of an experience, or it could really not matter in the grand scheme of things. Throughout my week, I utilize three different methods: memorization, having my music off to the side, and putting the music on a stand in front of me. 

Here is what I consider when deciding which setup to use.

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How To Organize Your Repertoire

Music therapists, musicians, music educators, and music students tend to have an abundance of repertoire. It can definitely be difficult to keep track of everything. How to organize this music has been a hot topic in many circles I am a part of. 

I have personally used both the electronic and paper routes of repertoire organization. There are pros and cons to each format. Let’s take a look at them below.

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A Music Therapist’s New Year’s Resolution {2020 Edition}

A new decade is here, and with that, new exciting challenges and opportunities are upon us. Last year, I resolved to learn or write a new song every week. I’m not sure I quite accomplished my goal, but I learned so many songs and wrote quite a handful too!

In 2019, I finished my master’s degree, started a new job, began working with older adults, and began teaching at the collegiate level. Who knows what will happen in 2020, but my professional goal is clear: I want to remain focused on my students’ and clients’ goals. 

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My Word for 2020

2020 Word of the Year | Rachel Rambach | Listen & Learn Music

I have mixed emotions about leaving 2019 behind. It was a great year on so many levels both personally and professionally, but it was also a year filled with more “hustle” and less “self-care” than I’d like to admit.

My word for 2019 was CREATE, and that I did. My big goal for the year was to write a book, and I accomplished that goal with over a month to spare. Writing Innovative Income for Music Therapists was anything but easy, though, and when I reflect on the past year, the difficulty of that process is at the forefront.

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