The Gang’s All Here

Music Therapy, Lessons & Classes for Children in Springfield, Illinois

It’s hard to believe, but Music Therapy Connections, LLC has grown from a duo to a team of 7 in the span of just one year. On Monday we had a full house in our studio with 5 music therapy sessions, lessons, and groups happening at the VERY SAME TIME. It was awesome.

We had so much fun getting everyone together for a photo shoot a few weeks ago. Here are some names to go with those smiling faces, from left to right:

  • Matt Mifflin teaches guitar and piano.
  • Matt Nall teaches piano and ukulele.
  • Kristi Lecocq teaches voice and introductory piano.
  • Janel Metzger provides music therapy, groups, classes, adapted lessons and introductory piano.
  • Katey Kamerad provides music therapy, groups, classes, adapted and typical lessons (piano/voice/guitar).
  • Alisabeth Hopper, our music therapy intern, assists in providing all of the above.
  • Rachel Rambach (that’s me) provides all of the above.

Learn more about all of our team members, including their background and training, on the Music Therapy Connections website.

What I love about our team is the diverse skills each person brings to the studio. There is some overlap in the instruments we teach and services in which we specialize, but everyone has his or her own approach and philosophy — all of which are a great fit with our company.

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho…

Back to Work After Maternity Leave

It’s off to work I go! This is where I’ll be spending a big part of my week starting today, and I’m super excited about it. Okay, a little sad, because what mom is jumping for joy about leaving her 3-month-old…but mostly super excited.

When I mention that I’m returning to work after maternity leave, most people respond with, “what maternity leave?”. They have a point; although I didn’t work with students individually this summer after having my baby in May, I did teach two classes, continue doing administrative work to keep the business running, and open a new facility alongside my business partner, Katey.

But I was able to do a lot of that work (minus the classes and renovations) from home, and I didn’t have any semblance of a regular routine or schedule all summer long. Starting today, all that changes.

Monday through Thursday, I’ll be working with students in the afternoons and evenings as well as teaching my early childhood class on Tuesday mornings. The beautiful thing about my schedule is that I’m still able to be home with Mia and Parker in the mornings, and this year — for the first time ever — I’m not working on Fridays. It does make for a little bit longer days the rest of the week, but totally worth it to have an entire extra day devoted to my kids.

As delightful as this schedule is, I will be honest that it isn’t easy or relaxing. Caring for a baby all day and THEN going to work with children for several hours back-to-back is no joke; I know because I did it for 18 months with Parker. Not only is it physically exhausting, but it’s also a juggle making sure everything is in place with child care and finding the time to do all the work that requires my attention outside of direct service hours. Oh yeah, and I’m not thrilled about having to pump two times a day, but I know many moms who have to do so while driving or in random places during the workday, so I really have no excuse for complaint.

I’m hoping this time around is a little more manageable overall, and I have high hopes because a) Mia sleeps at night, unlike Parker when he was an infant; and B) I’ve learned some strategies for doing it all and staying sane (most of the time, ha!).

I also know that it gets easier. When Parker started going to school Tuesday through Thursday at 18 months old, it opened up a whole new world for me. At this time next year, Mia will be there with him, so I will have three entire work days each week at that point.

But I am definitely not wishing this time away, because I know in a few years I will greatly miss this time “in the trenches” as they say. Luckily, I absolutely love my work, which makes it worth all the 5 am wakeups and 8 pm bedtimes. I’m feeling a little like a kid on her first day at a new school, except my mom won’t be taking any pictures of me on the front porch before I go ;)

Before and After

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

When Katey and I first stepped into 1234 Centre West Drive, we knew we had found just what we were looking for. Yes, we were surrounded by a sea of purple, but we saw past the cosmetic misfortune because the bones of the building were good. Actually, they were great.

Though the entire place required a fresh coat of paint and new carpet, we didn’t have to change any of the structural aspects in order to suit our needs. We had every room we were looking for and then some — not to mention that every room had a window! And having come from a previous space that had NONE, that was a deal-maker.

This summer, Katey and I spent more hours than we care to admit transforming what you see in the “before” photos on the left to the bright and cheery “after” photos on the left. That gorgeous paint job is courtesy of Katey herself; she and her crew tackled 2,300 square feet of wall space in less than a week (with prep and cleanup help from me when I wasn’t with my babies or at my family reunion that fell on the same weekend).

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

The exterior of the building stayed the same, except of course for the sign on the door. I designed the logo, and Ace Sign Company here in Springfield did the printing and installation for both exterior signs.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

A look at the foyer from the front door. You can see that the color scheme changed drastically; we actually chose the colors based on those of my former home studio. It was so sunny and conducive to the work we do, we decided to stick with yellow and blue.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

The building’s prior occupant was an engineering firm, but with Katey’s handiwork, all remnants of their sign are gone and replaced with an art display wall for our students’ masterpieces (plus all the materials needed to create them)!

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

The view of the front entrance from one of our waiting areas. Notice the chalkboard wall — it hasn’t been this clean or empty since we welcomed students in for the first time :)

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

Our three main teaching rooms from the back hallway. All with windows; natural light has never been as appreciated as it is now after a year without windows in our former space.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

A peek into our dedicated piano lesson room. Matt Nall, our piano instructor, prefers teaching on an acoustic piano as opposed to the Clavinovas and keyboards that occupy the rest of our rooms.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

The room where I’ll be doing most of my teaching and conducting some of my individual music therapy sessions. The Yamaha Clavinovas in my room and Katey’s room have been generously provided by Capital City Music, which is where we purchase all of our lesson materials and send our students for pianos, other instruments, books and materials.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

We have LOTS of babies and toddlers in our building either because of their siblings or for their own music classes, which is why it was important to us to provide a changing station and rocking chair. I’ve already gotten plenty of use out of both with all the time baby Mia and I have spent there.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

A close-up look at our main waiting area. We love that it is right outside of our lesson rooms so that parents can wait nearby and even join their student’s lesson for a little performance at the end if they wish.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

This is another waiting area outside of our large group room. We made it extra cozy with a corner full of bean bags and pillows for kiddos to hang out in before their classes begin.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

And our large group room, which we kept pretty bare on purpose. We have an instrument wall for all of our class supplies and guitars so that they don’t distract our little students while not in use.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

This is our small group room, where we will hold our ukulele class, other group lessons, and select music therapy sessions.

Before and After: {Music Therapy Connections} Lessons, Music Therapy & Classes in Springfield, IL

And finally, what will eventually be our dedicated recording studio. Right now it’s pretty bare, but with the generous donations we have already gotten and hopefully will continue to receive, we will fill this room with all the equipment needed to record all of our students’ and clients’ beautiful music.

A huge thanks to my father-in-law, Steve Rambach, for his photography, and to all the wonderful family members and friends who dedicated their time and efforts to creating this amazing space. Click here to see the complete photographic “after” tour. Or better yet, visit us and see it in person!

All Signs Point to Music Therapy Connections

Music Therapy Connections :: Springfield, IL

We signed the least on our new building back in May, but it wasn’t until I spotted this sign from the street that it hit me: Music Therapy Connections has a new home!

What started as a solo music therapist traveling to clients’ homes now has 2,300 square feet of dedicated space and a team of 6. Our doors at 1234 Centre West Drive open in less than two weeks, and I couldn’t be any more excited!

Music Therapy Connections LLC :: Springfield, IL

I designed our exterior signage based on our logo with the guidance of Matt Larison at Ace Sign Company here in Springfield, and they did an amazing job producing and installing it. I feel a little silly admitting this, but I drove past our building four times on Monday just to admire the sign from the street. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing it and knowing that thousands of people drive by it every day.

In fact, I’ve already gotten two phone calls from people who drove by and were curious about our services. I guess I never really considered that having our own building and sign would be marketing in and of itself.

This is only one of many exciting moments to come in relation to our new headquarters. Tomorrow the carpet installation will be complete, which means we can start moving in furniture, instruments, and equipment. We’ll have the whole team together the week after next, and then we’ll actually start working with our students and clients there — the culmination of 6 months of planning, saving, and hustling.

But until that day comes, I’ll be driving past to get a glimpse of our sign at every opportunity and pinching myself each time.

One Thing at a Time

One Thing at a Time

Last Sunday night, I felt completely overwhelmed thinking about the week ahead.

We’re in the midst of having our new building renovated, and we had yet to find a painter after my regular painter broke his foot. We also needed to choose carpeting, finalize the design for our building signs, and tie up some administrative loose ends.

On top of that, we needed to finish planning and rehearse for our Midsummer Music Celebration, happening tomorrow afternoon. The to-do lists and emails were endless.

Monday morning I woke up at 5 am as usual and as I got to work, that feeling of overwhelm starting to dissipate. It was replaced with excitement as I tackled each to-do. My husband took on the task of finding a new painter, and my business partner Katey and I came up with a game plan for the days ahead.

It was a busy week (especially with a baby in tow at all times and my toddler home with me for 2 of those days), but I took things one at a time rather than letting the big picture stress me out. A painter was secured, carpet was chosen, rehearsals were had, and all of our ducks are in a row for tomorrow’s event.

Though I don’t usually get up early on Saturdays to work, I did today. I’m feeling completely overwhelmed again — with excitement and gratitude rather than stress. I’m excited about all the growth and changes coming for my business, and grateful for a career that I love and that fulfills me to the point where I enjoy waking up before the sun to work, on a weekend, no less.

I wanted to write this post, as cheesy and rambling as it is, so that I can look back in many years and remember how and why I was able to manage such a full plate at this time in my life.

(I should also mention that it’s only been possible because I have an infant who has consistently slept through the night since she was two days old…redemption for baby #1, who didn’t sleep a full night until he was 11 months old. And now I’ll go knock on wood for the rest of the day.)