Although this MTV show went off the air a few years ago, we’re bringing it back at The Hope Institute tomorrow. Of course, Carson Daly won’t be there to host it, and I’m no Jennifer Lopez, but we’ve got our own version planned.
Yesterday, I went to one of my classrooms to inform the staff that I still couldn’t sing. Luckily, they were willing to move their music therapy session to Friday…on one condition: that they — along with the students — get to choose the songs.
Everyone here has his or her favorite songs from music therapy sessions of yore. Occasionally, I’ll take requests at the end of a session, granted that I still remember the chords and lyrics. But the staff of that particular classroom has dubbed tomorrow’s session as Total Request Live because it will be made up completely of requests.
I make it very clear to everyone that I’m not here to “perform” for my students. All of my sessions are carefully planned to target the skills and objectives on which their classroom lessons are based, so there is a reason for each song I choose to include. So even though the class will be choosing the songs tomorrow, they were originally hand-picked by me for a reason and still offer therapeutic value to my students. In fact, making choices is a goal in itself.
Have you hosted your own version of Total Request Live lately?
This is a fantastic and creative idea Rachel. Will you be using your CD’s to save your voice? Oh and PS. I hope your voice is recovering nicely…and how about the timing of Kat’s post about her month of silence?!?! If I didn’t know better, I’d say you gals planned it! :) Regardless thanks to BOTH of you for sharing your insight through your struggles.
Thanks, Bonnie! I will have my iPod on hand for back-up just in case :) And actually, Kat mentioned her “month in a silence” in her comment on my laryngitis blog post, and I asked her to elaborate. Wasn’t it a spectacular post? I love my music therapy friends <3
Sounds like a terrific session idea! We do something similar at the LEC on Friday mornings. Katie Whipple, the full-time MT on staff, hosts a sing-a-long with songs requested by our clients.
Of course, all the songs suggested are spring-boards for movement, discussion, and other MT goals like decision making and impulse control!