Songwriting is a powerful yet flexible technique. Among many purposes and applications, music therapists write original material to personalize sessions, teach nonmusical material or behaviors, and engage in the therapeutic process. A Music Therapist – Board Certified (MT-BC) will help clients write songs to express … Continue readingSongwriting in Music Therapy Practice
Writing songs is easy! This simple technique uses the 12-bar blues pattern. These chord changes can be dressed up in countless ways, but the basic progression, written in Roman numerals, plays: I I I I – IV IV I I – V IV I I. … Continue readingSimple Blues Songwriting
Students who want to help others, and enjoy playing music, may consider a career in music therapy. Perhaps you were raised by parents who work in medical or educational settings, or you really enjoyed volunteering at a skilled nursing facility. Maybe you’re interested in psychology, … Continue readingMusic Therapy Education
Why should music therapists be mindful of vocal health, and what can we do to protect our speaking and singing voices? If we need partial or complete vocal rest, what are some suggestions for adapting music therapy sessions? THIS IS DEMANDING WORK! I have lost … Continue readingVocal Health
“We all know that music can make us feel good, tap our toes, clap our hands, or even make us sad. But did you know that music has the power to activate and change your brain?” Debbie Yones of Voices of Hope for Aphasia published … Continue readingMusic Changes the Brain of People with Aphasia
Music therapy makes headlines, but we wanted to dig up an old article and share it again. CNN published a fine article about Music Therapy titled, “When patients have ‘music emergencies’,” by Elizabeth Landau. The 2013 article features Brian Jantz, MT BC, NMT from the … Continue readingCNN on Music Therapy
Music therapists have to come up with a lot of creative applications. With everything else we have to do, it sure would help to have a huge collection of planning guides! When Music Therapy St. Pete, LLC’s founder, James Riley, was completing his master’s degree … Continue readingMusic Therapy Activities Wikia
Tonight I am going to see Ben Folds perform! Beyond his great music, many music therapists love his understanding of and advocacy for music therapy. Back in January of 2013, Ben said, “I’m not a Music Therapist but I believe in it strongly enough to … Continue readingBen Folds
In honor of Music Therapy Advocacy Month, Dr. Dena Register asks, “Are you a Connector, Reflector, or Director?“ Know thyself better, then apply your unique perspectives and skills to advance the field of Music Therapy! Connectors seek to understand people’s interests and motivations in order … Continue readingConnector, Reflector, or Director?
Music Therapy is the specialized application of evidence-based music interventions to accomplish non-musical objectives through a therapeutic relationship with a Music Therapist – Board Certified (MT-BC). Whereas “music medicine” is the use of passive music listening in waiting rooms, surgery centers, emergency departments, and other … Continue readingDid Your Hospital Make the 2015 Honor Roll?