Some Things You Need to Know about Music Therapy

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the term "music therapy."  I am a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), and I've gotten a lot of reactions to my occupation.  One of the most memorable was when a patient told me, "I'm not into any of that Kum-Ba-Yah $h!t."  Or when I was a student and told people I was majoring in music therapy, "what do you want to do with that degree?"  Go into dentistry, of course!!

I'm here to clear some things up.

• First, a definition of music therapy.

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

• Music therapy is not just for sick musicians.  

Anyone, regardless of musical background, can benefit from music therapy interventions.  No experience necessary.  The reason for this is because music therapy goals are non-musical.  We simply use music to reach our goals.

• I am not a volunteer

I spent a lot of money, time, and effort studying and learning how to do what I do.  (This is addressed in a later bullet point.  Stay with me!)  Please respect that with the acknowledgment that I deserve to be paid.

• I am not an entertainer.

I am a therapist.  I assess patients' needs, create goals, implement plans, and document progress.  What I do is challenging work, and everything I do is purposeful.  This is therapy, not entertainment.

• "So, do you just play guitar and sing all day long?"

Take just out of your vocabulary.  I don't just do anything.  See above.

• "I'm too anxious right now, I really don't need any more stimulation."

As a music therapist, I am trained to use music and music therapy techniques to decrease anxiety and promote relaxation.  If you're feeling anxious, I'm the perfect person you want to see right now.  Not only is music therapy effective in decreasing anxiety, it is non pharmacological, which means no side effects!

• We are not hippies.

I know "music therapy" can sound very hippie-dippie, but as I've said before, I am a therapist.  I don't sit around a campfire singing "Pass it On."

• Let me tell you about our education.  It's more invested than you'd think.

Every (real) music therapist has (at least) a bachelor's degree in music therapy.  Not a certificate, but an actual degree.  And the degree is actually specifically in music therapy.  A lot of people ask if we have music degrees.  They're right.  But wait, there's more.  Our degree includes music courses, psychology courses, anatomy, liberal arts core, music therapy clinicals/practica, and probably some others that I've forgotten (and you can't really blame me, it's a bit overwhelming.)  And that's just the coursework.  Most people take 4.5-5 years to complete this part of undergrad.  The rest is the 6-month internship, which is INTENSE!!  This is a requirement, not an option.  This is where all the in-depth training happens.  This is where we take all the things we learn in the classroom, and apply it under supervision and direction of a qualified supervisor.  My internship changed my life.

• No, I don't want to try out for American Idol

I like my job.  If I wanted to try out for American Idol, I wouldn't be able to do what I love.  Thanks for the compliment, but I probably won't follow your suggestion.

• "Is there an article out there about what you do?"

Yes, lots.  Music therapy is an evidence-based practice.  We have two research journals, Journal of Music Therapy, and Music Therapy Perspectives.  I realize you're probably looking for some feel-good "music calms the savage breast" or "music heals the soul" article, but these research articles are much more exciting.  (maybe I just feel that way because I'm a nerd...)

• I am NOT here for background music.

Just, no.

• "I'm afraid I might fall asleep if you play music, I don't want to be rude."

I work in a medical setting, where patients may be dealing with anxiety or pain.  If music therapy promotes so much relaxation that my patient falls asleep, that means I have done my job.  I take it as a compliment!  Please fall asleep!  (The only problem is that I'm very clumsy, so I usually wake them up when I'm trying to leave...)

• "Can you go play for [insert patient's name here]?"

No, but I can provide music therapy services for them.  What is your reason for referral?

• Yes, I've seen all the Dateline specials about music.

I get very excited when music changed lives.  That's why I got into this profession!  However, not every story you hear on the news is music therapy.  Music therapy only happens when a credentialed professional is providing services.  Sure, it may look the same as that volunteer who plays piano at the nursing home, but a music therapist has a clinical purpose behind EVERY aspect of their interaction with a patient or client.  The volunteer on the Dateline special may be talented and I appreciate their time and compassion, but they don't have the ability to make the clinical decisions I do.  It's not the same thing.

• Lastly, a link for you.

www.musictherapy.org

Yes, we're organized.

Thanks for sticking with me.  I hope you found this informative!  Next time you see someone in the hospital elevator with a guitar, don't ask for "a little elevator music,"  or scream "FREE BIRD!!"  (Those jokes weren't funny the first thousand times)  Instead, thank them for their hard work and passion using the great medium of music to impact lives!

Pet Peeves

Here is a list of my pet peeves, and other things that make me angry.
In no particular order.
Not inclusive.
Consider this your first warning.

• Bad grammar
• Tapping fingers on a desk or table
• "Cammo" as a fashion statement
• When people tell me something I already know
• Using the word "y'all" more than once in a sentence.  (really, using it at all bothers me, but I'm trying to be reasonable because I live in Alabama...)
• When people tell me I'm a yankee because I grew up in St. Louis
• When people suggest that I do something I am already in the process of doing
• When people are fans of a college sports team, and they have never attended said college
• Unwarranted advice
• Putting emphasis on the incorrect syllable of the word "guitar" (GIT-ahr instead of gi-TAHR)
• Arrogance
• When people pretend the know more than they really do instead of just asking a question
• When people won't answer a question
• When I am mistaken for a student, or a teenager
• Micromanaging
• When people haven't read the book, but they still go to see the movie
• When people find out I'm a musician and feel the need to inform me of their experience playing the clarinet or flute in middle school band
• Small talk
• Lists of pet peeves

The Doctor's Office

I went to the doctor today with a list of problems, and I got prescribed a list of medications, shots, and blood tests.  What fun. (sarcasm)
This, dear friends, is why I feel uncomfortable going to the doctor: I'm afraid I'm a hypochondriac.
Sure, I've been experiencing dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, aching joints and muscles, sore throat, tiredness, chest pains, acne, and a myriad of other ailments.  But, I'm afraid if I say something, and they don't find anything wrong, then I'm just being a Nervous Neville and I need to chill.  On the other hand, what if I have some crazy disease, and I don't say anything?  Then, I die a tragic and preventable death.
All that being said, I really hope the doctor finds something wrong in my blood tests.  I know that sounds absurd, but I'd rather there actually be something wrong with me than realizing that all my symptoms are psychosomatic.

So, now I have a new bedtime routine to account for some nasal spray and acne cream.  I'm not so sure about this nasal spray, because I feel like I'm choking on my own spit.  I hope I get used to it soon!

My Commitment Issue

Cutting up curtains to hem them is a big commitment.  What if I mess up?  What if I like them better long?  What if I want to use them for another, longer window one day?  I just don't think I'm ready for that.
Other things I'm not ready to commit to:

• a man
• a city to live in forever
• a pet (other than my fish named Edward, he's usually fine without much help from me.)
• the stock market
• keeping a journal (or blogging for that matter, let's see how long this lasts)
• exercise
• eating healthy (which means cutting out junk)
• anything that involves giving up cheese
• a tattoo
• piercings
• nail polish (it never comes all the way off)
• hair cuts or colors
• reading the Game of Thrones series (because let's face it, if I read one, I'll read them all)
• buying things in bulk (even though I love my new Costco membership)
• buying groceries (because that means I have to prepare food)
• buying frozen foods (because I have to go straight home from the store)
• starting a new TV show on Netflix (because I might binge watch and I just don't have time)
• I could really go on, but it was hard enough to even commit to making this list...

Just imagine what it will be like when I have to drill the holes to hang the curtain rods.  I'll keep you updated.

IKEA

I went to IKEA today, and now I have to eat PB&J for the next two months.
The curtains I bought are too long for my windows, so I need to hem them.  Anyone have a sewing machine?
Also, I bought a piece of art that reminds me of my fish named Edward.

My Fish Named Edward

I have a fish named Edward.  He is my only dependent.  Basically, I don't have to worry about taking care of anyone but me, except my fish named Edward, but he's usually fine without me.  But we're friends.

There's a funny story behind the way Edward got his name.  When I first brought him home from the pet store, I left him in his cup while I prepared the bowl of water for him, all the while thinking of potential names.  When the water was ready for him, I used my fishnet to try to get him out of his cup.  Edward didn't like the fishnet (like most fish), and he proceeded to swim away from it every time I tried to get him.  In my last attempt to scoop him out, he flopped out of the cup and onto the windowsill.  I screamed.  A lot.  And I don't really remember what happened next, except that I screamed, "No!  Edward!!"  It was a very traumatic experience, and poor Edward swam straight to the bottom of the bowl and didn't move for a few hours when I finally got him safe.  I think he was scared of me for a few weeks, but once he figured out that I give him food, he decided to trust me.

And that's how Edward got his name.