August 27, 2010 - Renew yourself!

I'm on vacation this week for a little renewal and self-care, so there's no show this week. Spend a little time taking care of yourself this weekend and maybe listen to an archived show or two. Be sure to let me know what you think!

Have a great weekend! I'll be back next Friday at 11:00 Central. Check here for updates!

August 20, 2010 - Sound Health Music

Kat Fulton, MM, MT-BC, NICU MT, is a speaker and board-certified music therapist whose passion is achieving therapeutic goals through making music. Simply put, her motto is Be well, feel good, and make MUSIC. With a Masters in Music Therapy from The Florida State University (headquarter for the National Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy), she holds high standards for scientific research and maintains a practice infused with the latest evidence-based techniques and strategies.

Kat is pleased to be associated with Remo® as an endorsed facilitator. She maintains professional membership in the American Music Therapy Association, Early Childhood Music and Movement Association, and the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild.

Kat Fulton is my guest this week to talk about Sound Health Music and Rhythm for Good. Join us LIVE Friday at Noon Eastern, 11 am Central, 10 am Mountain, 9 am Pacific and sign up at Blog Talk Radio to participate in the chat room. If you're not near a computer during the show, call in to listen: 646-652-2850. Or listen in the archives available 15 minutes after the show ends. Or subscribe in iTunes.

August 13, 2010 - Breathing

I know, I know. If you are reading this, obviously you are breathing. But did you know that how you breathe can affect how you feel? Breathing is an important part of life (obviously) and music-making. This week I'll discuss how to breathe to reduce stress, increase energy, and clear your mind. I'll give examples of techniques I use with my clients.

Listen live or to the archives through iTunes or at the show page. This week's show will be live at 11:00 am Eastern, 10:00 am Central, 9:00 am Mountain, 8:00 am Pacific

August 6, 2010 -- No Show

I've been debating back and forth about having a show on Friday and have decided that since I am preparing to host the Board of Directors retreat for the Southwestern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, that I will skip the show this week to prepare for that meeting.

I'll be back next week to talk about...well, I haven't decided that yet. Why don't you leave me a comment to let me know what topic you are interested in!

On August 20, Kat Fulton will be my guest to talk about her work and her blog. Check out this very cool video she did introducing boomwhackers to Lady Gaga. Who knew shoes had such drama?!

July 30, 2010 - Transitions

Transitions can be tough for routine-oriented clients. This week I will talk about strategies for making transitions easier, including unplanned schedule changes.

Listen live at 11:30 Eastern, 10:30 Central, 9:30 Mountain or 8:30 Pacific. Call in with your questions: 646-652-2850. Or download the show to listen to the archives. Or subscribe through iTunes.

July 23, 2010 - Writing a personal song

Last week, I talked with Charli Brown about song writing and writing your own personal song. This week, I'm going to give you steps to take to write your own personal song:

1. Don't worry if it's not good enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing, sing a song!
2. To Rhyme or Not To Rhyme--That is the question!
3. Which came first: The Melody or The Words?
4. Be like Nike: Just do it!

Listen to the show live at 12 noon Eastern, 11 am Central, 10 am Mountain, 9 am Pacific. Call in to get personal tips for writing your song: 646-652-2850.

Download the show by subscribing through iTunes. Click on the player in the side bar. Or listen to the archived show!

When you listen, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

July 16, 2010 - You Can Love Your Life Now!

This week I'm excited to have Chari Brown as my guest. Listen LIVE at noon Eastern, 11 Central, 10 Mountain, and 9 Pacific. Or check out the archives and subscribe via iTunes.

When she was in the 12^th grade, Charlene (Charli) Brown wanted to run away and become a “Queen of the Gypsies.” Since then, she has worked constantly to find ways which spoke to her nomadic, creative and independent spirit.

With 10+ years working with youth and a variety of other experiences including nonprofit, government, and leadership development under her belt, in 2009, Charli started “You Can Love Your Life Now!” to “help women find and live their Best lives!”

A gifted life coach and workshop leader, Charli, through You Can Love Your Life Now!, has designed an enriching curriculum for girls, which opens up a healthy dialogue between them and adult women, as well as with their peers. She is also hard at work writing a guidebook for teen girls that will help them recognize their own unique inner light.

Charli can be reached through her website www.YouCanLoveYourLifeNow.com.

Products:

Free E-books:

Think True Happiness is Unattainable

Knowing Yourself Like the Back of Your Hand!

E-Course: Getting Back to Consciousness

Use coupon code BlogTalk at checkout to get half off.

July 9, 2010 - Music Therapy Drumming

This week's show is on early: 11:30 Eastern, 10:30 Central, 9:30 Mountain, 8:30 Pacific. Bill Matney is my guest to talk about Music Therapy Drumming.

Music Therapy Drumming is a curriculum that includes percussion and rhythm skills that are designed to increase the capacity for a Music Therapist to effectively use drums, percussion instruments, and traditional rhythms within the music therapy setting.

The Music Therapy Drumming curriculum is designed and taught by Music Therapists who are professional percussionists with years of experience in both music performance and clinical settings.

Listen here. Or subscribe to the show through iTunes.

Bill Matney, MA, MT-BC

Bill works full time with a school district special education department, and serves as adjunct lecturer at Texas Woman's University. He has presented both regionally and nationally on percussion pedagogy and percussion in therapeutic application with clinical populations. Bill has authored the book, Tataku: The Use of Percussion in Music Therapy, which is currently being used in percussion methods and improvisation courses at universities nationwide.

July 2, 2010 - Inspiration

Welcome back! My World Cup Fever is beginning to lift, so I'm back to weekly shows. The time may fluctuate due to client schedules, so check back here for the latest information.

Back in May, before the World Cup hiatus, I attended the Central Texas Music Therapy Association conference in Seguin, TX. An amazing thing happened at that conference and I'm going to share the story. Listen here.

You can also subscribe to this show through iTunes. Just search the iTunes store for Music Therapy Show.

May 21, 2010 - Developing a personal/professional perspective

Why should we develop a personal or professional perspective? I have been thinking a lot about this since interviewing Brian Abrams on May 7 about Development of a Humanistic Perspective on Music Therapy. I also studied different perspectives and developed my own during my graduate work at Texas Woman's University. Lately, I've been reviewing my perspective, both for my work and my personal goals.

In this show, find out how to develop a personal and professional perspective. Listen here.

May 14, 2010 - No Show

I have a lot of work to do today (which is a good thing!) so there won't be a show this morning. I would love to hear your thoughts about last week's show--I have many thoughts brewing in my head about that topic and am trying to organize them into something coherent for next week's show. I would love your input!

Have a great week!

May 7, 2010 - Theory and Practice with Brian Abrams

Happy 2nd Anniversary to The Music Therapy Show!

This week, I am pleased to host Brian Abrams to discuss "Development of a Humanistic Perspective on Music Therapy." While there have certainly been humanistic points of view on the discipline since its inception, I would like to explore a particular way of understanding what music therapy is and what music therapists do, based upon a specific set of inter-related principles with foundations in humanism and person-centered orientations of therapy. It's my hope that developing a perspective in this area will help meaningfully inform music therapy practice, research, and education in ways that are unique, indigenous, and congruent with what many music therapists believe to be the essential core of their work (whether it has been articulated or not). Listen here.

Brian Abrams, Ph.D., MT-BC, LPC, LCAT, FAMI, has been a music therapist since 1995, with clinical experience involving a wide range of populations. He completed undergraduate studies at Vassar College and SUNY New Paltz, and graduate studies at Temple University. He has served on the music therapy faculty at Utah State University (2001-2004) and Immaculata University (2004-2008), and currently serves as Associate Professor of Music in the Cali School of Music at Montclair State University (since 2008). He has published and presented internationally on a wide range of topics such as person-centered and humanistic perspectives on music therapy, music therapy in cancer care, music psychotherapy, and music therapy research. He has served on numerous editorial boards, including Music Therapy Perspectives, Qualitative Inquiries in Music Therapy, and Voices, and has been a frequent guest reviewer for the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy. Currently, he is serving on the Board of Directors of the American Music Therapy Association (2010-2011), and as Immediate Past-President of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association (2009-2011). In addition, he maintains an individual practice in music psychotherapy, and periodically offers music-centered support groups for cancer survivors.

Brian Abrams, Ph.D., MT-BC, LPC, LCAT, FAMI
Associate Professor of Music
John J. Cali School of Music
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
Phone: (973) 655-3458
Email
Faculty Profile Page

April 23, 2010 - Music Therapy Assessments

This week, I completed a lot of assessments, so I thought I would share some different assessment techniques. Join me at noon eastern time (or listen to the archives) to learn about school assessments, private practice assessments, business assessments and personal assessments.

School assessments are done to determine whether music therapy is educationally necessary to help the student meet the goals on the Individualized Education Plan.

Private practice assessments are done to determine which music therapy interventions are best used with each client and to determine the treatment plan.

Business assessments are done to determine what your business needs to grow and develop.

Personal assessments are done to determine what you need in order to reach your goals.

Listen to the show to learn how to use assessments in your life.

Friday, April 16, 2010 - Music Therapy and Self Care

I keep trying to get back to a regular broadcast schedule, but life keeps me sidetracked. On this show, I'll update you on what's been going on in my music therapy life and then talk about self care. Taking care of ourselves is very important! I've gotten a lot of messages from the universe reminding me of this lately. So I'll give some suggestions for doing this even though you are super busy!

Listen here.

I'm also trying out my new timeslot: Fridays at 12:00 Eastern, 11:00 Central, 10:00 Mountain, 9:00 Pacific. Let me know what you think of the new time--and tell me what you do to take care of yourself!

Show revamp

March has been an especially challenging month with the SWAMTA conference and other things going on. I hope to begin broadcasting again next week with a new day and time. Check back here for updates. Leave a comment to let me know what topics you are interested in!