October 20, 2010 - Technology and Music Therapy

This week I have an event to attend on Friday, so The Music Therapy Show will broadcast live on Wednesday at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 noon Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. Missed the live show? Check out the archives here, or download through iTunes.

My guest this week is John Lawrence, a music therapist practicing in Edmonton, AB Canada. He graduated from Temple University in 1995 with a Master's degree in music therapy and has been in private practice since that time. His specialty area has been geriatrics, especially those with Alzheimer's type dementia and more recently, veterans of multiple conflict zones. He has continually been interested in the use of technology, as it can be utlized to enhance clinical knowledge and skills, and has incorporated various technologies into his instruction of several "Introduction to Music Therapy" courses. He is currently serving as chairperson of the 1st ever, Online Conference for Music Therapy (to be held on March 5-6, 2011). John is affiliated with the Canadian Association for Music Therapy and is past-president of the Music Therapy Association of Alberta (MTAA).

Here are the links mentioned in the show:

Elluminate: www.elluminate.com
Creative commons: www.creativecommons.org
Canadian Association for Music Therapy (CAMT): www.musictherapy.ca

My practice:
John Lawrence MMT, MTA
JL Music Therapy Services
Edmonton, AB
CANADA
Ph: (780) 288-1390
E-mail: jlmt@telus.net

OCMT2011 Conference Info:

WHEN: *Online Conference for Music Therapy (OCMT2011) - March 5-6, 2011

WHERE: Online via Internet

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
Facebook: OCMT2011 - Online Conference for Music Therapy
Twitter: #OCMT2011
Blog: onlineconference4mt.wordpress.com
E-mail: ocmt2011@gmail.com

Conference registration to commence Nov. 1st, 2010 via our website. Check the resources listed above for more details and contact information. Special rates available for students and groups of MT professionals/educational sites!

*Training for participants and presenters will be available in the new year (2011) prior to the conference. If anyone is interested in a demo of the Elluminate solution, please contact me directly at: jlmt@telus.net. John is presently looking for individuals who could spend 20-30 minutes, to allow me to practice my moderator skills, and learn about the Elluminate product.

October 15, 2010 - imagine with Dr. Petra Kern

imagine, is the first annual online magazine dedicated to Early Childhood Music Therapy, sponsored by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). The purpose of this new publication is to improve access to and distribute knowledge and information about early childhood music therapy in clinical terms.

imagine is free to everyone and accessible around the world. The inaugural issue of imagine has been released on September, 1 2010 with over 50 contributions from 10 countries. Initial reviews of imagine readers speak for a remarkable success of AMTA’s new publication line. You can find imagine on the web at www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

Today, I am speaking with Dr. Petra Kern, the editor of imagine. She will tell as more about the development, goals, and content of the new early childhood online magazine.

Listen live at Noon Eastern, 11 am Central, 10 am Mountain, 9 am Pacific. Call in during the show: 646-652-2850 to listen or join the discussion. Subscribe on iTunes. Or listen to the archived show, available 15 minutes following the end of the show.

October 8, 2010 - Creating Performance Opportunities

Last week I talked about the therapeutic benefits of performance. This week I will discuss how to find or create the right performance opportunity for your child.

Listen live at 12 noon Eastern, 11:00 Central, 10:00 Mountain, 9:00 Pacific, or listen to the archived show (available 15 minutes after the show ends), or subscribe via iTunes.

I would love to hear from you about what topics you'd like to hear in the future. Leave me a comment and let me know that you listen and why! Have a great week!

October 1, 2010 - Performance

I have many clients who perform as part of their therapeutic program. I have a bell choir of adults with developmental disabilities, a group that wrote and is producing a musical, and a guitar student who performed at a benefit concert with a country music star. These performances brought out some amazing qualities and provided some amazing opportunities for my clients.

This week, I'm going to talk about the importance of performance for personal growth and development and the goals that can be accomplished in performance opportunities. Listen live at 12 noon Eastern, 11:00 Central, 10:00 Mountain, 9:00 Pacific, or listen to the archived show (available 15 minutes after the show ends), or subscribe via iTunes.

What has performance done for you? I'd love to hear your comments or questions about the show. Leave a comment here.

Fall Playlist

I haven't broadcasted since August and fully intended to get back to it the very next week after my vacation, but have been dealing with a lot of other things that needed my "urgent" attention. So here's what I was going to talk about today, had I had the time to do a show.

I have many clients who appear to have minimal awareness of their surroundings. However, I believe that they are aware when things change, like the seasons, and I like to use music to help communicate that change to them. So each season, I try to come up with some songs that reflect that time of year. I encourage parents to play and sing them so that they can reinforce the concept.

I also like to use music for myself that reflects the seasons or my mood. I have a playlist for Rain, Moon, Halloween, and Fall that I listen to during Autumn.

Here are the songs I use in my playlists for myself and for my clients:

• Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Spooky by Classics IV
• Shine On Harvest Moon (I like the version sung by Rosemary Clooney)
• Paper Moon (sung by Ella Fitzgerald)
• Moondance by Van Morrison
• By the Light of the Silvery Moon (Doris Day version)
• Moonlight Bay (Doris Day version)
• For Baby (For Bobbie) by John Denver
• Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's
• Blue Moon sung by Ella Fitzgerald
• California Dreamin' by The Mamas and The Papas
• Fly Me to the Moon sung by Frank Sinatra
• Thriller by Michael Jackson
• Ghostbusters theme song
• Abracadabra by Steve Miller and the Band
• Soul Man from the Blues Brothers
• Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
• Stayin' Alive from that John Travolta movie
• Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper

And of course I listen to the Autumn movements from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

Gives a little variety from Monster Mash...

What are your favorite fall songs?

I'll broadcast next week. In the meantime, listen to one of the archived shows!

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

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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.