It's Friday Night...

I am fast at work on my program. Yesterday I met with a speech therapist from the school to go over a stack of referrals for music therapy. There are too many referrals than I have time for in the week- which is good and bad. It shows the interest and 'need' for this type of therapy but at the same time, we have to make some decisions on who I have time to see during the week. Its pretty difficult and it was a ton of information to go through in one sitting. It did make me more excited to start seeing this pieces come together.

In an interesting turn of events, just as I was "whining" (as my colorado friend would say) about not having another contract to fill out my schedule, I stumbled upon a potentially new opportunity. I found a speech therapist just a few miles up the road that says she incorporates music into her treatments. The website didn't mention music therapy, so I decided to send her an email for more information. She wrote back immediately saying that she's been looking for a music therapist in the area. To cut a long story short, she asked if I'd be interested in meeting.

It looks like we'll be meeting in the next couple of weeks. I don't know if it means another contract or consulting type of opportunity, but I'll take it. And the more people that know I'm here, the more I can get my network working for me. <---- see what I did there? Network--- working.

Lots of things are in motion. Piano lessons started again, this time with a new student, a new very enthusiastic student who likes to strike deals. We negotiated this week on practice time, for example, if for every time she practices "Red Balloons" she has to practice this other song (that she dislikes) 2 times..... or for every X number of stickers, she gets a reese's piece peanut butter cup. That was Lesson #1. She cracks me up. We'll see how the next week goes.

And I'm off to see a friend's band out at a local winery tonight. I'm excited to see them play.

Contract

I got my contract for the school today!
Its official and I'm already hard at work conceptualizing the program. I love working with the education director. She has a great vision for my program as well as the therapy department. For now there's a lot of work and not a long of time. The contract is for the next few months which will allow everyone to see how the program is going at that time and if the relationship is working.... oh yeah and also funding.

Personally, I'm getting a little tired. My friends are finding full time positions with benefits and I feel like I'm lagging behind... in a private practice... which was not originally what I wanted to do out of internship. But now that I'm here, for now, I really want another contract to fill out my schedule.

I had a great conversation with my friend (my colorado friend) this afternoon about where I "could" and "should" be. I don't really like to "should" all over myself. She is in a private practice model and said that it takes about two years to figure things out and build a network. She now has more work than she knows what to do with. I'm not sure I accept that and I'm pretty convinced that I can cut that time down. ;) I guess I really want to focus on celebrating that I'm in a totally different place than when I came home from internship a year ago... and that I have a new contract that was built from a hunch and a cover letter. Go me! Sometimes it's hard to focus on that.

I am off to celebrate!

Pacing

I did 3 miles yesterday on a jog-walk (mostly jog, I'd say). Dad was going really slow on his bike, we did half the levi and I went home while he went on his usual route. It felt pretty good and I can even move my legs this morning. I'd call that a success.

What I realized while I was running with Dad trailing at a snails pace behind (he was a good sport) that I have trouble pacing myself when I run. I go a lot faster than I need to and get tired quickly. I didn't realize that running style completely summed up other areas of life. Go figure. Anyhow, we shared a good laugh over that. Pacing and Balance. Two things that don't go away apparently.

I had a session yesterday with some older adults. One of my favorite things is when we sing old familiar songs and some of the ladies break out in harmony.

I'm still waiting on the contract from the school- there must have been a mail glitch (I'm hoping). I am looking forward to creating a program. There are so many possibilities to create programming but I don't know how the program will look until we really get started. The best news is that I don't have tuberculosis. I had to get a TB test for the school. Next stop, fingerprinting.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Tomorrow I get a first look at a contract with the school. And present on the referral process.

I spent way too much time at Staples today trying to make sure my little referral forms were perfect. It came close. Lets just say, I got my copies and have plenty of extras, just in case. I'm most excited about buying a new journal. I've been keeping a journal for my music therapy days so I can keep accurate anecdotal notes and process things that happen through my writing. During my internship, I found that writing absolutely helps me.
I've been terribly consistent, journaling and taking notes after every session and sometimes in between if something is weighing on my mind and heart. It feels pretty good to have it as apart of my routine and process.

I've kept a journal since my very first meeting at this school. This is what I wrote back in February " My hope for the meeting was to score an inservice. At the end of the meeting, I landed 2...." later in the entry I outlined my perfect ideal program. It didn't exactly happen as I planned in my ideal world, but I think its a great start and there is a lot of potential for growth in the way the program is currently planned. Tomorrow marks a new chapter from just meeting and hoping, to fingerprinting and contract signing. Was that a jinx? I hope I didn't just jinx it. :)

Updates tomorrow afternoon.

Also, I'm in full-fledged thinking mode about officially starting my private practice. Business name suggestions are fully welcome.

Sunday Work-Day

I had my usual Sunday schedule today. My sessions went well, except that I developed a mysterious sore throat before my last session.
Anyhow, in my second session, the first thing one of my clients said was "Today is September 11th." I guess I didn't really consider that some of my clients would be affected (effected?) by 9/11. I was a little surprised. My own feelings aside, I wanted to be sure to address this since my client did readily bring it up.

It felt a little bit awkward to me.  I feel a little detached because I don't have a huge emotional recollection of that particular day... even though logically I know that it changed everything. With that said, I sympathize with and respect those that were greatly affected and who still grieve. So it was important that I be able to put all that aside to talk with my client about it. We talked about what happened and how he wanted to proceed in music. Afterwards we sang some patriotic songs.


Tonight N and I are sharing a pizza and watching the Addams Family movie. We took a vote- Angelica Huston was the best Morticia. I was just corrected by N- the only Morticia.

I had a lovely conversation with a colleague/mentor today. Lately, I've been in denial about being in private practice. But... really because I am working off of contracts, I am already in private practice without having planned it or intended it. Shoot. I was advised that I can either get out of the water - you know da-nile- and get to it, or I can float for a limited and preset amount of time (ex. 19 days). I told my mentor that I chose the topless nile rowers for a few more days, maybe weeks. :) She said that was okay- but eventually I'll have to get out of the water. I adore her and I'm glad I got to chat with her.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. I have a few more sessions tomorrow and then give my first instructional inservice at the school this week. We are mere steps away from signing a contract!

Polar Opposites

Today was opposites day I guess.

I expected my first session to be a "run of the mill" session- as "usual" as any session can get. Instead it was a little chaotic. Well a lot chaotic. There was a really interesting energy happening in the room today. There were a few tantrums and thrown drums and mallets and spilled water.. but some really beautiful moments of interaction in music. You forget about the craziness afterwards and remember the productive stuff.

My second session was mellow and ran itself. The music did it for me. I'm glad it did. I was worried most that I wasn't going to have a solid plan. It turned out well.

There's a theme in all of my little journal entries - I have my own little music therapy journal that I use for before and after sessions. Anyhow the theme is always, "well that went better than expected." I think by now, I should be a lot better at trusting myself and my skills. I'm working on it.

I am putting my labor aside for the weekend and celebrating with a little weekend trip with Peaches & friends.
Happy Labor Day Weekend!