I Passed!!!

WOOOO HOOOO!

I passed my exam and am officially a Board Certified Music Therapist.

Now I just have to practice signing my name:

Lauren F. Bevilacqua, MT-BC

Studying

today I'm tackling old psychology notes; music therapy in psychopathology, and verbal techniques from counseling.

just wanted to let you all know.

it's pretty dull over here.

yesterday I reviewed AMTA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and CBMT Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics. I read up on music therapy in hospice, and made a bunch of flash cards from some vocab.

I think tomorrow I'll finish up my practice test and have it scored to see how I did.

well, back to the books.

moving along

things are moving along. I heard back from the people with the certification exam and was able to set a date for my exam. that has definitely been more motivating. I actually feel the need to study and work on my practice exam. sigh.

I will sit for my test next week.

I will keep you all updated!

keep all your fingers crossed!

Lunch dates and things

Today was fun. I got together with a teacher from high school today. We had lunch over at Willow Street. It was nice to catch up and network a bit- he's going to pass along some jobs and gigs my way if he gets them. I was also asked if I'd be interested in getting involved as an adult leader on one of the retreats next month. So all in all, a great day. It was kind of a trip to be back in some of my old high school stomping grounds.

After I finished at school I stopped by one of my best high school friend's house. She happened to be home and lives about 10 minutes away from Mitty. It was great to see her. I haven't seen her in probably a year. She's newly engaged to a guy we went to high school with who also happens to be in the navy and close to deployment. So I am excited that I am going to be home to occupy her time while he's away. Apparently I am good at that.

It was a great day and now I should probably study and eat dinner. Mayyybe a movie first.... sigh. I can see how this "studying" thing is going to end up.

more progress

OK. So aside from margarita time this afternoon, today was very productive. I played and practiced- my lounge act is getting quite good- and Dad cleaned out the basement = recording studio. I'll post a picture tomorrow. It's a pretty cool space. I have my old TV/monitor from my AZ apartment hooked up so I can use it as more desktop space, but I've also hooked up my DVD player- so really, there' s no reason to ever leave the basement except for eat and sleep. brilliant. I am excited that it looks so good. I don't know what I was thinking of trying to do the same set up in my room. That would have been overwhelming. So Julie, if you're reading this, come home soon so we can play.

In other news, I ordered my practice exam and started on some questions. Some of the questions I absolutely knew- hands down. Other questions were more in between and there were a few just absolutely ridiculous questions-- impossible scenarios because they are dependent on so many things. Sigh. I guess that is the trouble with this test. I don't want to be over confident- but I am encouraged after doing almost half of it. I'll tackle some more tomorrow and revisit monday/tuesday- Maybe I'll be ready to take the test by Friday at the earliest- depending on my application materials. I am glad to be doing the test- its nice to get acquainted with the test format and using the computer. I find that if I just trust my instincts, that I will most likely come out with the correct answer. We'll see. I haven't submitted my answers yet but I am making notes of the things I am unsure of to review.... things like in other populations that I have little to no experience in - like Hospice and Psychiatric facilities. At this point, I just want to get this damn thing over with and pass it. blech. The story continues....

Dad and I are putting the last little touches on the basement tomorrow and I plan to read, practice and study- quite a day planned. Gotta work on my tan that has certainly faded since being in NY and continue my reading, relaxing and reviewing- the three Rs. What day is it anyhow? hmmm Sunday (almost). Okay. Well. Sunday Funday.

In other news, Michigan won their season opener today. GO BLUE!

If I just keep unpacking....

then I don't have to study.

I have to say that ALL of my boxes have been opened and emptied. My drawers and closets have been cleaned out (Lots of stuff to give away!) and I still have some straightening up to do. BUT now that everything has been opened and sorted, I will eventually have to study for my certification exam. There are no more excuses or other pressing matters to attend to. I am just going to have to do it. I think tomorrow I will purchase the practice exam and see how I do. That way I can see what areas of MT practice, theory and standards I need to brush up on and study a little more. I don't want to be overly confident, but I feel like because I've been living music therapy that I am going to do pretty well. But I don't want to get cocky and then not pass. Sigh. Such problems I have in my life now, eh? :)

The unpacking has gone smoothly. Purging a lot of stuff feels good and my room is almost all put together. We moved out my old bed and moved in my Arizona bed (AKA the best bed in the entire world) and I have cleared out some books to sell to Garlic City Books. What a great used book store. If you haven't been in there - its fabulous. They even have ice cream! Auntie Lynda and I went over there yesterday afternoon and it was just lovely. Anyhow, Unpacking and reading over MT literature (except for the hour I spent sun tanning with my Victor Wooten book- although its still music related). I feel happy to have this downtime after a 5 year long journey into music therapy, but I am starting to feel like I am behind. My resume isn't done and I'm not actively looking for jobs- I can barely motivate myself to study for this damn test... So that's where I'm at right now. My co-intern has a very exciting job interview in the coming week - so maybe the "behind" feeling is attributed to her success! ( I just have a feeling she is going to get this job)

I guess I'll go on AMTA website and see what kinds of jobs are available.... maybe. Oh gosh- I still have things to put away... maybe I'll do that instead. :) I can see where this is going.

No big labor day plans, although I am excited to go to an annual BBQ with some family friends. I haven't been since I started college, so I am looking forward to that. Hopefully by early next week I will have a date scheduled for my exam- maybe that will spark some motivation. I hope so. The recording "studio" has not been set up yet. Dad and I have been "rearranging furniture and cleaning"-ed out for the past few days. But I am certain that its going to be pretty darn cool when we get everything all set up.

In the meantime, if you know anyone who needs a piano for events or an accompanist, I am available. It'd be nice to fill my calendar a bit.

Well, back to my boxes of crap. Its really amazing what I have found over the past few days. I found a lot of high school stuff which has definitely made me nostalgic and I found a lot of stuff that was more of "Why the hell did I ever keep this?" But in case, its been nice to get reorganized and reoriented. Must... keep... organizing. Then study... maybe. ;)

And I'm Back...

Back in Gilroy.

Its definitely nice to be home after my Ohio adventure and this Michigan nonsense. It was very stressful to be in michigan and it was really weird going there right after finishing my intense internship experience. I didn't feel like myself. But now I am back. I had my flight (through Houston- great airport) and my music books to refocus and feel like myself again. Thankfully, I do.

Now I just need to organize my life here a bit. I am taking a few days to just kind of putz around, although, tonight I started moving things around in my room, making space for my little "recording" studio. I have a ton of crap in my room that I don't necessarily need, so I have to find a good way to pack things up. My room feels very cluttered and I don't really like it. As with everything, its a process. I don't necessarily want to get rid of music therapy stuff until I take my certification exam.

I did, however, get my hair cut today- that was nice. I was feeling pretty scraggly there for a while. So I got my hair done and gathered my materials to apply for my certification exam. Geez. The process for applying to even schedule a date to take this test it really annoying- transcripts, letters, papers, and by snail mail. you'd think that they'd make all this stuff available online- it'd be way easier. I have been talking with the people at the CBMT (Certification Board for Music Therapists) and have things kind of taken care of. I will have my application in the mail tomorrow- express. So I will have to make a trip to Fedex, and probably a trip to guitar center (I want to suspend my banjo from the wall to take up less floor space), and of course continue my reading list. Maybe I'll even review some MT material. I've started to pick things to review for this test-- I'm actually really looking forward to taking the practice exam and see how I do.

Anyhow, I'm enjoying my vacation so far. Slowly, I will start diving into my boxes and things. I am very happy to be home and to be relaxing and being meaningfully productive (instead of just ridiculously productive. I want to enjoy my time off). That's about it for tonight. Goodnight!