Dear Daylight Savings

I hate you.

please bring back my hour. now.

love,

Lauren

Eck. Have to be up for my four sessions today. No cup of coffee could make this okay right now.

Being dramatic? yes. most definitely.

Time for some of that coffee.

Success

I'd call today's presentation a SUCCESS!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my biggest fears today was that the participants were not going to be participatory. That was something I could not control ahead of time. I wasn't worried about knowing my stuff- that I can control. It was the other stuff.. the uncontrollable stuff.

I started my "hello" song and they all became animated and started singing along. I knew right away that they were going to be a great crowd to present to and that all the experiential things I had planned would work well. It was an excellent presentation. I was able to say all of the things that I wanted to say and also show them some of the experiences I might use and corresponding goal areas and rationale. btw, thanks bri- that hello song you sent was a real crowd pleaser.

The assistant executive director (AED) was there as well. She seemed to like what I presented and said that all of my experiential stuff was great- spot on with the age appropriateness. I finished with about 10 minutes left for questions. One person said, "so when's the first session?" which made me feel good. I left feeling positive about a future with this particular organization.

I still have one more presentation to do next week at the school. The AED said that the energy there is totally different. I remember from the quick tour I did with her. The general atmosphere is definitely different. I told her what I planned to do instead of the experientials which is to show some video from a case study I did during my internship. I think that is going to fit the mood a bit better.

I am relieved and energized. I feel like I really can do this and make this happen. I am excited to polish up my next presentation and give it another go. WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Lauren's First In-service.

It's time for Lauren's First In-service.

Tomorrow I am giving my first presentation (as a professional) to a private school for kids with autism. They are interested in incorporating music therapy into their program but are currently (to my understanding) trying to find the perfect MT. I would argue that I am the perfect MT for the job.

My presentation is organized into three parts: Part I is a general overview of music therapy and my own specific approach. Part II is the practical demonstration of experiences that target some of the goals they work on at the preschool. Part III is more indepth about the process of music therapy: referral, assessment, delivering services and documentation (to, most important, show growth over time and the need for services).

I'm feeling good about it... except for the sinking feeling I have about having enough handouts. I don't know how many people are going to be there tomorrow afternoon. And that the experiential stuff is going bomb. blech.

well I actually have to practice now.

Send good ju-ju tomorrow afternoon and special thoughts towards the number of handouts I'm bringing.

pure genius

Hi there.

I subscribe to a few different channels on youtube... one of them being Miranda--- the superstar from tacoma, WA who is a youtube sensation because she sounds so bad.

In reality, Miranda is played by an incredibly talented individual from southern california. She also posts videos and video-blogs (vlogs) as herself. They are hilarious.

Recently, she spoke with her 3 year old niece (who also has her own vlog channel) and created a song from the quotes from her niece. Its genius.

you can find it here

please take a few minutes to watch it. its hilarious and well done. I've been laughing about it all morning.

"Happiness is very happy.... if I just don't get an owie"

Motown Thursday

I deem today "Motown Thursday"

I've got my Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye going this morning. I went as far as to pull some of my records from the basement and hook up the turntable. Its my ultimate feel good music.

It also makes me feel productive. Let's hope it works its magic. Gotta get some other prep things done for this upcoming presentation AND catch up on my documentation for work. Blech. :) I do have a piano lesson this afternoon and I always look forward to that.

Music Therapy Story of the Week

Back at Chapman, one of our professors would tell us a music therapy story of the week from all of her work.

Here are a couple from yesterday:

In my late afternoon session on a locked dementia unit, I was playing a familiar song the piano and trying to encourage the clients to sing and play along. in the meantime, this woman (We'll Call her GN), who has observed a few sessions (she's getting her advanced degree in gerontology), was interacting with on the clients. And I got this story from GN after the session.

So GN was interacting with one of the clients. They were kind of moving across the room. This particular client was not interested in sitting down much, but she loved moving around the room with GN by her side. I guess this client was talking with GN, except that it was a string of absolutely incoherent thoughts. In the middle of one of these random strings, the client started singing along to the music with everyone else. She had snapped back into the here and now, into the current reality, and discontinued her thoughts and began actively participating. GN was stunned.... and so was I to tell you the truth. The dynamic of the session is unlike any session I'd done before... so it can be hard for me to gauge what's going on for each person. GN was amazed at the way the music brought this person back.

I thought that was pretty darned amazing.

There are some characters in that particular group.. including my new boyfriend. He's probably 85 or so. But he sits in the session pretending he won't participate (even though he sings along quietly to every song and plays the drums quietly so that no one will see him), but he totally does. And he looks like he enjoys it. I went to collect his instruments after the session and instead he took my hand, gave me a wink, and told me how great it was. There's also another woman who is sooo sassy. She told me I "was the greatest thing she's ever done." Which I took to mean that she enjoyed the music immensely. She kept complimenting my piano playing. Tomato- Tomahto. This same woman came to sit on the couch next to the piano. So I moved my big bag of boomwhackers so she could sit down. She told me that I should never have to move any of my stuff for anyone.... and that I should have someone else do it for me.... which I took to mean that I should find a nice man that will move my big bag of boomwhackers so that I don't have to??? Its hard to tell. But the sentiment is there. She cracks me up.

Anyhow, I meet a lot of characters.

In the early afternoon session, I do a huge drumming group at a day program for older adults. They have a large group of retired nuns there. I was starting out with "You Are My Sunshine" which I find, most everyone likes. This nun came into the session. I gave her a drum and invited her to sing and play along thinking that "she's a nun. Nuns are great." This woman looked me in the eye and said, "Well I will, but not to this song," in a very saucy manner. Hilarious.

I love the people I get to work with.

Avoidance or Good Therapy Boundaries???

In school they try to teach us about keeping your own ish separate from the music therapy session-- like "leaving your stuff at the door." Apparently the therapy sessions that you are responsible for are NOT in fact about You. The focus is always the client or group you are working with. Its an easy enough concept to understand, but sometimes its difficult to carry out, especially if there is stuff happening that you just can't get around.

At some point, if the therapy work or client is going to stuff because of things in your own life, its best to take a day to get your self back together. No one wins if something about the therapy will not be effective.

As someone who likes to sweep things under the rug, this is an awesome concept! Shoot. Something happens? Nope, can't deal with it now, I'm about to go into a session. At least thats how I was in school. That changed quite a bit during my internship. I think the thing for me to remember is that even though I get to push things aside, they will still be there when I am done for the day. and I WILL have to deal with it.

So take Sunday. I'm coming down from playing 7 consecutive shows of Guys and Dolls from the previous 3 days... I'm minding my own business, walked out to the car to see bits of my car all over the street. I called my dad in a panic! I had to get up to see my clients! I had to work! Long story short- my boss covered my morning session and Mom hung out with me all day while I stopped at my other three settings. It was nice to have my mom around in between sessions so that I wasn't by myself and obsessing over my car. When I had finished for the day, there was no time to deal because I went straight down to downtown SJ and finished up the last show of Guys and Dolls (bringing my tally up to 8 shows in a weekend) and then had to strike and pack up all of my stuff and haul it to the car. By the time I had everything packed in the car and the parking machine would not take my paid-for ticket... I had just burst into tears. I was so tired, my body hurt, I was mad that some jerk messed up my car (although completely repairable and paid for) and I still had to work the next day.

So I had a nice little cry and conversation with my friend Stacey and enjoyed my drive home. Then I crashed!

I'm feeling normal again. And it helped that I had fabulous sessions yesterday (which I will save for another post today.... I need a cup of coffee first). Followed by a fabulous surprise birthday party for my Auntie.

Today I slept in and it feels pretty darn good.

Everything in the end catches up with you, but I am thankful to have down time between these things to rest up and take care of myself.