Today I’ll be comparing and contrasting Neurologic Music Therapy and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. In the small, but ever growing field of Music Therapists, most everyone recognizes these names and also recognizes the small, but maybe not so subtle, differences between the two. Are these two approaches really as contrasting as we think? What makes them so different and why have they become so polarized? These are just a few of the questions that came to mind when I chose this topic.
Read MoreWith the advent of instant and unlimited music streaming and headphones, it may be hard to keep tabs on what music kids and adolescents are consuming for almost 15 hours a week. A question that many parents ask, and some may not know to ask is- how does explicit content in music affect my child? And for music therapist’s out there, when utilizing songs with explicit content, or entering into lyric based discussions- it’s important to know how your client’s preferred music may be influencing their behaviors and attitudes in your session and in day to day life.
Today, we are going to talk about wellness. Some of the questions that came up when preparing this episode were: What is the difference between wellness, well-being and self-care? Do all of these terms fit together in some holistic package? Or are they all bringing something different to the table? Today, I am going to dive into what Wellness is, what these terms really mean, and how it all fits together in Music Therapy.
Read MoreMy name is Ellisa and it feels so good to be back with you in a new year, new look, but the same amazing content. I have been working on a 3 part series called “Authenticity in Music”. I’m so passionate about this topic and I hope that by the end you will be too. Together, we’re going to be exploring what authenticity means when performing popular songs, how to be authentic with your instruments and voice and how to adapt to stay true to your abilities and the music. This is a topic that is important to me because I feel that it helps us advocate for our field. Good music speaks volumes! It helps us connect with our clients and understanding what authenticity means makes us grow as music therapists. That’s where I want to start part 1: What is Authenticity in Music?
Read MoreWe can and should probably assume that everyone we encounter has some level of trauma. That includes ourselves and others. From the research found by the CDC in the well known ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study reported that 64% of those surveyed had at least one incidence of trauma. That is roughly 2/3rds of the general population had some experience of adverse childhood trauma (including, but not limited to, domestic violence, neglect, maltreament, divorce, abuse, and others. Why is this so important? Because these adverse experiences can impact the individual’s ability to function. It affects the rest of their life!
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