August Review

Erfurt Music Resource

Student/Intern Scholarship - New Podcast Series - AMTAS Update - Newsletters

Kat Fulton Makes A Change - Free Downloads - Another New Podcast

Music Therapy Round Table

Putting the "Music" in Music Therapy: How We Maintain & Improve Our Skills

Music Therapy Tween

Free Session Download - AMTAS Update - Walk With Me Down Memory Lane

Organizing Secret Weapon - How Do You Do It? - Personalized Message Board

August Review

Session Download: "My Stuff!"

Songwriting is a music intervention that gives people the opportunity to express themselves using words. No matter what a client's specific goal is, songwriting can most likely be used to work on it. When I work with kids who can read and write and are of an independent age (say 7 - 12 years old) I like to give them simple worksheets that are set up like a songwriting Mad-Libs game. (Remember how much we loved Mad-Libs as kids?)

Here's a Music Mad-Lib you can download. It's called "My Stuff" and is set to the tune of "Clementine" (you have to sing the first line twice, I didn't bother to write it two times).

These sheets are really easy to put together and implement. Here's how I do it:

1. Pick a simple song. I like to use songs that will be recognized. 
2. Insert blanks with word directions. You'll have to use your best judgment on how complicated to write your descriptor. I like to simplify the directions so that the session doesn't turn into an English lesson (but, who knows, that might be what YOU want to work on).
3. Make the worksheet really exciting looking. Usually every computer has templates with their writing programs that is relatively easy to use. I made the "My Stuff" worksheet using a newsletter template that comes with the Pages program on my Mac. 
4. Give everyone a pen/pencil and ask them to fill it in. Sometimes I go over the whole sheet and sometimes I sit with the client and we fill it out together... it all depends on the age and abilities of my client. If the child does want to fill it out themselves they usually love to find a special place in the room and do not want ANY HELP. This is all really great and very independent! I don't tell them it's going to be a song... I just say we're going to use it later on. 
5. When it's filled out say "You just wrote a song!..." and sing it. Sometimes what they write might be too long for the phrase in the music but I don't change it... I sing ALL their words and squish them all in. It usually gets a laugh and sometimes the client wants to make edits so it all fits. Great! That's using critical thinking skills! 
6. Afterward you can usually process whatever the topic is about. With the "My Stuff" song, the primary goal was to connect my client with family members. So we were able to chat about other house items that are shared or what the client does not want to share, etc.
7. Everyone gets to keep their worksheet to show mom/dad. Who knows, maybe it'll make it on the fridge :)

I like to keep copies of blank worksheets in my song binder for quick access during sessions. This comes in really handy when you might not always know who your clients will be for the day (like in a hospital setting or even with hospice adults with kids). This is also nice to do with kids of different ages.... the older kids can do this by themselves while I work with the younger ones in the same room. This way they don't have to do 'baby stuff' and when the song is performed the really little ones can clap or listen and participate that way.

I hope you find this helpful!
Michelle Erfurt

Session Download: "My Stuff!"

AMTAS Website Update

Please check out the new and improved website for the American Music Therapy Association Student organization. 

SPECIFICALLY, the Hip Resources tab. 

Why? 

Because I wrote it! 

Pretty cool, right?! I serve as advisor for the South-Eastern region of this group. But, I was totally shocked when the national advisor, Petra Kern asked me to contribute content for the resource section of their website. 

Although the site is aimed at AMTA student members, the Hip Resources tab has information that ALL AMTA members would want to know.

Michelle Erfurt

AMTAS Website Update

Billion Points Video Contest

Music Therapist, Annette Whithead-Pleaux, is competing to win money for Shriners Hospital for Children. I voted, will you?

Vote here: Billion Points Video Contest

Michelle Erfurt

Billion Points Video Contest

Memory Lane

I've been reminded of my childhood lately... all because of this commercial from Target:

I grew up listening to the Free To Be ... You And Me album by Marlo Thomas and Friends. The record album (cassette tapes were around, but for some reason we still listened to records in my house). My mom and I would make our weekly trip to the local public library and I would always borrow this particular album... ALWAYS. Finally, Santa Claus gave it to me on Christmas so I could have my own copy. I can't remember a particular song or story that I didn't like, but 'William Want's a Doll' was my absolute favorite. Also, the 'Helping' song -- which was a Shel Silverstein poem set to music (I was pretty into him too!).

But, my trip down 'memory lane' started because of a song I heard on TV. A song I haven't heard in over 20 years. The funny thing is that the commercial plays 30 seconds of the song but I keep singing it out loud when the ad ends. I have never forgotten the words. So, is this what it's like for my older clients who instantly start telling me stories after I play songs? I think so.

What do you think?

Memory Lane

A Simple Organization Question

I seem to be on an organizing kick lately. But after getting your feedback from the Free Tote and Handsome Message Board posts I figure why stop there? So here is a peek into how I organize my contract hospice clients and my secret weapon.

A Simple Organization Question

"How do you do it?" - What I think

Whenever you meet new people the question that comes right after the introduction is usually "So what do you do?" And when people find out that I work primarily in Hospice I often hear people say "How do you do it? I could never work with people who are going to die." I have a hard time explaining why I really enjoy working in this area. Funny enough, I was just introduced to a song that took the words out of my mouth. Here's the video:

I believe that there is a bigger picture for every person and a reason for things that happen. The thing is, I'm not the one who gets to know the reason. But I have talents that can help people and I feel obligated (not to mention I WANT) to share these talents with others.

Michelle Erfurt

"How do you do it?" - What I think