Music and Music Therapy Helps Teen Fair Victim Rebuild

I came across this post today and thought I would share it. It's about a teenager who became paralyzed after the Indiana Fair accident before a concert.



Click HERE to read the article.

I think it is important that hospitals nationwide offer music therapy in hopes to connect with a patient, make them smile, and make them feel worthy.

My New Job

I am very excited to announce that I have been offered a full-time music therapy job (with benefits!) at a facility in Irvine. Let me tell you the story of how I created this job opportunity for myself...


My job search started in late July, early August. I really wanted to wait until we were settled back in California to start the search, mostly because it is so time consuming. Once I finally started looking online, there were no music therapy postings anywhere. Uh oh. No need to panic, I signed up as a TakeLessons instructor, got a contract for a company down in San Juan Capistrano, and a contract for the Children's Music Fund. By no means was this going to pay the bills.

I started searching Craigslist and came across numerous companies hiring for speech therapists, behavior therapists and occupational therapists. Unfortunately, and obviously, I didn't qualify. However, a thought came across my mind. Why not offer my services to these companies that offer amazing therapies that go hand in hand with what I do? I had to be creative. And that's what I did. I emailed various companies in the Orange County area offering music therapy. I included a cover letter, resume, recommendation letters...the whole shebang.

You know what? It worked. All it took was one hit (and several interviews and meetings) and now I have a full-time job.

I will be working as a music therapist for a facility that offers speech, occupational and behavioral therapies. I am starting from nothing, starting a program I have always wanted to start, fulfilling my dream on someone else's dime. And most importantly, I will be working with kids with Autism, making a difference one smile at a time.

Bella's Birthday Bash

Today is Bella's Birthday Bash in Orange County, CA. I honestly wish I could be in CA right now so that I can attend this huge party to remember Bella, who passed away in October from complications during her EB treatment.

If you aren't following Bella's Blessings, please check out Tim and Ang's blog to see how you can help.

Tim has also started a texting campaign. Tim says:

Remember, you can donate $5 simply by texting BELLA to 50555. Easy, right?

As I leave you today, here is a video of Bella and Ali partaking in some pilates!




Happy Saturday!

Google Chrome

What a great advertisement Google has just come up with promoting "Google Chrome." The first thing I thought of though, after getting past the initial "this is adorable", was the music. Listen to it without the sound and it doesn't nearly have the same effect.



As a music therapist, I constantly think about how music makes a difference. Music is all around us and sometimes we don't even know it's there, but without it, things would be a lot different.

Just a thought.

Daddy and Daughter

I know this video isn't new but it touches my heart every time I see it!



And..I love Ellen :)

Michelle Obama Doing 'The Dougie' & 'The Running Man' Dances (Official V...

Get the Kids Moving

My boss just sent me a great link to Beyonce and Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign. I do a few Movement and Music groups, which focus on, what else...moving to the music. These particular clients live rather sedentary lifestyles, making them great candidates for this group. My entire sessions are planned to keep them moving and get their heart rates pumping. We have done dances to Elvis, The Black Eyed Peas and are currently working on a Michael Jackson dance to "The Way You Make Me Feel." My first steps in creating a dance are:

- Get the client's input - What songs do you want to dance to? I usually bring in three songs and then let them vote on which one they want.

- Watch the music video (if appropriate) - This way, they can see the moves the singer and back up dancers are doing and get an idea of dance moves they might want to do.

- Let each client decide on at least one dance move - It's their dance, right? Let them decide what moves they want to do! :)

- Write the moves down, or video - I can't tell you how much this helps from week to week to remember the dance steps...I'm one to forget!

- Rehearse - It will take them some time to get the sequencing and moves down, as well as to get the dance moves in sync with each other.

- Record - Once the dance is mastered, use your handy dandy flip camera and record their performance.

- Share - Make DVDs of their dance so they have a final product to show their families, peers, and support staff. Even better, perform it for an audience.

Beyonce has adapted her song "Get Me Bodied," and made a video and song called "Move Your Body."

Click here for the link to the article and videos.


There is also an instructional video to help teach your students/clients the dance moves. I can't wait to share this with my clients--they will be excited to learn from Beyonce and they really enjoy watching videos as well.

New Goodbye Song

Since it's a new month, it is also time for a new Goodbye song. Like previously stated, I like to keep my clients on their toes.

Here's my new Goodbye Song: Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye

I used the melody "With a Little Help From My Friends" by the Beatles.



What do you think?

Well Hello Everybody!

It's a new month and it's time for a new 'Hello' song. I like to keep things interesting and one way to do that is to introduce a new 'hello' song. Many, many of my adult clients L-O-V-E Elvis Presley...so I thought I would adapt a famous song of his as our new hello song.

I chose "Hound Dog" and the new version is here for you to enjoy. My clients are a little less mobile and less active due to their age, so movement is a great way to get our classes started and the blood flowing.



Enjoy!

Wachs is Walking to Houston

A good friend, past professor, and amazing musician, Daniel Wachs was invited to work with the Houston Symphony!



Here's the article posted on Chapman's Happenings Website.


Hope it went well, Daniel! Cheers!