L-O-V-E

Valentine's Day is less than a week away...so...I thought I'd share with you what I'm doing with my clients this week!


A lot of my clients are working on sounding out words, spelling, and word recognition. This intervention goes along great with Valentine's Day and works on the goals listed above. Using an oldie (but goody) "L-O-V-E" clients learn or work on spelling the word "love." Here are the visuals that go along with the intervention. Velcro and a laminating machine are my best friends.


"L is for the way you look at me."



"O is for the only one I see."




"V is very, very extraordinary."



"E is even more than anyone that you adore..and LOVE..."



Here are the words and chords for your convenience.

"Music Can Bring You Home..."

A line from the new movie hitting theaters on March 18th. Are you as excited as I am?!






Here is The Music Never Stopped trailer!

The Note-Ables

Just came across this news story and video and thought I'd share it with you. Music Therapy is used in this case to help a young man with autism learn to communicate and to become more sociable.

The Note-Ables: Changing Lives Through Music

Here is the Note-Able's website. They are a non-profit organization based out of Reno, NV.

Stairs or Escalator?

How many of you would prefer to take the escalator over the stairs when going to the subway, airport, mall? Unless I'm in a rush, I gravitate towards the escalator.

But...if I had this option, I would have chose the stairs.

Musical Stairs

Today is a lazy Sunday for us at the Shaffer household. Phew!

I'm Employed!

This blog started off describing my internship experiences. Now that I am board-certified (yipee!) I have found a job (yipee!) and am working!

The company I work for is a private Music Therapy practice located in Cincinnati about 25 minutes from my house. I do some traveling to various facilities in the greater Cincinnati area and also work in the studio/office located in Anderson. I am currently working 30 hours at Music Therapy Services. Here is their website...and...you might even see someone you recognize!

Music Therapy Services

My boss is a CCM Alum (the university my husband is currently attending) and she also played in the CSO (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) before she became a music therapist.

Happy Saturday. How many of you music therapists* out there work on Saturday??



*my hand shoots up in the air

New year, New look

After viewing and following multiple blogs (music therapy blogs and for-fun blogs) for months, I have finally decided to re-vamp my blog and start at it again. I hope to share my stories working with clients, articles I come across, videos, pictures, and music therapy interventions.

Up first is this article I came across. Sundance Review: "The Music Never Stopped"

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sundance-review-music-stopped-75724

This movie has been getting a ton of buzz in the music therapy world. As music therapists, we are hoping this movie provides an opportunity for others to learn about our field. I hope it comes to theaters in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Where has the time gone?

Hi All. Whoever you all are...I know, I know, the majority of you probably continue to check back only to see my last post way back in June. Since my internship has ended, numerous things have happened and my life is starting to turn into something I had hoped for five-six months ago.

I haven't decided where this blog is going to go, what my purpose is, or if I want to start a new one...but, for now, I just needed a place to write.

Happy Thanksgiving. How are you celebrating? Since my husband's and my family is in CA, we are doing our second-annual Thanksgiving dinner at Maggiano's. They have a fabulous Thanksgiving menu and I looking forward to stuffing and tons and tons of leftovers! My parents are actually in Hawaii now, my brother is at home with my two aunts and my Grandma, and T's parents are cooking a fabulous meal in which we wish we could be a part of. However, being married and starting a life of our own brings new traditions that I am oh so happy for.

Dinner is early tonight because I am working the Black Friday sales at Macy's--start time: 5:45am. But! I am lucky because the store opens at 4am. I'll let you know if there are any customers at 6am! Yikes.

Happy Thanksgiving and of course, happy shopping!

xoxo