Perceptions

If you are a music therapist, likely you understand the above paradox. People's perceptions are all different about what "music therapy is".  Hence why we need a “elevator ride” length pitch on music therapy in our back pocket at any moment in time. Starting a new position I have been asked to explain what music therapy is multiple times in the past week alone. AND if you have any experience as a MT (even as a student or intern) you may have already encountered some preconceived notions and well... to be honest... annoying comments/assumptions/generalizations that people may make. For example: My first day out in the field with my new colleague we were greeted at a facility by their front desk personnel with a cheerful,

“Oh great! The entertainment is here!” I kind of assumed that my fellow MT might brush it off and go on her way, but instead she politely corrected the lady across the desk with a short, simple, and non-judgmental educational statement on what she was actually there to do. The employee's eyes widened slightly, you could see the wheels turning in her head as she understood just a bit more about “what music therapy is”. She was genuinely interested and impressed. I had that old familiar PSA theme running through my mind, "The More You Know"...

We all have that cousin, or friend of a friend, or neighbor that at some point says to us, “You paid all that money to go to school and learn to be a music therapist! I'm a (enter other non-music therapy related credentials here) and I just sing to/play a CD for my patients/kids/dog!”

I have a basset hound but she wont sing with me. I've tried. Maybe I'm NOT a music therapist...

Well, that's fantastic that you sing to them. Really. It is. Music is a fantastic and powerful part of care giving. HOWEVER! When I drag a guitar, computer, industrial sized hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, song books, paddle drums/xylophone/electric keyboard/ocean drum/thunder tube up to a patient's bedside it is not a grand entrance for the “Annie Walljasper Music Hour”. I'm on a mission. I've taken time to plan and prepare. I've created goals to work on for each client. I've checked up on, studied, and planned out the best way to serve their diagnosis. I do more than sing. I do more than play the guitar. I watch every little action and reaction. I change my approach on a dime. I create goals for patients, I develop ways to achieve those goals. I collect data and prove to doctors, nurses, social workers, as well as insurance companies and the government that what I am doing is clinical, beneficial, and appropriate. It's a clinical and evidence-based way to assist others in order to help them accomplish social, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual goals. In order to reach those goals, I use music intervention. It's THERAPY, and I use music to do it. 

Furthermore, in order to "do music therapy" you must be a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music therapists take courses in everything from biology, anatomy, and psychology to acting,

There are many fantastic colleges and universities who offer
music therapy education... the University of Iowa is just one of them

conducting, orchestration, and movement to voice lessons, music research, music theory, and music appreciation. Not to mention specific courses such as "Music Therapy in Special Education" or "Music Therapy and Older Adults". After completing coursework and studying hard, our young budding music therapist goes on to a six month internship. They must apply, interview, and successful secure and internship and then work (normally 40 hours a week) more often than not without pay. Interns gain real world experience and truly get a taste for what it is like to be a full time employed MT - at least I did.

AFTER you complete all 1,080 hours of your internship it's time to start studying up. There's a big old certification exam. The CBMT Board Certification examination consists of a 150 question multiple-choice test, you are allotted 3 hours to complete it, and it costs a pretty penny (if I do say so myself). Now, some of you may ask "Why? Why get certified?" The credential MT-BC is to provide an objective national standard that can be used as a measure of professionalism. Basically having the credential allows the public to identify qualified practitioners who have passed a national exam measuring the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to competently practice in the field of music therapy for the given year. So, they KNOW that they are getting someone who knows what they are doing and are doing it with intent... not just playing a CD. Also, it's a way to hold me accountable for my actions. If I am not working within my scope of practice (meaning if I am pretending to know how to do something I don't know how to do) or if I am doing something unethical or illegal, there is a certification board who will hold me to higher standards or will revoke my credentials. When you finally take the test, you find out right away as to whether or not you passed. Thank God, because just waiting for the results to print off was a torturous wait itself. If you passed, you then get mailed an official certificate that looks like this:

Isn't it beautiful? I think so. So, then you frame it and hang it in your office... or in your car if you work for hospice. I might put mine on a chain and just wear it around. I'm the Flava Flav of music therapy,

"Yeah boooiiii!"

And then? Well, then you GET A JOB! Oh an every 5 years you either have to have continuing education credits or you have to retake the test... darn that whole keeping you accountable thing. ;)

Whew, I'm tired just thinking about all that work! But you know what, it's totally worth it. Everyday I am honored to share some of the more intimat

January is for Music Therapy

Since 2005, the American Music Therapy Association and the Certification Board for Music Therapists have collaborated on a State Recognition Operational Plan. The primary purpose of this plan is to get music therapy and our MT-BC credential recognized by individual states so that citizens can more easily access our services. The AMTA Government Relations staff and CBMT Regulatory Affairs staff provide guidance and technical support to state task forces throughout the country as they work towards state recognition. To date, their work has resulted in 35 active state task forces, 2 licensure bills passed in 2011, and an estimated 10 bills being filed in 2012 that seek to create either a music therapy registry or license for music therapy. This month, our focus is on YOU and on getting you excited about advocacy.

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I am deeply honored to have been asked to be a part of the Music Therapy Advocacy month, maybe a little intimidated. To be honest, when talking about advocacy during my time as a MT equivalency student I was completely scared to even think of being someone out there in the world teaching and advocating for music therapy. Not that I don't love public speaking, because I do. And not because I don't love the music therapy profession, because believe me, I DO. But because there are millions of REALLY GREAT advocates out there... aside from the obvious Martin Luther King Jr's of the world, I have been privileged to see some absolutely amazing parents who need to advocate for their children. It is HARD work. It's a full time job. You have to be knowledgeable, confident, persistent...It's intimidating. I cannot help but think, "There must be someone else out there who could do a better job" or, "Someone else understands all that legal stuff better than I do." I have a feeling that many of you baby MTs out there might feel the same way. Or at least I hope I'm not alone. BUT! I also KNOW that I am not alone in thinking, "If not me, who?" Hmm...sounds familiar.

Two years ago if you asked me if I would be interested in working in hospice care, I would have replied with an adamant “No”, having spent the previous five years working with teenagers. One year ago when I sat down during my first day in the “Music Therapy with Adult Clients” course I thought, "I could never do that." But over the course of the semester I saw my view of hospice settings shift to a deep respect and new enthusiasm to advocate and provide for the clients found in hospice care. Six months after I have interned with Seasons Hospice and I find myself not with a hardened heart, tough enough to stand the emotional tolls of our work, but rather a better understanding of death and the dying process as well as an appreciation of what we are able to offer our clients. If I can't advocate and provide for this population, who will?

This January, music therapy bloggers and podcasters were asked to share their tips, thoughts, and ideas on advocacy and on being an advocate. I am going to do my very best. This might be more of a learning experience for me than for you. Who knows, maybe I'll learn that I LOVE advocacy, or maybe I'll inspire you to do better than I did.

For now, here are a few things to start of the week:

1. Head over the The Music Therapy Maven and take the “What’s Your Advocacy Personality?”quiz. It’s a fun, Cosmo-style quiz that will help you determine your most natural, comfortable advocacy style. Jump over here to check it out…and be sure to share your advocacy style in the comments section - be sure to tell them that Annie at PreludeMT sent you! I scored a “Not Afraid to take the lead…” and I agree completely. I just have more learning to go and would appreciate any direction/guidance.
   
2. Check out these other blogs/podcasts with posts from last week:

 
 

      3. Be sure to also follow the #mtadvocacy hashtag on Twitter to stay current with what’s  
          happening.
      4. Check back throughout this week and later this month for more words of wisdom from
          yours truly.

Happy Advocacy Month!

Hi ho, music therapy here...

Today I was playing around with my guitar and playing "The Rainbow Connection". Who doesn't love this song? Seriously.


So, in honor of Kermit I thought I would share about the "Music Therapy Connection(s)". I heard about a music therapist named of John Lawrence, MMT, MTA. His blog is very interesting and has a TON of great information. Also, Mr. Lawrence has been keeping a list of music therapy bloggers, I just updated the list to include this blog as well as Morgan's. If you know of a blog that is missing from the list please add it!


ALSO! Don't forget to catch up on your reading over at Twitter by checking out #musictherapy and of course you can follow me @anniewalljasper and check out my Music Therapy list (which I will continue to add to!)

Don't forget to share your favorite posts from Prelude with everyone 

by clicking on the share buttons at the bottom of this post!