It’s a well-known fact in the music therapy profession that most of us are women. It’s also a common stereotype that women should be these nice, sweet, gentle creatures. However, as a professional woman, this may not be the perception we want and being “nice” can have some downsides. When you do a Google search for “are women too nice,” headlines pop up like “What ‘She’s too nice!’ really means,” “Quit being so nice,” and “Do nice gals finish last?”

On top of that, not only are most music therapists women, but we’re therapists as well. Active listening, compassionate, caring, and, yes, even nice therapists. Is this a double-whammy for us? Are music therapists in general too nice?

In episode 42 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we’ll discuss the benefits and pitfalls of being too nice, both from the perspective of an individual professional and from the larger perspective of the profession as a whole.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] The Journal of Music Therapy – The American Music Therapy Association’s premier research journal is undergoing some exciting changes
  
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] We want to give a special thank you to the supporters of Music Therapy Pro. These supporters give discounts to all Music Therapy Pro members:
  • Mr. and Mrs. Marketing
  • Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy LLC
  • MT Research Blog
  • A Perfect Lullaby
  • Music to Spark
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] This month’s Sunday Success comes from Courtney Biddle. Here’s what she shared over in the Facebook Forum: “I totally rocked by CMTE today! I challenged myself in new and different ways, and it turned out great.” Congratulations Courtney! What an amazing feeling, not only to challenge and push yourself, but to surpass your expectations. We hope you have this feeling many times over in your career!

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  Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

A main tenant of being a therapist is that you must have a relationship with your client…one that involves using techniques like listening, reflecting, challenging, and educating (and that’s only to name a few). When therapists and clients build their relationship, the therapist will experience resistance and feelings that are displaced onto the them from their clients. This can lead the professional to feel a lack of direction, a loss of confidence with their services and overall burnout.

Music therapists are not immune to these feelings just because they work primarily with music. So what can we do to help us work through all of this? Seek professional supervision. This will allow the therapist to gain insight into their work… along with many other benefits. In Episode 41 of the podcast, special guest Roia Rafieyan will teach us about all that professional supervision has to offer.

Roia Rafieyan is a music therapist in her 26th year of service. She uses a relationally-based music psychotherapy approach in her practice and works primarily with adults diagnosed with autism. Roia candidly shares her clinical experiences in her blog “the mindful music therapist”. She provides professional clinical supervision and advocates the use of music making during supervision as part of the learning and growth process. Roia is also an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, where she teaches guitar to music therapy students.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] The Mindful Music Therapist – Roia’s blog.
• [RESOURCE] CMTE Course Pinterest Board – put together by music therapist Mary Hale.
  
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] We want to give a special thank you to the supporters of Music Therapy Pro. These supporters give discounts to all Music Therapy Pro members:
  • Mr. and Mrs. Marketing
  • Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy LLC
  • MT Research Blog
  • A Perfect Lullaby
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] JoAnn Jordan is on fire! She has self published a book: Sparking Lives with Themes and Music. This book has materials and resources that will come in handy when you are planning intergenerational groups. It has also been called: a ‘must have for anyone starting an intergenerational program with preschool aged children adn older adults’. Congratulations JoAnn!

• What do you think?

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  Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
  Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

Music therapists in private practice do a good amount of marketing their services to the public… after all, that’s how they will get business. But what about the regularly employed, non private practice music therapist? Do they have to market their services as well or are they off the hook since they work for someone?

In this episode number 40 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we’ll discuss the concept of promoting music therapy within your workplace.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] imagine.unlimited – Online resource for research, information and practice for early childhood professionals.
  
• [Announcement] Rachel Rambach’s “Listen & Learn: Sons for school, home and play” songbook is now available for $10 and free shipping. Book contains: 24 songs with the melody line and chords, activity suggestions and covers topics such as: counting, dailiy care, directions, transitions, friendships and more. Get it here.
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] JoAnn Jordan just kicked off a free four week program to assist people in starting intergenerational programs. Check it out here.
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] We want to give a special thank you to the supporters of Music Therapy Pro. These supporters give discounts to all Music Therapy Pro members:
  • Mr. and Mrs. Marketing – Social media makeover package
  • Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy LLC – “Tuneful Teens: Creative Ideas for Engaging Adolescents in Music Therapy” and “Sensational Songs & Activities: Sensory-Based Ideas for Music Therapy” E-Songbooks
  • MT Research Blog – CMTE courses
  • A Perfect Lullaby – Lyllaby CD
  • Boom Tote – Carrying bag for Boomwhacker® instruments
  • Listen & Learn Plus Membership – Songs and downloads
  • Music Therapy Maven – Therapy Business Blueprint ebook

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  Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
  Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
  Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

As music therapists, we begin building our libraries during our studies — textbooks, journal articles, and other readings that are assigned to us. But when it comes time to enter the professional world, what kinds of materials do you choose to add to your library?

In episode 39 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we’ll discuss the must-have books on our shelves, and how we go about selecting the reading material that will benefit our work most.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] Kindle App for iPad – use as a PDF reader for viewing music therapy visual aides.
  
• [Announcement] Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month was a huge success! For a full rundown of the bloggers and podcasters who participated during the month of January, click here.
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] CJ Shiloh will be presenting on the panel “Community Music Therapy in Action” with Laura-Sun at MAR regional conference. Visit CJ’s website to learn more about The Musical Autist and community music therapy.
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] We want to give a special thank you to the supporters of Music Therapy Pro. These supporters give discounts to all Music Therapy Pro members:
  • Mr. and Mrs. Marketing
  • Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy LLC
  • MT Research Blog
  • A Perfect Lullaby

  What do you think?

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  Come join us!

  You can easily find all three of us online through Twitter and Facebook. Click the links below to connect with us at once:

  Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
  Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
  Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

This January, the music therapy blogging community is banding together for the third annual social media advocacy month. Music therapists in over 35 states are involved in the joint AMTA and CBMT state recognition operational plan, where we are seeking to increase our client’s access to music therapy services through official recognition of our profession and our MT-BC credential. This recognition can happen by being added to agency regulations or through legislation for title protection or the creation of a state registry or license.

A large part of this effort involves advocacy and January is our online music therapy advocacy kickoff to welcome the upcoming state legislative sessions. This year’s advocacy theme is connection, especially the idea of connecting through stories.

In episode 38 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we will be discussing the power of storytelling and how we use it to advocate for ourselves, our work, and our profession.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] Information about the joint AMTA/CBMT Social Media Advocacy month
  
• [RESOURCE] Facebook groups: There are a variety of free Facebooks groups that offer you a chance to be supported and network with each other. Examples include a music therapy parent group, music therapy reimbursement group, state and regional music therapy groups, and more!
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] JoAnn Jordan got accepted to present with Dr. Dena Register at the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association conference in September 2013.
• [ANNOUNCEMENT]We want to give a special thank you to the supporters of Music Therapy Pro. These supporters give discounts to all Music Therapy Pro members:
  • Mr. and Mrs. Marketing
  • Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy LLC
  • MT Research Blog
  • A Perfect Lullaby

  What do you think?

  We always welcome comments and questions. Simply fill out the comment field below to let us know what you think.

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  Come join us!

  You can easily find all three of us online through Twitter and Facebook. Click the links below to connect with us at once:

  Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
  Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
  Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

Happy Holidays! Are you feeling the crunch? It may be under your feet as you walk through the snow OR it may be the frenzy that comes with your holiday activities in your music therapy life and your personal life.

In episode 37 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we will talk about how we handle the holiday crunch on both the professional front AND the home front.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] Music Therapy Pro: Our PREMIUM website now has resource lists! Now you have easy to grab, vetted resources at your fingertips. Join Music Therapy Pro here.
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] Jaycie Voorhees is paving the way for music therapy services in Utah.
• [ANNOUNCEMENT]We want to give a special thank you to the supporters of Music Therapy Pro. These supporters give discounts to all Music Therapy Pro members:
  • Mr. and Mrs. Marketing
  • Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy LLC
  • MT Research Blog
  • A Perfect Lullaby

  What do you think?

  We always welcome comments and questions. Simply fill out the comment field below to let us know what you think.

  Subscribe for free!

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  Come join us!

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  Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
  Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
  Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

It’s said that some of the only things you can count on are death, taxes, and change. Not the money kind of change, but the life kind of change—new relationships, moving, marriage, kids, divorce, death. Major life transitions are a large part of our lives and how we navigate and handle those transitions affects our clients and our work.

In episode 36 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we will be tackling how we handle life’s major transitions, especially as they relate to our professional lives.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] Teachers Pay Teachers: An open marketplace for educators to buy, sell, and share their original teaching resources.
• [RESOURCE] The Months of the Year: Rachel’s original series for helping your clients learn the months of the year, one song at a time.
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] Tracey Kinnunen shares some local advocacy that happened when a TV station highlighted her school’s music therapy program.
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] We are excited to announced that our third CMTE course has dropped from Pro community members! The Technology CMTE joins our previous courses on Professional Life Management and Communication. Come visit us at Music Therapy Pro.com to check it out.

What do you think?

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Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

If you followed our Facebook posts and tweets during the 2012 AMTA national conference, then you already know that we had a fabulous time — not only did we learn a lot and have an opportunity to spread the word about the Music Therapy Round Table, but we got the chance to see some old friends and meet plenty of new ones.

In episode 35 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we talk to several music therapists about their conference experiences, and share our own as well.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] Kathy Schumacher: Tuneful Learning
• [RESOURCE] Matt Logan: A Perfect Lullaby
• [RESOURCE] Kalani: Kalani Music
• [RESOURCE] Andrew Littlefield: The George Center
• [RESOURCE] CJ Shiloh: The Musical Autist
• [PRODUCT] Boom Totes

What do you think?

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Download the latest episode here or subscribe by email for free to automatically get new episodes sent to you.

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You can easily find all three of us online through Twitter and Facebook. Click the links below to connect with us at once:

Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

This year, we’re gearing up for conference almost a month earlier than usual. Our flights and hotel rooms are booked, presentations are prepared, and now comes the real fun: planning how we’ll spend those 5 days in St. Charles, Illinois.

In episode 34 of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, we’ll share with you our plans for AMTA 2012 — the social events, sessions we can’t miss, and other highlights to look forward to.

Items mentioned in the episode

• [RESOURCE] Sign-Up Genius: Organize volunteers online for free.
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] Amanda Ellis has a meaningful exchange with a former music therapy student.
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] Stop by the Music Therapy Pro booth at conference for meet-and-greets, live and video demonstrations, raffle prizes, and have the opportunity to participate in a podcast recording.

What do you think?

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Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook

This month we are joined by special guest, Nakeischea Loi Smith. Ms. Smith is a Community Development Specialist for the Community Redevelopment Agency of Martin County, Florida. Nakeischea is responsible for securing grant funding for multimillion dollar construction and redevelopment projects that enhance the local community.

In this episode of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast we get tips on finding and applying for grant funding.

Items Mentioned in the Episode

• [FEATURE SEGMENT] Grants.gov: Online source for finding federal grants. This website is managed by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
• [FEATURE SEGMENT] Email Nakeischea Loi Smith at: Nakeischea(at)hotmail(dot)com
• [RESOURCE] Mommy Monday Series at MusicTherapyMaven.com. Kimberly Sena Moore shares here perspective on being a music therapist and a mother.
• [SUNDAY SUCCESS] Elizabeth Sands Buckmaster started taking piano lessons again after a ten year hiatus. She says “Forgot how much I love playing.” Congratulations Elizabeth!
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] Michelle is pregnant! Read about it here.
  
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] Listen and Learn turns 4!
• [ANNOUNCEMENT] Rachel’s European vacation
  

What do you think?

We always welcome comments and questions. Simply fill out the comment field below to let us know what you think.

Subscribe for free!

Download the latest episode here or subscribe by email for free to automatically get new episodes sent to you.

Come join us!

You can easily find all three of us online through Twitter and Facebook. Click the links below to connect with us at once:

Michelle Erfurt: Twitter, Facebook
Rachel Rambach: Twitter, Facebook
Kimberly Sena Moore: Twitter, Facebook