I had originally planned to write about something entirely different… until I woke up this morning.
I heard the news about the tragedy in Las Vegas and my heart broke. After seeing the news on my phone, I noticed the time and that I had to leave soon. I made my tea and left for the gym as I always do on Mondays. I started on the treadmill, eyes glued to the live coverage in front of me. When my time was up at 8:30, I left for work.
As most of us do, I felt stoic, overwhelmed, and deeply saddened by the happenings in Vegas but when I arrived at my first classroom, my first set of clients, my first room of people we made music together. It was fun; we laughed, redirected behavior, and laughed some more.
Then at the end of that session, an adult and fellow professional in the room simply said “thank you for music”. That was it. What can I do? I can make more music. I need to make more music.
For clients and students- we will still make music
For celebrations and festivals- we will still make music
For lullabies to a newborn- we will still make music
For weddings and love- we will still make music
For memories, dancing, and joy- we will still make music
It occurred to me last week that there are a few questions that it seems everyone asks before beginning Music Therapy services. I wanted to take a moment and share with you my honest answers as a board certified music therapist!
What exactly is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the application of evidenced based therapeutic techniques with music by a board certified music therapist.
How can Music Therapy help my child, family member, or self?
Music therapy can be effective for many people struggling with autism, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, mental health, trauma, and more! We cater every wholistic music therapy session to the needs of each individual client and their primary needs.
What is the difference between Music Therapy and lessons?
Music lessons are focused on musical goals and the progression of musical skills. Whereas, music therapy is focused on non-musical goals like increasing self-expression, improving communication, and increasing coping skills.
How often will I attend Music Therapy?
Each music therapy session has a set time and is offered on a weekly basis for twelve weeks. At that point clients are given a report of their progress and possibilities for future goals and growth!
How can I register for Music Therapy services?
Click on the button below to register for music therapy services and someone from our team will email you shortly!
At Music Therapy Connections, we have people with a wide variety of experience and talents come through our doors. I think I can speak for our team when I say that we love using our expertise to serve the community in this way!
We have 5 year old beginners and 60 year old beginners. We have guitarists, vocalists, and pianists alike. I have a special place in my heart (and schedule) for homeschool students!
I know that many homeschooled students have limited options for exploring the arts within their school days. Our teachers offer music lessons focusing on those foundational musical skills and terms that students would otherwise learn in school music classes. Students learn how to execute new skills and are able to learn at their own pace with a 1:1 teacher.
Best of all, we are happy to offer daytime lessons! We have availability during the regular school day hours, so your student won’t miss a beat!
Are you ready to expand your student’s repertoire of skills?
I was thirteen if I remember correctly. I was wearing a pink shirt and jeans and my mother’s perfume. We drove up on an old school in Patterson, Illinois and hopped out of my dad’s truck. I remember buying our tickets, passing the scent cloud of popcorn and chili as I walked into the old school gym. The basketball hoops were up and the nets swayed in the breeze of the four foot fans blowing air through the gym on that summer night.
At the time, I had no idea what an opry was, but my teacher had suggested that I perform there. Little did I know that I would fall in love for the first time that night.
I was shaking as I took the stage and grabbed ahold of the microphone, waiting for the band to start playing my song. Once I sang the first words of “Independence Day” by Martina McBride the rest just fell out of my mouth. I watched as my mom breathed a sigh of relief, my dad smiled, and my grandmother who always loved my music in a way I can’t understand even now, laid back in her chair as if she wasn’t surprised at all. In the blink of an eye, it was over and I was in love, not with the thrill of being on stage, but that moment. When I looked out to see my family and they were experiencing that moment with me. We were in it together.
It has been a little over ten years and a music degree since that day. I was just out at an open mic last weekend. I performed a few of my favorites for my family, which has now grown to include my husband. Even now I go back to that place. When I’m performing, I drop my titles. For three minutes I am not Alisabeth the music therapist, the teacher, the daughter, the wife; I am just me. And even better, that is when I get to share just me, with the world.
When people ask me “why music?”, the answer is simple:
Music is where I see myself. It is where I am safe, in love, happy, angry, sad, and everything in between. Music is where I see my grandmother who moved on years ago. Music is where I can be myself.
This is why I do what I do. I hope to share my music and myself with my clients and students to help them grow and learn. This is my story.
We all have those moments. Heres my most distinct breakthrough as a therapist, teacher, and musician.
It was my fourth semester studying music therapy at Western Illinois University. I was in my required weekly voice lesson. I chose voice as my primary instrument and honestly had no idea what commitment I was making. My professors office was small, cramped, and there was sheet music on top of her upright, acoustic, and slightly out of tune piano. It was humid and the windows were open allowing a warm breeze to fly through the room on occasion.
I was practicing a German art song when my professor stopped me, for the fifth time and the same reason. I just. Couldn’t. Get. The note. If I remember correctly its was a G… that pesky G. I had convinced myself that because I couldn’t sing that note the way I wanted to the first time, that I would never be able to do it.
She knew I was wrong.
It was in that pause that she had a talk with me that I would repeat to my students in the future.
“We are all growing. We have all built walls. When something challenges us we have to chose to say no, you’re wrong, you CAN do this. you WILL do this.”
We began the song and I did it. I hit the G. I achieved the impossible — or apparently, the possible.
As a therapist and a teacher at Music Therapy Connections I have these talks frequently. I try to encourage my students of all ages regularly, especially when I can see that they have hit a wall. I know that all of our teachers at MTC do the same. My favorite days are when I get to witness a student having a breakthrough. Those days are why I love what I do.
So, if you..
1. Have taken lessons (voice, guitar, or piano alike) and quit for whatever reason, but still want to learn.
2. Have tried to teach yourself, but felt stuck or frustrated with some of the material.
3. Have taught yourself how to play but feel as though you can’t reach your full potential because you haven’t had a chance to learn the theory.
Then click the link below and register and someone from our team will email you to help you find the right teacher, day, and time to help you finally achieve your breakthrough!
