This week has been a challenging one for me. I am leading sessions more and more, getting to know clients, learning repertoire, and writing songs, and it can be a little overwhelming at times.
However, I am learning so much through these experiences. I am seeing areas where I am growing, and areas that still need a lot of work. It is good to know these qualities about myself, but, unfortunately, I tend to focus on the “negatives.”
The people close to me, as I do, consider me a “perfectionist.” Everything needs to be absolutely perfect. I tell myself that the music in sessions needs to be perfect, the songs I am writing need to be perfect, my social skills need to be perfect, I need to get an A on everything, etc. I am quickly learning that these thoughts are not actually helping me. In fact, these “perfectionist” tendencies are holding me back.
I have come to the realization that I keep focusing on where I need to be, instead of where I am at now. I thought that this was benefiting me, but in reality, it is not. I am not a professional yet. I don’t have to have all the answers (and never will, even when I am one of the professionals). I am still a student. I am still learning, and will continue to learn for the rest of my life. I need to take one day at a time and focus on the growth I am making day to day.
“Perfect is a nasty word.”
This is something one of my supervisors, Alisabeth, told me this week. She said that this is not a word we should say to our clients, and definitely not to ourselves. This puts a false expectation in our heads. In therapy, we should not strive for perfection, but improvement.
“You don’t have to be perfect. You just need to be effective.”
This is another thing I was told this week, and it has really stuck with me the past couple of days. A client isn’t going to care if you play the wrong chord or mix the words up. What matters is how you handle yourself when these things occur (because they will) and continuing to be effective in the therapeutic process.
As I am sitting here writing this blog, I have been contemplating these questions. Here are some questions for thought:
What is “perfection”?
Who decides what “perfection” is?
Is “perfection” even achievable?
I know I am not the only one who struggles with perfectionism. This seems to occur in many music therapists as well as musicians in general, and likely every career imaginable. I am starting my journey in getting over this mindset. In a later blog, I hope to update you all on how I am getting over my “perfectionism.” In the meantime, I would love to hear from those of you who are also “perfectionists” and what has helped you get past this mindset!
Hello! I hope you have had a wonderful week! This week I have been working a lot on my musical skills. As I was practicing, I reflected on my own musical skills and how important these skills are to music therapists.
When someone hears “Music Therapy” for the first time, two somewhat obvious things probably pop into their head: music and therapy. As music therapists or future music therapists, we learn so much about both musical skills and clinical skills in our education.
Both musical skills and clinical skills are incredibly important in this profession. Since we are therapists, some may place a greater emphasis on the clinical skills aspect, but we can’t forget about our musical skills.
Throughout our education, we take so many classes that play into our musical skills. These include music theory, aural skills, classes on various instruments including guitar, piano, voice, and percussion, and ensembles on our primary instruments. If you think about it, we may even spend more time on our musical skills throughout college than our clinical skills.
Being a musician is HARD. A lot of musicians may be drawn to a certain instrument. For me, that is voice. I’ve spent my whole life singing. Thus, this part of my education came easy to me, but learning new instruments is difficult, especially when you’re a young adult.
Piano has always been a struggle for me. I took piano as a young child, but quit after a few years, as I really preferred my voice lessons. I also never imagined I would enter a field of work where piano skills would be helpful. If there was one thing I could change in my life, I would go back and continue those lessons.
In regards to guitar skills, I had never even touched a guitar until my sophomore year of college. I went through the blisters and calluses, and continue to do so, as a beginner guitar player. Some say that this is one of the easiest instruments to learn, but it sure was difficult for me.
As my first two years of college were jam-packed with the classes previously listed, my musical skills began to develop. It can be rather easy to feel “comfortable” with your musical skills after those first two years; I know I did. However, it’s important to remember that we are always learning and should strive to know more and get better, just like with our clinical skills. Let’s consider the following points:
Music is how we reach our clients.
Sometimes clients see us because nothing else is able to reach them. Music can speak to a client in ways that nothing else can. Not to mention, using client-preferred music builds great rapport between the client and therapist. This strengthens the therapeutic relationship and trust. Music can build connections.
The music needs to enhance the session, not distract from it.
Our musical skills are so important as we use music in each and every session. We want our skills to be functional enough that they engage the client and enhance the session. If the therapist doesn’t know his/her music or is not confident, that distracts from the therapy session. This may result in not achieving, or even preventing the chance in achieving, the clients’ goal(s). Musical skills are important!
Music is what makes us unique.
It’s in the name: Music Therapists. No other profession has the knowledge and skills regarding music and using it effectively in a therapeutic setting like we do. It’s important to not let go of the musical skills that make us so unique.
By no means am I stating that musical skills are more important than clinical skills, or vice versa. Rather, we simply must not forget how important both sets of skills are.
Thank you for reading and have a great rest of your week!
I am finishing up my first week at Music Therapy Connections, and I am so happy to be here. Some of you may have read my first blog post a month or two ago where I introduced myself as the new MTC intern, and I am thrilled to have finally started this week!
This week has proven to be challenging, yet rewarding. I attended quite a bit of training, but also had the opportunity to observe, and even co-lead a few sessions.
Like a lot of people, I have a problem with getting in my own head. Every day I wear a bracelet with a quote from Winnie the Pooh on it that says, “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
This is something I tell myself whenever I face a new or particularly challenging situation. I think that everyone could benefit from hearing this quote from time to time.
You’re braver than you believe.
Whether you know it or not, you are brave. No matter what your occupation or status, it takes bravery to simply be yourself. Sometimes things push you out of your comfort zone, and it takes bravery to accept these challenges.
During this first week at MTC, I was given the opportunity to lead a few songs and co-lead a session. In one hour-long session, I had never met the client before. If I was asked a month ago to do this, with little preparation time, I am unsure what the outcome would have been. It took bravery for me to do so this week, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to push myself this way. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and even be successful.
If you are in a similar situation and feeling nervous about any new endeavor in your life, remember that you are braver than you believe.
You’re stronger than you seem.
Strength doesn’t have to be in muscle. Strength can be seen in many forms such as passion, grit, and determination.
I found strength in myself this week through perseverance. I made mistakes this week. It’s part of learning. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s important to remember that most mistakes don’t matter in the grand scheme of things, it’s what you do afterwards that matters.
Everyone encounters situations where they do not feel strong enough, but remember that your strengths may look different than others and may change from situation to situation. Keep using your own strength, and remember that you are stronger than you seem.
You’re smarter than think.
This is something I have to tell myself constantly. A lot of people have self-doubt, especially in new situations, unfamiliar places, or when meeting new people. In these cases, we may feel like we have forgotten everything we have been taught, or doubt that we ever knew anything in the first place. At these times we need to remember that we actually do know some stuff, and even if we don’t know it all, there are people around us to help.
I was terrified that I wasn’t going to remember everything from my classes when starting internship (let’s be honest, it’s extremely unlikely to remember everything anyways), but I proved to myself this week that I remember and know a lot more than I think I do. Don’t let your own self-doubt get in the way, and remember that you are smarter than you think.
Do you have a favorite quote that you use in your everyday life?
Hello, everyone! My name is Emma Kovachevich and I will be Music Therapy Connection’s Intern starting at the end of May. I am so excited to start this new adventure in my life and am very grateful for the chance to intern at MTC.
I
have been following Music Therapy Connections on social media for the last four
years. It is crazy for me to think that I have been given the opportunity to
study and learn under Rachel, Katey, and the rest of the MTC team. This is
truly my dream internship and I can’t wait to share my journey with all of you
in my weekly blog posts.
Since I will be writing to you each week after I begin my internship, I suppose you may like to know a little about me! I am from Huntley, IL, which is a western suburb of Chicago.
My family is made up of talented musicians, so I was surrounded by all types of music at a very young age. I started taking voice lessons at 5 years old and quickly learned that it was something I loved to do. I also have participated in choir since grade school. I played the oboe in my grade school and high school band. I have not had the opportunity to play oboe recently, but have picked up guitar, piano, and ukulele.
I am currently a student at Western Illinois University and will walk in commencement in May 2019. At Western I have been a member in multiple ensembles including University Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Concert Choir. I am also a member of the WIU Music Therapy Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Lutheran Student Fellowship.
I will miss WIU, but I look forward to all the new experiences and knowledge I will gain at Music Therapy Connections.
My
next big adventure will be traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio for the GLR Music
Therapy Conference! If you see me there, please don’t hesitate to say hi!
Well, this is my last blog post of my internship.The last six and a half months have flown by and I’m so happy that I got to spend my internship here at Music Therapy Connections. It’s been a fun journey of learning, growing, and meeting new people that have changed my life in so many positive ways. As I look back at who I was in August of last year, I realize that I’m a completely different person now. Even though it was hard at times and there good and bad moments, I wouldn’t change a thing about my internship experience. I’m so incredibly thankful for Rachel and Katey as well as the other team members here at Music Therapy Connections for welcoming me, challenging me, and loving me, especially when I didn’t know anyone else here in Springfield. My internship is an experience that I will surely remember for the rest of my life.
After this next week, I will be off to a new place to start another journey at my first job as a music therapist. I haven’t exactly absorbed or accepted the fact that I’m moving next Friday and finally starting my life after college, but know that all will be alright in the end. I don’t know where life will take me after next week, but I do know that it will be wonderful as long as I keep a positive mindset. It may be hard at times, but with a positive mindset, I will be able to conquer anything. I also have no doubt that I have the tools necessary to be an effective entry-level music therapist.
Finally, thank you for letting me share my thoughts and opinions with you each week. Blogging has been a great way for me to stay reflective and challenge myself to change my mindset whenever I needed it. I may be a sentimental person, but if you are just starting out your internship or will be in the next few months, I want you to remember to soak in every moment of your internship because it goes by fast.
Throughout the course of my internship, I’ve written several original and piggy-back songs and recorded them; I’ve learned a lot from the process and now believe that I have the tools and knowledge necessary to write songs specific to my client’s goals and objectives. This week, I’ve been working on one of my final projects for the end of my internship. I’ve decided to take all of my songs that I have written and recorded, put them into a book and analyze them to see how I can adapt them for different client populations and goals. This has had me reflect on three songs I use on frequently and how I adapt them daily for different client needs.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
I use this song a lot in the hospital setting, especially with younger children. Just this week, I improvised piggyback lyrics for a patient who wanted to sing about seahorses and starfish. I kept the melody of this song, just added different lyrics, encouraging the patient to engage in songwriting with me in order to allow them to express themselves in a positive constructive way. Since this is such a familiar melody to so many young children, you can rewrite the lyrics for any purpose or goal!
Twist and Shout-The Beatles
I’ve used this song throughout practicum as well as my internship for a variety of purposes. One can change the lyrics to this song to promote movement, encourage the learning of directional changes and opposites, make smooth transitions, and even promote speech. The melody is catchy enough to use with younger children and most older adults know this song as well!
Shake Your Sillies Out-Children Song
This song is a favorite of mine, however, I never sing it the way that it was originally written. I usually adapt this song in the hospital setting for when a patient is playing the drum or a shaker. I change the words based on their actions in the moment; for example, if they’re tapping the drum, I sing about tapping and replace the lyrics accordingly. If they’re playing a maraca or using an egg shaker, I sing about opposites and directional changes (up, down, etc.). Like the previous two songs, it’s such a great song because it’s easy to sing along with and great to adapt!
What are some of your favorite songs to adapt? I’m always looking for new songs and would love to hear from you!!
