This past Saturday, I passed the board certification exam for music therapists — the final step in becoming a board certified music therapist. Looking back, it has been quite a journey with many bumps and road blocks along the way.
Nevertheless, I am so thankful to share this journey with you! In fact, I had never even heard about music therapy until I was preparing to apply for college, and even then, I dismissed it as something that was too eccentric. So, what changed and how did I end up where I am today?
In this blog post, I want to share some moments in my life that have caused me to do much soul-searching and the people in my life who have supported me every step of the way.
Part I. Life as an Illini
I began my college experience as a french horn performance major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I did not have a lot of prior performance experience, but what I loved was finding a community to fine tune and develop my skills as a musician.
As time went on, however, I struggled with mastering technique and increasingly felt more trapped in a degree that felt unreachable. By the end of my sophomore year, my horn professor sensed a lot of internal conflict and had a pivotal conversation with me that not only validated the fact that it was completely okay to not pursue performance, but also opened the door for me to explore other careers that would be more meaningful to me. I was so thankful that my horn professor fully supported me, and it didn’t hurt that his wife was also a music therapist!
Part II. Switching Majors and Finding a Direction to Follow
After that conversation with my horn professor, I felt like I had been given a second chance to pursue a field in music that gave me joy and meaning. After doing some research, I found music therapy to be this unique field where performance was not the main goal, but rather, the goal was to help other people!
That spring break of my sophomore year, I told my parents that I wanted to change my major and pursue music therapy. It was hard telling them, but I knew it was the right thing for me. They fully supported me granted I find out more about what a career in music therapy looked like. Thus began my dream of becoming a music therapist.
I started googling music therapy and contacting local music therapists to ask them all the questions I had: What classes should I take to prepare for a music therapy degree? Should I transfer to another school or stay and finish my undergraduate degree? What does a typical music therapist do every day?
One of the best conversations that I had was with none other than Rachel Rambach, who took the time to Skype with me, answer my questions, and share her own experiences, which happened to be quite similar to mine. Who knew that Rachel would not only help solidify my desire to pursue music therapy, but also become my very first employer as a music therapist five years down the line?
Part III. Pressing on Towards the Goal
While I knew music therapy was what I wanted to do, it was important to me to finish my music degree at the University of Illinois (I planned to apply to graduate school to earn an equivalency Master’s degree in music therapy in the future).
During this time, I immersed myself in classes focused on psychology, human development and speech and language disorders. I became a camp counselor at Bay Cliff Health Camp that provided music therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy for children with physical disabilities. I also continued to keep up with Rachel’s Listen & Learn blog and listen to her podcasts.
As I entered my graduate music therapy studies at Illinois State University and finished out my degree and internship at Helping Hand Center in Countryside, IL, I developed skills in working with various types of clients, grew in knowledge, and grew in my capacity to be teachable and give my best.
Since graduating with my Master’s in music therapy, I have had the privilege of joining Music Therapy Connections as a music therapist, alongside my mentors Rachel, Katey, and Alisabeth.
Visiting Rachel at Music Therapy Connections as a first year graduate student. It was the first time meeting her in person and observing her Listen and Learn Class
Recently I was asked to share how I feel now that I’ve passed my certification. As I reflect on the myriad ways in which important life moments, people, and my own growth have shaped my journey, I can only say that I am thankful.
This certification is a reflection of the blessings in my life thus far, but it is not in itself my greatest prize; it is only a vehicle for many amazing things to come and a means for others to be impacted meaningfully through music.
Thanks for reading! I am SO thankful, relieved, and excited for the future as I enter the workforce as Laura Tam, MM, MT-BC.
I love that the title of this post sounds eerily like an old holiday movie. When I was in our supervision meeting last Thursday it just came to me, mostly because this week we are spending our time at the office finalizing all of our preparations for our new intern!
We all get excited when we are welcoming a new intern, but for me it all feels a bit different because I was the first intern at Music Therapy Connections. I’ve been right there in each new intern’s shoes.
I remember my internship orientation day very clearly. I was excited, very nervous, and undecided as to which emotion I identified with more from minute to minute. My palms were sweaty as Rachel, Katey, and I sorted through all of the orientation material and formalities. Of course we finalized our first day with a Starbucks run (because let’s be honest, everything is better with Starbucks.)
And as I sat at this teeny tiny circular table that wobbled back and forth exposing the sun from the umbrella before tucking it away again Katey turned to me and asked “What are your goals for yourself by the end of your internship? Where do you want to be?”
And just like that, with the snap of a finger, it was over. Six (at the time, long) months had passed and I had done it. I had graduated, passed my certification, and achieved my younger self’s dream of becoming Alisabeth Hopper, MT-BC. I was my own superhero.
Now I’m preparing to start this process again with Rachel, Katey, again but in a very different role. I will be sitting on the other side of the table. I have many hopes for our new intern as her great potential is evident to all of us. More than anything, I am hopeful that these six months will be as growth-filled, life-changing, and light-giving as they were for me.
As for the future, I’m not sure exactly what that looks like right now. But I’m pretty sure there will be more interns to come and more journeys to be had.
Last Thursday as we were wrapping up our last class of the early fall Listen & Learn session, one of the parents made a comment that stuck with me. With a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face she said, “That went so much better than the first week”. She was referring to the fact that within four weeks, all of the two year olds in our class had started passing and sharing items during class without any prompting from parents and often while using the sign language for please and thank you. She was referring to the “magic” that had happened over the past few weeks in music class.
Day one of class had it’s share of tears, meltdowns, and resistance to sharing anything. As the weeks progressed, sharing and playing together became easier. By week four there were such vast improvements that most of the caregivers took a back seat role in the class and let their little ones show off their new skills. It all worked.
When these transitions happen, it can seem magical. A huge shift and a lot of learning has happened in such a short amount of time that it’s hard to fathom. However, this growth is by design. All of our class crates that we use in our sessions are designed to foster growth and development in areas where we know it is typically needed. The songs are sequenced in a way that makes sense for our families so that there is balance between movement, instrument playing, reading, and quiet sitting. The books are chosen to work on academic concepts and the instruments are selected to keep things fresh each session while encouraging specific skill development.
The development of social skills and the increased interaction that happens over the four weeks are all part of the plan. And when that plan works, it feels like magic. The joy, the smiles, and the pride that come from both the little ones and their caregivers is contagious and fills me with such happiness. Even though I know all of the whys and hows, it still feels magical to me, too.
You may be wondering, what on earth is a Guitten? As the name suggests it is a small mitten (without the fingers of course) for the head of your guitar! It securely covers the tuning keys. Everybody sing it with me… hallelujah!
And yes, it really is as wonderful as it sounds!
I know we have all been there. You are strumming along and having a wonderful session when you strum your guitar and it happens. Your beautifully tuned 6-string is now 4 keys way to low with a string dangling from the fretboard and you realize your guitar has been compromised. More than likely one of your clients decided to curiously turn and twist those tempting tuning keys on your guitar. At this point retuning your guitar may be untimely, and your only option may be to put it away.
Let me be honest here, I heard about the Guitten from their table at a music therapy conference. I liked the idea when I saw them and nabbed one for myself. But in all honesty I would consider this a must have for all MT’s. It is a wonderful tool and they come in all kinds of colors and designs.
Songwriting is a huge part of everything we do here at Music Therapy Connections. Wether we are writing new songs for our Listen & Learn for Little Ones Classes, composing original tunes for our individual clients, or encouraging our students to create their own compositions; songwriting is engrained in what we do.
Sometimes, the hardest part of songwriting is simply getting started. I remember sitting down to write some of my first songs as a new professional and feeling so self-conscious that I could barely put pen to paper. Even now, developing materials to suit the needs of my clients can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Overcoming that self-doubt and learning how to let it flow can be a tricky process, so Rachel and I took a little time today to talk about our favorite methods for getting past those songwriting blocks and challenges.
Below are ALL 9 tips in our Facebook Live video earlier today along with some extra ideas to get you started.
Morning Pages – In the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron, the author describes the practice of morning pages: taking time every morning for free writing. Creating the practice of setting aside time and putting all of your thoughts on paper every morning without editing. This free flow of thoughts can be an excellent bridge to songwriting.
Topic Journaling – Pick a word or single topic to write 10 lines or sentences on. You do not have to write complete thoughts or sentences and can use any number of lines or sentences you choose. Selecting a single topic for free writing can be a helpful way to get started on song ideas. (BONUS: other methods I love using are word associations and mind mapping to get my creative juices flowing). The primary goal here is to open yourself up to ideas and just jot them down. Save the editing for later.
Going back to music you enjoy – Is there a song that makes you feel amazing? Are there songs you simply love? Go back and give them a listen. See if you can find out why you love them or what feels good. Use them as your inspiration. OR simply take time to enjoy music other people have created. Create a playlist for your life or put together a set of songs for how you are feeling. Spotify is a great resources for this adventure.
Enjoy Yourself – My best songs almost always come from positive experiences in other parts of my life. Go do something you love and enjoy your life. Keep your voice recorder handy though because you never know when that inspiration will strike.
This little app is my best friend.
Think of Songwriting as a Conversation – Talk with someone about your songwriting or say your lyrics out loud like you are talking to someone. Sometimes, even just talking through why you are struggling will help you get over that hump.
Go for a Walk – Get outside. Get some fresh air. Clear your mind. Walk away for a minute and change your scenery.
Don’t Force It – If you start to get frustrated, put it all aside and come back later. Literally, walk away. Thinking about something else for a little while can be just the solution you are looking for. Sometimes, a good night’s sleep is also incredibly helpful.
Be Present – Clear both your physical and mental space of clutter and create the space to be present in songwriting and creating. This is your time to be in the moment and create.
Share Your Song – Share what you’ve written with someone. ANYONE. This can be a single client, a co-worker, your child, a friend, your significant other, a family member, or even your pet. Sharing your creation out loud with someone provides new perspective and a sense of accomplishment.
(bonus) Record your creation. The method could be a video, a simple voice recording, a full recording, etc. How you record does not matter. Capture what you have accomplished so you can listen later, remember what you’ve done, and visit your work in the future. Take a moment to listen and appreciate what you’ve created. Take pride in your accomplishment and give yourself some praise!
What are your favorite tips for starting the songwriting process? We’d love to hear from your and share your ideas with everyone!
Last week, one of our parents sent us a photo of her daughter and another child in our Little Ones class, along with this message:
“If it wasn’t for music class they wouldn’t be this close! Met in music…discovered they have same birthday…then the same daycare…now we do play dates and events. Love them! And they both love music! You guys are awesome!”
Our mission is to help children learn and grow through music, and that is certainly the focus when designing and facilitating our classes. There are so many other magical things happening as a result: parents making special connections with their children, grandparents having precious one-on-one time with their grandchildren, siblings sharing instruments, and new friendships being formed.
Music brings people together in a way that nothing else does. So while we are teaching and strengthening important developmental skills through our songs and activities, the beautiful byproduct is stronger relationships between children, their grownups, and their peers.
I spend countless hours with my children, but there’s something special about attending music class with them. We interact in a different way than we do at home, and I love seeing both my toddler son and infant daughter interact with the other children and adults in class. It really is the highlight of our week, and I hear from other families that the same is true for them.
