Saturday, August 20, 2016
Music in Education
When I first saw this article, specifically the title, I was offended. However, I figured I should at least look at it to see what their argument was. I am glad I did. The article below makes some good points about why and how music education should be supported.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love
One more from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for you today. I love this group.
If you would like to purchase this song from Amazon.com click the link below.
If you would like to purchase this song from Amazon.com click the link below.
Spring Cleaning
While I was perusing the Yos app I found an article about making “natural cleaning solutions.” (Full Article - 8 Natural Cleaning Solutions) Here are a few recipes that I’m excited to try soon. (Please note that all of these recipes were sourced from a Yos article and are credited to mountainroseherbs.com)
I am moving into a new house soon and the carpets there smell of smoke, so I am looking forward to trying this Tropical Carpet Deodorizer on them.
1 cup of baking soda
10 drops of organic lemongrass essential oil per cup
10 drops of organic mandarin essential oil per cup
10 drops of organic ginger essential oil per cup
¼ cup organic lavender flowers
Mix together and sprinkle the blend onto your carpet. After allowing it to sit for thirty minutes vacuum and your carpets should be smelling great. The mix is intended to be used immediately after mixing. I’ll let you know how this goes as soon as I try it out.
I also like to clean a whole house before I move in so the next three recipes I look forward to trying out on the kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Mop-It-Up Formula
16 oz glass bottle
1 cup distilled white vinegar
¼ cup castille soap
20 drops of organic lavender essential oil
20 drops of organic sweet orange essential oil
Mix the solution with 2 gallons of hot water and mop as you would with traditional cleaners. This mix is intended for tile, vinyl and linoleum
Super Surface Spray
16 oz spray bottle
8 oz distilled white vinegar
6 oz water
2 oz vodka or rubbing alcohol
10 drops of organic lavender essential oil
5 drops of organic rosemary essential oil
5 drops of organic lemon essential oil
Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle and shake well. (Shake before each use.) This is a disinfecting spray and is intended for most surfaces. ie. kitchen counters, cabinets, glass, blinds, painted wood surfaces, walls, sinks, tubs, etc.
Herby Soft Scrub
1 pint glass jar
½ cup baking soda
½ cup castille soap
15 drops organic rosemary or tea tree essential oil
1 tsp vegetable glycerin or aloe vera gel
Mix into a paste and use to scrub tubs, sinks and tile surfaces. Rinse with water or a vinegar solution.
Antibacterial Soap Spray
16 oz spray bottle
14 oz water or organic rosemary hydrosol
3 Tbsp castille soap
15 drops of organic tea tree essential oil
15 drops organic oregano essential oil
Mix together in the spray bottle. Spray onto surfaces to be disinfected, like your bathroom surfaces, and wipe away. If the castille soap leaves a residue the Super Surface Spray above can be used to clean that away.
I am moving into a new house soon and the carpets there smell of smoke, so I am looking forward to trying this Tropical Carpet Deodorizer on them.
1 cup of baking soda
10 drops of organic lemongrass essential oil per cup
10 drops of organic mandarin essential oil per cup
10 drops of organic ginger essential oil per cup
¼ cup organic lavender flowers
Mix together and sprinkle the blend onto your carpet. After allowing it to sit for thirty minutes vacuum and your carpets should be smelling great. The mix is intended to be used immediately after mixing. I’ll let you know how this goes as soon as I try it out.
I also like to clean a whole house before I move in so the next three recipes I look forward to trying out on the kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Mop-It-Up Formula
16 oz glass bottle
1 cup distilled white vinegar
¼ cup castille soap
20 drops of organic lavender essential oil
20 drops of organic sweet orange essential oil
Mix the solution with 2 gallons of hot water and mop as you would with traditional cleaners. This mix is intended for tile, vinyl and linoleum
Super Surface Spray
16 oz spray bottle
8 oz distilled white vinegar
6 oz water
2 oz vodka or rubbing alcohol
10 drops of organic lavender essential oil
5 drops of organic rosemary essential oil
5 drops of organic lemon essential oil
Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle and shake well. (Shake before each use.) This is a disinfecting spray and is intended for most surfaces. ie. kitchen counters, cabinets, glass, blinds, painted wood surfaces, walls, sinks, tubs, etc.
Herby Soft Scrub
1 pint glass jar
½ cup baking soda
½ cup castille soap
15 drops organic rosemary or tea tree essential oil
1 tsp vegetable glycerin or aloe vera gel
Mix into a paste and use to scrub tubs, sinks and tile surfaces. Rinse with water or a vinegar solution.
Antibacterial Soap Spray
16 oz spray bottle
14 oz water or organic rosemary hydrosol
3 Tbsp castille soap
15 drops of organic tea tree essential oil
15 drops organic oregano essential oil
Mix together in the spray bottle. Spray onto surfaces to be disinfected, like your bathroom surfaces, and wipe away. If the castille soap leaves a residue the Super Surface Spray above can be used to clean that away.
Healing Insecurities
Reposting an article with information I wish I’d been given when I was a kid.
"Palm-to-face moments come in all shapes and sizes. From spilling your drink on a hot guy to tanking your work presentation, we all have a bad memory or two (or 12) lurking in our noggins. Some you can look back on and laugh hysterically, while others you’re still not over, even years later. Maybe you’re obsessing about them right now. You’ve tried ignoring them, you’ve tried the whole glass-half-full thing, but nothing’s worked. Mercifully, new research offers a fresh approach to healing old wounds."
Essential Oils
Recently I reconnected with a friend after several years of not seeing/talking to her. We talked about the last few years and how we both went through some rough times. Hers were, admittedly, more difficult and longer lasting then mine, but everyone’s paths are different. She also told me how she had been introduced to essential oils through a specific company and how using those oils helped heal her mentally and physically. She brought this up both due to my expressed stress and that I am looking for work. I have long been a proponent of doing things in a way that is good for your body and the environment. Over the last several years I’ve experimented with using herbs, oils, and other natural ingredients for personal care products and items to heal my ailments instead of “traditional” products and medicines. I don’t always use them to the exclusion of more readily available/usable items though due to the time it takes to make some of them. With that news my friend suggested I sit in on a class of sorts put on by another friend of hers on the topic of essential oils. Much of the class talked about things I already knew, but let me know that the company offers pre-mixed blends of things meant to help relieve pre-determined states such as stress, pain, cold/allergies, etc. In addition the classes are a way for the company to offer revenue to loyal customers who are willing to promote the products by giving classes and providing information to friends, acquaintances, etc. While I understand what the company is trying to do with the business model, it is not one that I like and anytime anyone offers me a job like that I feel uncomfortable. I also, don’t agree with all of the company’s policies, although they are better than most companies when it comes to being environmental. In any case, armed with the knowledge that companies that sell items I approve of may be looking for distributors or affiliates to advertise for monetary compensation I looked to my preferred online herb, oil, organic and natural apothecary company to see if they offered a program. Sure enough they do, so I am applying to be an affiliate of theirs. Even if they do not think I am a good fit, you will be seeing more posts related to boosting your health through the use of herbs, oils, minerals and the like.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop
This always brings a smile to my face and makes me want to dance … and, of course, I know all the words.
If you are interested in purchasing this song from Amazon.com visit the link below.
If you are interested in purchasing this song from Amazon.com visit the link below.
Final Project
For my final project I proposed that I would improvise on the cello and pull some loops from the improvisation to put together with some beats and if I had time some vocals.
The first time I attempted to record my improvisation I had technical difficulties, but didn’t know until after playing for 20 min. A day or so later, after I stopped being angry with my computer, I tried again. I then spent some time listening through the improvisation and picking out loops. I had done some slow playing, chords, fast playing, extended techniques with the bow and the instrument and played part of a piece. I picked out a lot of different loops to try to use, and deleted probably twice as much as I saved.
As I began arranging the pieces I first tried to create a beat out of some of the extended technique loops, but it didn’t work out in a way that I loved, so I removed that. I next tried layering several of the melodic lines, mostly the slower ones, and put together a cello sound scape. Some of it I liked, but much of it sounded incohesive. I then tried to put a premade beat/drums under the cello, but again couldn’t find anything that I really liked and so removed that. I played more with the melodic pieces and tried to create some repetition to make the song more cohesive.
In the end I ran out of time to create something that I really loved, as opposed to something finished enough to turn in. I really wanted to scrap the whole thing and begin again, but there wasn’t enough time.
If there had been enough time I would I recorded new cello tracks creating one loop at a time. I probably would have played to a metronome instead of free improvising and I would have built the loops on one another instead of just playing a bunch of ideas consecutively and then trying to fit them together. I also think that part of my problem was that I had too many loops that I wanted to try to use, in addition to them not really all fitting well together.
The first time I attempted to record my improvisation I had technical difficulties, but didn’t know until after playing for 20 min. A day or so later, after I stopped being angry with my computer, I tried again. I then spent some time listening through the improvisation and picking out loops. I had done some slow playing, chords, fast playing, extended techniques with the bow and the instrument and played part of a piece. I picked out a lot of different loops to try to use, and deleted probably twice as much as I saved.
As I began arranging the pieces I first tried to create a beat out of some of the extended technique loops, but it didn’t work out in a way that I loved, so I removed that. I next tried layering several of the melodic lines, mostly the slower ones, and put together a cello sound scape. Some of it I liked, but much of it sounded incohesive. I then tried to put a premade beat/drums under the cello, but again couldn’t find anything that I really liked and so removed that. I played more with the melodic pieces and tried to create some repetition to make the song more cohesive.
In the end I ran out of time to create something that I really loved, as opposed to something finished enough to turn in. I really wanted to scrap the whole thing and begin again, but there wasn’t enough time.
If there had been enough time I would I recorded new cello tracks creating one loop at a time. I probably would have played to a metronome instead of free improvising and I would have built the loops on one another instead of just playing a bunch of ideas consecutively and then trying to fit them together. I also think that part of my problem was that I had too many loops that I wanted to try to use, in addition to them not really all fitting well together.
Self Remix
For this project I chose to rework my found sounds song. I got rid of just about everything in it with the exception of the leaf blower, the squeaky floor and my cat. I didn’t change the way i had altered these. I then found new beats that I like and layered them, while moving around the other pieces until they were in a place that I liked.
In some ways this song was more validating than others, because I was working to improve something in a short time rather than creating something in a short time. I still was not completely happy with my results, but it’s at least good enough that I wouldn’t mind sharing it with others.
In some ways this song was more validating than others, because I was working to improve something in a short time rather than creating something in a short time. I still was not completely happy with my results, but it’s at least good enough that I wouldn’t mind sharing it with others.
Making Music With Your Phone
This was one of my favorite assignments. For one thing I love playing with new apps. New is so often more fun to explore than the things you already know. For this project I downloaded 7 different apps after looking at at least 15 or 20. The apps I downloaded were Iphone versions of Take and Figure by Propellerhead, Dubstep, Babby Scratch, Keezy, Keezy Drummer and Launchpad. I played with these anytime I had a spare moment whether or not I was actually thinking about the assignment. I was playing with them so often that my boyfriend got tired of hearing them and whenever I stopped to work on something else would say, Thank goodness.
I eventually decided to use the Launchpad app. I played around with the various sound sets and decided on the House2 set. I played around with those sounds for another few days and then with a basic concept of what I wanted to do recorded an improvised song using all of the sections of sounds, the EQ pad, and the beat and wave changing pads.
This may have been the easiest song to make because I didn’t really have to make everything fit together perfectly, it just did.
I eventually decided to use the Launchpad app. I played around with the various sound sets and decided on the House2 set. I played around with those sounds for another few days and then with a basic concept of what I wanted to do recorded an improvised song using all of the sections of sounds, the EQ pad, and the beat and wave changing pads.
This may have been the easiest song to make because I didn’t really have to make everything fit together perfectly, it just did.
Song 3
For song 3 we used “found recording” of classmates and ourselves to create a song. I had recorded some squeaky floorboards and my cat. Others in the class had recorded an air conditioner, walking down the hall, step dancing, a cash register, a friend singing overtones, and many other things. I ended up using both of my recordings, the air conditioner, the voice, a leaf blower, the step dance, and there may be one or two others I am forgetting.
I decided to try out Logic Pro for this song even though I could have chosen to do it in Garage Band. The process was a bit slower for me this time because I have not used Logic before, so I had to figure out where everything was and what does different things. I still haven’t figured all of it out, but I figured out enough to put something together. I used lots of compression, some pitch shifting, different pedals, reverb and various other effects to alter the sounds to be more musical.
I had a lot of fun with this project. The only thing I would have liked is more time to work on it, to make it better.
I decided to try out Logic Pro for this song even though I could have chosen to do it in Garage Band. The process was a bit slower for me this time because I have not used Logic before, so I had to figure out where everything was and what does different things. I still haven’t figured all of it out, but I figured out enough to put something together. I used lots of compression, some pitch shifting, different pedals, reverb and various other effects to alter the sounds to be more musical.
I had a lot of fun with this project. The only thing I would have liked is more time to work on it, to make it better.
Peer Remix
For my peer remix I chose to use Nikki’s piano song and Laura’s midi song. Laura accidentally gave me a different song, but rather than take more time I just pulled a few things out of what she gave me and merged them with Nikki’s piece from which I just kept/rearranged the piano parts. I chose their tracks because they had aesthetic elements that I liked, but were put together differently than I would have done it myself.
The process started with me singling out each track getting rid of loops and midi tracks that I didn’t want to use then searching through the loop library to find things that I wanted to use. Initially I pulled out ten or so loops. I ended up using five consistently and taking a single beat from two others to make.
Because there was already a basic structure, after laying down a beat (the whispy, echo beat that we discussed in class as being made by eq) , I started in the middle rearranging, lengthening and shortening the piano parts. I then layered in additional elements to the beat because the first loop wasn’t heavy enough for me and I wanted more and different textures in other areas of the piece. Next I added a build up to silence followed by everything coming in at once, but quickly coming down to a less complicated sound. I also knew i wanted a drop, but couldn’t easily find one that I liked and making one was taking a while, so I next completed the ending and came back to the drop.
After asking how to best accomplish my idea, which was a drum explosion/repetition and then degradation of the piano part into nothing. I found two beats with a heavy drum beat and cut a beat out of each repeated each a bunch of time successively then added the piano after it. I ended up shortening the length of both the drum and the piano (although I probably could have shortened the piano section even more), and deleted a few of the drum beats to vary the rhythm. I then looped the piano section and using the master track features of garage band did both a time and pitch shift from the current down to the lowest either would allow. I then bounced the loop, deleted the section, time and pitch changes from the actual track, and dropped the loop in in the sections place. This did not turn out exactly how I wanted.
The only why for any of my choices was just that those were the ideas I had as I was working with the music and working with those ideas I made them sound as best I could in the time we had with the tools I was using. Overall, I liked how the piece turned out, but as usual it would have been nice to spend more time on it.
As to who should be credited for the piece, as we discussed in class that is a complicated decision. I think as long as it is labelled as a remix of Nikki’s my name could be the main name, because it is drastically different from hers, but still uses many of her original ideas. The loop I pulled from Laura’s piece was one that she recorded, but I didn’t take any thematic material from her piece, so I’m not sure I would credit her, unless I credited everyone/thing that I used a loop from.
How Brain Rhythms Are Used to Process Music
Ever wondered how your brain understands music? Here is an article regarding some research about how we process music.
New York University researchers have identified how brain rhythms are used to process music, a finding that also shows how our perception of notes and melodies can be used as a method to better understand the auditory system.
The study, which appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, points to a newfound role the brain’s cortical oscillations play in the detection of musical sequences and suggests musical training can enhance the functional role of brain rhythms.
Full Post
MUTC 101 MIDI
Whether or not I like MIDI is a bit of a complicated question for me. I don’t like what I’ve been able to do with it in class. I have an idea of what I want to do, but actually getting the loops to turn out and line up as I envision is difficult. I’m not familiar enough, nor have enough time in the tech studio to become familiar enough with the available keyboard/sound effects. I think if I had more of my own MIDI enabled equipment (keyboard(s), pedal board, etc.) I would learn to use it better and like it. I’m especially interested in the MIDI pedal board. With it you can record loops and connect them to a specific pedal and then turn the loop on and of during a live performance or recording session. You can also delete the loop and record something else while in session. The work Zoe Keating does with her board is amazing.
I also need to do more research on MIDI pre-recorded songs/loops. I don’t particularly like working with full recorded songs, because I don’t want to use the whole thing, but choosing a piece of it to use becomes overwhelming for me. I also might like it better if I incorporate using the the notation software to create some of the loops I’d like to have.
I do believe this is valid musicianship, unless you take a full song (not created by yourself) and make very minimal alterations to it. For one thing you can create/record your own loops, or complete songs, either within notation software, by recording directly from an instrument into your editing program, or notating synthesized sounds directly into your editing program. Additionally, if you use a piece pre-recorded by someone else you often are changing it in some way to make it unique to you.
MUTC 101 Song 1
Song One. Creating this song was interesting. I have tried writing my own songs in Garage Band before, but I get bogged down going through all the loops, trying to figure out the structure of the song, and how to make it interesting. Having such a short amount of time to create this forced me to pick one of the loop themes and use only a few of the loops from it.
I enjoy creating things in Garage Band and if I had more time could spend hours doing it. I did not enjoy being limited to certain loops, although I understand why we were limited.
Garage Band is very intuitive to me and provides enough editing tools that I can do just about anything with the loops and other songs that I have a desire to do. Although, I am sure once we work with Logic my mind may change. I would love to work with more diverse loops or to create my own loops to use in songs. I would also like to have more time to work out the aesthetics of the song so that it meets my standards instead of being what I had time to work through in class.
Do I consider this kind of music making to be “real” musicianship? For the most part, I would say yes. If someone is taking time and creating an aesthetically pleasing combination of loops then I think it is musicianship. On the other hand if someone drops a whole bunch of loops into tracks without considering how they fit together I would not call that musicianship. Randomization has it’s place, but, in my opinion, there has to be some degree of cohesiveness.
MUVE Dancing Games
If you need a little more inspiration for getting your clients to move with music here is a website that will do just that. I haven’t had a chance to look through all of it, but even if every idea isn’t something you would use, it might give you the beginning of an idea you can turn into something you would use. Enjoy!
MUVE Dancing Games
Click icon for details of this game or Scroll down to see more MUVE Games and Sample Videos Game of the Month: Revolving Game with Center Muse Enjoy Healthy Quality Time with the Whole Family Expand Your Personal Creativity Improve Your Dancing Skills Experience Playful Interactions with Peers Dance with Your Friends for Health and …Website
MUVE Dancing Games
If you need a little more inspiration for getting your clients to move with music here is a website that will do just that. I haven’t had a chance to look through all of it, but even if every idea isn’t something you would use, it might give you the beginning of an idea you can turn into something you would use. Enjoy!
MUVE Dancing Games
Click icon for details of this game or Scroll down to see more MUVE Games and Sample Videos Game of the Month: Revolving Game with Center Muse Enjoy Healthy Quality Time with the Whole Family Expand Your Personal Creativity Improve Your Dancing Skills Experience Playful Interactions with Peers Dance with Your Friends for Health and …Website
Owl City - Fireflies
This is another song that I’ve liked from the first time I heard it. The melody is so lighthearted and the song is just fun in general.
If you are interested in purchasing this song or album from Amazon.com click on the link below.
If you are interested in purchasing this song or album from Amazon.com click on the link below.
Neurotypical Psychotherapists and Neurodivergent Clients
I came across this article today and thought it worthwhile to share the perspectives herein. While reading it I often found myself wanting to say I don’t have those biases and then second guessing myself. At the very least having read this will make me more mindful of my interactions with individuals that are neurodivergent or even divergent from any typical.
Neurotypical Psychotherapists and Neurodivergent Clients
Neurotypical Psychotherapists and Neurodivergent Clients
I’m often asked if I have any words of advice for psychotherapists and other professionals, on working with clients who are autistic and/or otherwise neurodivergent. Why, yes. Yes I do. And I’ve been meaning for some time to type up some ofFull Post
Repost Dec. 2014: The Personality Project: An introduction to psychometric theory
I ran across this article today, and thought it might be useful for anyone trying to better understand or improve their evaluation tools.
Repost from Sept. 2015: Retinal changes may serve as measures of brain pathology in schizophrenia
Check out this article from EurekaAlert regarding schizophrenia
Full Article
Schizophrenia is associated with structural and functional alterations of the visual system, including specific structural changes in the eye. Tracking such changes may provide new measures of risk for, and progression of the disease, according to a literature review published online in the journal Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, authored by researchers at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and Rutgers University.
Full Article
Friday, July 8, 2016
Repost from Oct. 2014 - Check out this post from neurosciencestuff regarding Alzheimer's research
SourceAn innovative laboratory culture system has succeeded, for the first time, in reproducing the full course of events underlying the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Using the system they developed, investigators from the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) now provide the first clear evidence supporting the hypothesis that deposition of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain is the first step in a cascade leading to the devastating neurodegenerative disease. They also identify the essential role in that process of an enzyme, inhibition of which could be a therapeutic target.“Originally put forth in the mid-1980s, the amyloid hypothesis maintained that beta-amyloid deposits in the brain set off all subsequent events – the neurofibrillary tangles that choke the insides of neurons, neuronal cell death, and inflammation leading to a vicious cycle of massive cell death,” says Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, director of the MGH Genetics and Aging Research Unit and co-senior author of the report receiving advance online publication in Nature. “One of the biggest questions since then has been whether beta-amyloid actually triggers the formation of the tangles that kill neurons. In this new system that we call ‘Alzheimer’s-in-a-dish,’ we’ve been able to show for the first time that amyloid deposition is sufficient to lead to tangles and subsequent cell death.”While the mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease that express the gene variants causing the inherited early-onset form of the disease do develop amyloid plaques in their brains and memory deficits, the neurofibrillary tangles that cause most of the damage do not appear. Other models succeed in producing tangles but not plaques. Cultured neurons from human patients with Alzheimer’s exhibit elevated levels of the toxic form of amyloid found in plaques and the abnormal version of the tau protein that makes up tangles, but not actual plaques and tangles.Genetics and Aging Research Unit investigator Doo Yeon Kim, PhD, co-senior author of the Nature paper, realized that the liquid two-dimensional systems usually used to grow cultured cells poorly represent the gelatinous three-dimensional environment within the brain. Instead the MGH team used a gel-based, three-dimensional culture system to grow human neural stem cells that carried variants in two genes – the amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1 – known to underlie early-onset familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD). Both of those genes were co-discovered in Tanzi’s laboratory.After growing for six weeks, the FAD-variant cells were found to have significant increases in both the typical form of beta-amyloid and the toxic form associated with Alzheimer’s. The variant cells also contained the neurofibrillary tangles that choke the inside of nerve cells causing cell death. Blocking steps known to be essential for the formation of amyloid plaques also prevented the formation of the tangles, confirming amyloid’s role in initiating the process. The version of tau found in tangles is characterized by the presence of excess phosphate molecules, and when the team investigated possible ways of blocking tau production, they found that inhibiting the action of an enzyme called GSK3-beta – known to phosphorylate tau in human neurons – prevented the formation of tau aggregates and tangles even in the presence of abundant beta-amyloid and amyloid plaques“This new system – which can be adapted to other neurodegenerative disorders – should revolutionize drug discovery in terms of speed, costs and physiologic relevance to disease,” says Tanzi. “Testing drugs in mouse models that typically have brain deposits of either plaques or tangles, but not both, takes more than a year and is very costly. With our three-dimensional model that recapitulates both plaques and tangles, we now can screen hundreds of thousands of drugs in a matter of months without using animals in a system that is considerably more relevant to the events occurring in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.”
How to Remember Your Intervals
It’s been a while since I’ve had to use these, and it’s always a good idea to brush up.
Three Reasons Salary Negotiation is Critical to Music Therapists
These are some good points.
As the season of commencements comes to a close, job searching for new graduates is revving up. As a new music therapy professional, just securing a position can seem daunting. While on the job hunt, don’t be intimidated by negotiating! Here are three important reasons all music therapists should…
Choose Your Playlist Carefully: Certain Songs Affect Health and Success
Not strictly MT, but it references some studies and puts the gist of the research into laymen’s terms.
The precise effect of 50 Cent’s hit song In Da Club on the human psyche is hard to describe. But that’s what science is for.
Clean and Cool Dance Songs
Washington's Green Grocer Tips for Storing Veggies
So you’ve got all these great fruits and vegetables and now we’re going to help you keep them at their freshest with these tips. These tips are from the Berkley Farmer’s Market which is a Zero Waste market! Here is a printable PDF of their original tip sheet. In the works here at Washington’s Green Grocer is a switch from plastic bags (although we use as few as we can get away with, while still keeping your produce from getting battered on it’s way to you) to only recyclable paper and reuseable cloth bags!
HOW TO STORE VEGETABLES WITHOUT PLASTIC
Source
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Something about the beat and flow of this song make me happy.
If you would like to purchase this song or album from Amazon.com the links are below.
If you would like to purchase this song or album from Amazon.com the links are below.
A developmental study of the effect of music training on timed movements
While not actually music therapy this is still interesting and related.
A developmental study of the effect of music training on timed movementsWhen people clap to music, sing, play a musical instrument, or dance, they engage in temporal entrainment. We examined the effect of music training on the precision of temporal entrainment in 57 children aged 10–14 years (31 musicians, 26 non-musicians). Performance was examined for two tasks: self-paced finger tapping (discrete movements) and circle drawing (continuous movements). For each task, participants synchronized their movements with a steady pacing signal and then continued the movement at the same rate in the absence of the pacing signal. Analysis of movements during the continuation phase revealed that musicians were more accurate than non-musicians at finger tapping and, to a lesser extent, circle drawing. Performance on the finger-tapping task was positively associated with the number of years of formal music training, whereas performance on the circle-drawing task was positively associated with the age of participants. These results indicate that music training and maturation of the motor system reinforce distinct skills of timed movement.
Google Science Fair: Listening to Music through Vibration
This is really cool.
For the full article Click HereGoogle Science Fair: Listening to Music through VibrationAt the age of 14, Jonah Kohn has made great progress in helping the hearing impaired experience music. Through his passion for music, Jonah realized that by utilizing tactile sound, he could invent a device that transmits sound directly into the human body by contact, instead of by sound waves. Specifically, his invention converts sound into vibrations that are applied to different body parts. Jonah was the winner of the 13-14 age group in the 2012 Google Science for his project.
Don't Worry if You Backslide
I’ve been needing some motivation. I have backslid. Now I need to start moving forward again.
Fingerpicking Patterns from Guitar Habits
I'll have to give some of these patterns a try
Excellent resource to get you out of a guitar finger-picking rut. Clear diagrams and video tutorials for each!
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The first time I heard this song was actually when my friend played it live for a group of friends after a dance. It’s so beautiful.
If you are interested in purchasing this song or album from Amazon.com the link is below.
Take a look at this infographic about music therapy that I found. Please remember when viewing it that it is giving a basic description of music therapy and is not necessarily inclusive of everything that music therapy is. Source: Clarityway.com
Questions on Ethics
When it comes to ethics it's always better to ask a question of your supervisor/professor than to make a questionable decision. I found this question before I began my studies and reposted. To visit the original post click on iamamusictherapist.
lizzieontopoftheworld asked:
On a scale of 1-10, how unprofessional is it to write about a fieldwork experience on a tumblr blog? If I leave out names is that fine? Or location as well?In this situation, I think the better question to ask is how ethical is it to write about a fieldwork experience. The AMTA code of ethics states:3.12.4 The MT disguises the identity of the client in the presentation of case materials for research and teaching. Client or guardian consent is obtained, with full disclosure of the intended use of the material.Of course, blogging is not mentioned per se, but as a music therapy student, confidentiality should be first priority. Check with your supervisor/professor about policies regarding writings outside of academic assignments. In my opinion, better safe than sorry especially when someone’s privacy is at risk. Describe the client only in vague terms and leave out the location.
Cued Speech vs. American Sign Language (ASL)
While beginning to learn American Sign Language (ASL) I came across this paper on cued speech. I had never heard of cued speech and am now wondering if it would be beneficial for me to learn it along with ASL. I’d appreciate any thoughts other MTs or people in the Deaf community may have regarding cued speech.
A discussion regarding American Sign Language (ASL) information and resources: cued speech.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
O Brother, Where Art Thou? - I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow
I absolutely adore the soundtrack from O, Brother, Where Art Thou?, not to mention the movie itself. This track is one of my favorites.
If you are interested in purchasing this song, album or movie from Amazon.com the links are below.
Yoga and Running
Yoga is one of my favorite forms of exercise. I also have been known to run a marathon or two and maybe a little triathlon.
The Yoga Guide For Runners Presented by: Essential poses and inspiration for runners—translate this wisdom from your mat to the road and become stronger, faster, and …
Dealing With Grief From Pet Loss
Repost Aug. 21, 2014
A friend of mine had to make the difficult decision to put a beloved pet to sleep today. I thought a post on dealing with grief would be a fitting memorial post.
My most recent experience with pet loss grief was almost two years ago. I had an older cat who needed to get his teeth cleaned. This requires the vet to anesthetize the animal which can cause stress in older animals. While he was under they called to ask if they could remove a broken tooth. I said yes. There are still days that I wish I hadn’t. Luckily, he came out of the surgery just fine. However, we now had to give him oral medications, a pill and a mouthwash, once or twice a day. He stopped eating and withdrew from our company as much as he could. I then had to try to force feed him, but was still unable to get him to eat enough. We went back to the vet’s several times adding to his stress. In the end, I was home alone one night and woke up around 3 am to him crying and unable to move. So, we drove to the Pet ER. The vet there tried to save him, but I eventually had to make the decision to euthanize him.
Losing a pet when someone else has to make the decision to end their life is hard. It’s entirely different and, for me, so much harder when you have to make that decision yourself. Even if it is in the best interest of the pet. I’m not saying that those who don’t have to make the decision feel any less grief from the loss, but, making the decision yourself can involve so much more guilt.
I have listed some things below that I did to work through my grief.
- A memorial service with a few close friends and family that loved him as much as I did
- Made a small shrine for him and lit a candle for him each day. I still light this sometimes, especially on the anniversary of his death.
- Saying good night to him each night when extinguishing said candle.
- Making a list of all the things I loved about him.
Some people will see these things as silly. That’s just fine. Everyone needs different things. This is what I needed, and sometimes still need, to feel ok.
Below are a website and a few articles with varying tips on working through your grief after losing a pet. Remember that different things work for different people and that it will take time to heal. Allow yourself to grieve and do what you need to in order to heal.
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
Article by Margaret Muns, DVM - Grief and Pet Loss
CNN Article - How to Deal with the Loss of a Pet
Examiner Article - Dealing with the grief of losing a pet (link to original article I read no longer works. Here is a similar article from the same source - Coping With Pet Loss and Grief.)
Fruit Infused Water
I sometimes get tired of just drinking water, so this might be a good way for me to change it up every once in a while.
Pharrell Making Everyone Happy
Happy - Pharrell Williams
… and that is exactly how it makes me feel; happy and energized. This is a great morning song to get you going.
To purchase this song or album from Amazon click below.
40 Squat Variations
Repost of healthfitnesshumour:
We all know squats work right? So if you are getting bored of the standard squat and looking a variety, then check out these 40 different variations to spice things up a bit. Afterall, variety is the spice of life.
Teaching Autistic Children: Ideas in General and Musical Ideas in Particular
Repost Aug. 20, 2014
I found this article today while looking online for new tools that I might be able to use. If you are a music therapist you may already know this information, but it never hurts to see how others who are not MT work with individuals on the Autism spectrum. Also, if you are a music teacher and are considering taking on students on the spectrum this may be a good read for you.
I found this article today while looking online for new tools that I might be able to use. If you are a music therapist you may already know this information, but it never hurts to see how others who are not MT work with individuals on the Autism spectrum. Also, if you are a music teacher and are considering taking on students on the spectrum this may be a good read for you.
Teaching autistic children is easier if you have a plan. Here is an approach for piano lessons when working with autistic children, some guidelines which can form a framework for music teaching. ...
DIY Musical Instruments for Therapy
Check out MusicTherapyTodays post on Do It Yourself Musical Instruments.
Fit for Me
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Rachel Rambach, MT-BC - If I Were a Music Therapy Student NOW…
Repost Aug. 19, 2014
"If only we could go back in time and do certain things over again, knowing what we know now. Better yet, having the resources we have now. The years I spent in graduate school studying music therapy (2004-2006) seem like ages ago; SO much has changed in our field, in technology, and the world as we know it.” - Rachel Rambach
I'm glad I found this and can't wait to start my studies.
Alive Inside Documentary
Repost Aug. 19, 2014
"Alive Inside is a joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music. His camera reveals the uniquely human connection we find in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short. This stirring documentary follows social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, as he fights against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from it." - http://www.aliveinside.us/#about
I’m looking forward to checking this out!
"Alive Inside is a joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music. His camera reveals the uniquely human connection we find in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short. This stirring documentary follows social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, as he fights against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from it." - http://www.aliveinside.us/#about
I’m looking forward to checking this out!
Getting Started in Music Therapy
Repost from July 26, 2014
A bit over a year ago, I decided that I needed to get a job that was more in line with my interests in music. While searching for a new job I discovered the field of Music Therapy. Even though it has been around for millennia as an idea and practice, and a recognized profession since the 1940’s, I had not heard of it until finding the job listing. I was immediately intrigued and began researching what music therapy was and how to get into the field. I read books on music therapy and it’s practice and found the American Music Therapy Association’s (AMTA) website, www.musictherapy.org, which is full of information for aspiring music therapists as well as professional music therapists. Finding that I needed more education and board certification I used the AMTA’s list of accredited schools to begin researching schools, cost, and timelines. Finding out how expensive graduate school is made me put off applying for a while, but eventually I decided if I didn’t do it now I would never do it.
After narrowing the school list down to five by the programs I liked, then down to three by the interests of the professors at each school and how well they matched my interests, I came up with a list of schools to apply to. Throughout the application process I also had the privilege of working with a former professor from my under graduate program. He was kind enough to write letters of recommendation, give me advice on the application process, advice on the audition process, and encouragement that I was capable and the type of student that schools would want. Having the support of a professor in a related field, especially one that you respect and trust, is a very valuable asset.
The application process was what I expected; demographic information, writing samples, past education, resume, etc. The part that I felt unsure about was the audition and interview process. My main instrument is the cello and most of the musical work I have done since graduating from my undergraduate has been on the cello and not involving much anything other than playing. This meant that my piano, theory, and ear training skills were somewhat dulled from disuse. I also had no guitar skills before deciding on my new career path. To prepare for the auditions, I picked out a bunch of songs that I might like to play and sing and listened to them anytime I could. This included while working, driving, working out, literally anytime that I didn’t need to interact with other people. Then I bought a book on guitar for music therapists and music teachers to start teaching myself the guitar. I also had a book that had been my parents as they were both music teachers in the past. After choosing a few songs and figuring out their chord structures I began practicing those songs on guitar and piano. During this time I was also continuing to practice cello especially a few unaccompanied pieces to play at the auditions. Finally I looked over my notes from my undergraduate courses that might be needed during the auditions/interviews.
My preparation paid off as I was accepted into all of the programs that I applied for.
This is a somewhat concise account about the beginnings of my journey into music therapy. Soon I will write a post about the actual auditions and interviews.
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