Wildwood Creative

Board certified music therapist in Portland, Oregon

[askinnyblackman]

my practicum of wednesday was SHIT because i don’t know how to interact with children

i gotta be all excited and bubbly but my personality is the exact opposite of bubbly

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Coming out of lurking mode to give you some encouragement. Working with kids can be tough! Some people love it but not everybody does. You can still be your authentic self too! I’m a pretty peppy person but I’m still more used to working with adults/memory care clients than kids. BUT, occasionally I sub for early childhood groups. It can be challenging, but ultimately it’s all a matter of finding that balance. (Like, who says you have to only sing kid music? I bust out classic rock and modern pop sometimes!) Hang in there, you might be doing better than you think :)

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

Intern Highlights - This is Bananas!

Intern Highlights – This is Bananas!

I recently went to observe one of our interns, Yu-Wen Huang, at a memory care facility. Our interns are currently at the mid-way point of their internship and they are starting to develop their own style and presence. With Yu-Wen’s permission, I’d like to share a snapshot from the session with you.   The session was underway and we’d just finished singing some familiar songs. Yu-Wen was getting…

View On WordPress

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

Come On Baby, Let’s Do the Twist

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already well acquainted with how awesome music can be. Maybe you’re a music therapist, or know and love one. You might be an ac…

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already well acquainted with how awesome music can be. Maybe you’re a music therapist, or know and love one. You might be an activity director who has seen your residents sing along to Frank Sinatra long after they’re lost their ability to speak. Or maybe you know the feeling of getting in the car after a long day and hearing your favorite song come on the radio. No matter what, nearly everyone has some kind of connection with music. That’s why I want to share this next story with you. If you love music, you’ll understand.

–

It’s Monday after a weekend of pouring rain. The sun is trying to peek through the clouds. I get called in for an impromptu music therapy session at a day program for adults with mental health needs. I and another music therapist normally have a group here on Tuesday and Thursdays but they requested an extra session this week and I’m glad to step in. When I walk in the door I see a woman beelining towards the exit, staff not far behind. Exit-seeking behavior is a common symptom in dementia, and the staff at this day program are well-versed in redirection, but nothing seems to be working. I make eye contact with the director and she says, “Do you want to go to music?” The woman looks at the director, looks at me, and says, “I don’t think I can.” I approach the woman with my hand extended and introduce myself. She takes my hand and tells me her name. Then I ask, “Do you like rock & roll?” The woman’s eyes light up. Like the sun peeking through the clouds, her affect begins to brighten. She starts humming and moving her shoulders up and down in time, and enthusiastically agrees to walk to my group with me. We hum “The Twist” by Chubby Checker as we go.

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

Song List Series – Classic Rock Songs with Vowels in the Chorus

This may seem like an oddly specific sub-genre, but music therapists often work with clients that have speech goals. Songs that have sustained or repeated vowels in the chorus can address breath co…

This may seem like an oddly specific sub-genre, but music therapists often work with clients that have speech goals. Songs that have sustained or repeated vowels in the chorus can address breath control, word “shaping,” and even self-expression! Plus, in this day and age classic rock is an increasingly popular genre that reaches across generations.

“Who Are You” by The Who

“Jersey Girl” by Bruce Springsteen

“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison

“Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi

“D’yer Mak’er” by Led Zeppelin

“Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns n Roses

“Take on Me” by a-ha

“Crocodile Rock” by Elton John

“Don’t Worry Be Happy” by  Bobby McFerrin

“Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin

“Obla Di Obla Da” by The Beatles

“Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood

“Listen to the Music” by Doobie Brothers

“Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin

“Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Tune in next week for songs with great hooks!

I don’t think we talk enough about it being 100% ok to abandon your goals.

There is so much about keeping on trying and working hard and You Can Achieve Anything When You Put Your Mind To It which is a great sentiment. And for the large part its true and I don’t intend to contradict that when I say that look: sometimes you have to quit and that’s ok.

There is no virtue in pursuing a goal to the detriment of your health and happiness. Not every goal is attainable for you no matter how much you want it and it isn’t shameful to walk away from an aspiration that isnt working for you or is sapping your energy and it doesn’t feel worth it anymore.

You’re no less for changing your mind about something halfway through, or losing interest, or deciding other things are more of a priority than getting fit, running that marathon, getting into med school or whatever else you hoped to do. Forgive yourself, move on.

[obsessivelygalahad]

In a similar vein, and something I’ve been struggling with: You can come back.

Wrote a lot of poems and stories as a middle schooler? Lost that somewhere along the way? You can come back.

Made a lot of art as a kid? Gave up because it wasn’t “good enough” or “practical”? You can come back.

Life is hard, college is ridiculously difficult. It’s okay to give up and focus on trying to take care of yourself. You can go back.

You never have to pick dreams back up, and sometimes it’s ridiculously hard to do so, but you can if you want. It’s up to you.

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Chiming in-- Sometimes it’s not about abandoning your goals but reassessing them! 

Story time: My goal when I was 13 - 16-ish was to play flute with the LA Phil when I grew up. 

By the time I got to college I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to major in music anymore. I took my freshman year to re-evaluate and just played music casually. I thought about double-majoring in viticulture (winemaking) and marketing and starting a business in that field. Eventually I did circle back and major in music, but my goal wasn’t to be a symphony musician. Halfway through my junior year I discovered music therapy and thought I wanted to work with children--never with elders, because that would be depressing.

 Well, I graduated with a BA in music and human development, then went back to school and got another bachelor’s in music therapy. Throughout my degree I was still sure I wanted to work with children, until I started working with older adults with dementia during my internship. Turns out working with that population is my JAM and they bring me so much joy it’s ridiculous. So I followed that dream and now I’m a music therapist that works primarily with older adults. (I also work with adults with developmental disabilities, another population that rocks my socks off on the daily.)

I’m DEFINITELY not anywhere near playing with the LA Philharmonic and I never will be. If I *had* followed that dream I wouldn’t be happy. I am still a musician and I do still play the flute for a living, just in a much different capacity, and in a way that really suits me. 

So yeah, it’s not really about abandoning your goals so much as it is re-evaluating and adjusting your course to what’s right for you.

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

On Tuesday, Jodi Winnwalker facilitated a workshop for the Oregon Association of Music Therapy. The topic was exploring ethics in music therapy. As music therapists, we encounter ethical dilemmas on the regular. There is rarely one “correct” answer (it wouldn’t be a dilemma otherwise!), but there *are* steps we can take to be ready when we are faced with them. Here are 12 steps for ethical decision making, courtesy of Cheryl Dileo’s book, “Ethical Thinking in Music Therapy.”

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

We can’t express how amazing it is to be partnered with Volunteers of America. 

And we ALSO are so unbelievably lucky to have both Maggie Johnson, MT-BC and Genevieve Layman, HTR!!! 

This video moved me to tears and I think if you watch it you’ll feel the warm fuzzies too.

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

You Know You’re a Traveling Music Therapist When...

You need to spend 20 minutes unloading everything before you can give anyone a ride

Your car jingles when you go over a speed bump

You know the horror of leaving an ocean drum on its side in your trunk

You “only” drove 250 miles this week

You can carry a guitar, 12 maracas, two drums, a flute and a ukulele, and still have a free hand to open a door

You’ve gotten reaaaalllly good at tetris

In your car you have enough supplies to survive a small apocalypse (Snacks, hand sanitizer, lotion, extra shoes, a cardigan, Advil, breath mints, water bottles, a blanket, dry shampoo, etc etc!)

If you get to a site early you have to park around the corner because your clients recognize your car and come out to greet you when you arrive

Source: https://earthtonestx.wordpress.com/2016/07/28/you-know-youre-a-traveling-music-therapist-when/

[whatshouldwecallarttherapy]

AFTER THE MUSIC THERAPY GROUP

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

www.oregonmusictherapy.net

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Hey guys! For now I’m going to be focusing my music therapy blogging energies towards my agency’s blog, @earthtonesmusictherapy! You should give us a follow. (It’s still me, just using a different blog). 

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Reblogging in case you missed it :)

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

Earthtones Spotlight – Emma Hansen

When you meet Earthtones intern Emma Hansen, one of the first things you notice is her vibrant personality. She instantly succeeds at lighting up any room that she enters. It’s clear that Emm…

Tuesdays are Spotlight Day on our blog! I was inspired to interview each and every incredible therapist and intern on our staff - 15 in all! We’re starting out with one of our interns, Emma Hansen.

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Hey guys! For now I’m going to be focusing my music therapy blogging energies towards my agency’s blog, @earthtonesmusictherapy! You should give us a follow. (It’s still me, just using a different blog). 

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Reblogging in case you missed it :)

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Hey guys! For now I’m going to be focusing my music therapy blogging energies towards my agency’s blog, @earthtonesmusictherapy! You should give us a follow. (It’s still me, just using a different blog). 

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Reblogging in case you missed it :)

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

On The Road Again: Tips for Finding Your Zen While Driving

As music therapists, we work in all kinds of settings: Hospitals, preschools, memory care facilities, day programs, adult foster care, outpatient mental health facilities, day programs, just to nam…

As music therapists, we work in all kinds of settings: Hospitals, preschools, memory care facilities, day programs, adult foster care, outpatient mental health facilities, day programs, just to name a few. In order to reach all of those places, Earthtones music therapists tend to spend a lot of time on the road. So how do we cope? Here are some tips from us for finding and keeping your zen when commuting between sessions…

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Hey guys! For now I’m going to be focusing my music therapy blogging energies towards my agency’s blog, @earthtonesmusictherapy! You should give us a follow. (It’s still me, just using a different blog). 

[wildwoodcreativepdx]

Reblogging in case you missed it :)

[earthtonesmusictherapy-blog]

- Rodgers & Hammerstein 🐝 . . . #musictherapy #music #therapy #nature #portland #pacificnorthwest #horticulturaltherapy #horticulture #garden #gardening (at Taborspace)