Music Therapists Do It Differently: In-The-Moment Adaptations

In this series, we are exploring how music therapists do live music differently than other musicians, even though it may not be easy to see. This is part two of a ten-part series. You can find an introduction and links to all ten posts here. #2. In-The-Moment Adaptations No matter what kind of musical interaction a…

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Music Therapists Do It Differently

Is it music therapy? Say you walk by a room in a hospital, and you see a person lying in bed, and a woman sitting next to her, singing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” while strumming a guitar. Maybe you think, “oh, how lovely. Music is so relaxing!” Or maybe you pass the activity room in…

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Aesthetic Experiences at the End of Life

Lavender field

What is the value of aesthetic experience near the end of life? This question has been on my mind as I’ve been thinking about a character from Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved. This is the story of ex-slave Sethe trying to live a new, free life while haunted by the ugliness of the past, not the…

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Four Reasons To Hire An Entertainer Instead Of A Music Therapist

I’m a music therapist. That means I travel all over the Kansas City area, visiting nursing homes and assisted living communities. I’m always hauling my guitar and a bunch of other assorted musical gear. When you pass by one of the group sessions I’m leading, you’ll probably see a bunch of folks smiling, singing, and…

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