SMWC Music Therapy: Campus Equivalency

Showing posts with label Campus Equivalency. Show all posts

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Three Ways to Approach Learning Music Therapy Improvisation

There are many different definitions and descriptions of clinical music improvisation. In a nutshell, it refers to the process of the music therapist and client(s) relating to each other through spontaneous music-making with a clinical intention. According to Bruscia (1998), there are four primary methods of music therapy: 1) Composition, 2) Re-creative, 3) Receptive (Listening), and 4) Improvisation. Some music therapists may use improvisation in their work, but it may not be central to their work in the same way it may be for a music therapist trained in the Nordoff-Robbins music therapy approach.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, the Master of Arts in Music Therapy program features an Advanced Improvisation and Composition course (taught by Dr. Alan Turry) and the undergraduate and equivalency music therapy programs also include clinical improvisation within the curriculum taught by music therapy faculty who have taken classes with Dr. Turry. The premise is that at the foundation of being a music therapist, we are musicians first. And, in order to utilize this wonderful modality effectively in a clinical setting, we need to be well-versed in how to improvise to be able to adapt music to the emotional environment of the individual or group (in addition to using music in other ways, per our Professional Competencies). That being said, improvising can create unwelcome stress and anxiety among students (and professionals!) because it feels like venturing into the unknown, especially when learning. So, here are three ways to help music therapy students and professionals approach the process of learning how to improvise in a clinical setting.

SMWC music therapy students in improvisation class
Photo Credit: Sharon Boyle

1. Stay connected to your own music.
This seems so basic, but it is essential. Many times, music therapists (and students) lose touch with the very essence of why they pursued music as a career in the first place. We play music every day with clients (sometimes the same songs repeatedly) and soon music is something we only do as part of our job, disconnecting from it in our personal lives. When was the last time you sat down to learn a song you loved just to learn it--not just a song that can be used in a session? Learn a song that you enjoy and sing/play just for your own enjoyment.

2. Stop worrying about perfect, and start working to be authentic.
While we are taught about "striving for perfection" as musicians, it is important to understand that music therapy is about being real. Yes, we want to bring our best music offering to the table as a music therapist, but the most important aspect is being true to the moment, to the feeling, to what the client needs. We need to be genuine and our true selves, and sometimes that means that the music will not be "perfect". But, the music can still be meaningful. Judgment can stop us from even beginning the music process, and this also means keeping it from the client. If we worry so much about getting the music "perfect" in a session, then we may miss the opportunity to connect with a client through the music.

Photo Credit: Jillian Storm

3. Listen, listen, listen!
In order to be able to play in different styles of music, we must have heard it! It is so important to listen to all kinds of music and different artists as music therapists. First, it allows us to expand our awareness of different music which then expands what we can offer to our clients. Second, learning to listen to music helps us remember that music is meaningful to us...we can gain something from it as well as bringing it to our clients! Finally, the art of listening to music doesn't stay outside the session. We need to learn to intently listen to each client's music. When we listen, we can better respond and help engage with the client in a meaningful way within the music itself. We also can listen to be witness to their creative process, not just listen to respond.

So, put the fear aside and allow yourself the joy of creating music spontaneously! Work with music in this way on your own and then connect with others in group music improvisation. When you are able to experience the wonder of improvising musically, you can then carry this to others.

Resource:

Bruscia, K. (1998). Defining music therapy, 2nd edition. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona.
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Blog Author (Sharon R. Boyle)

For more information about the SMWC Undergraduate Music Therapy and Music Therapy Equivalency-Campus programs, contact:

Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC (sboyle@smwc.edu)

For more information about the SMWC Master of Arts in Music Therapy program, contact:

Dr. Tracy Richardson, MT-BC (trichardson@smwc.edu)

For more information about the SMWC Music Therapy Equivalency-Distance (MTED) program, contact:

Larisa McHugh, MA, MT-BC (lmchugh@smwc.edu)

Saturday, March 14, 2015

SMWC Music Therapy Faculty Spotlight: An Interview with Larisa McHugh

Larisa McHugh, MA, MT-BC, is the Coordinator of the Music Therapy Equivalency Distance (MTE-D) Program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. As an alum from the Master of Arts in Music Therapy (MAMT) Program, Larisa has a unique understanding of the Woods and has been a wonderful addition to the faculty. Music Therapy Student Assistant and Music Therapy Equivalency Campus (MTE-C) student Nathan Mensah recently interviewed Larisa for this special Faculty Spotlight Feature.

Pictured: Larisa McHugh, MA-MT-BC

Nathan: Would you mind telling me a little bit about your background in music?

Larisa: Yeah, so I come from a pretty musical family. I picked up piano pretty early on and then in elementary school I started saxophone. Through high school I got involved in choir, so I spent quite a bit of time in music. And, it made sense...if you spend so much time in something, you might as well make it what you do right?

Nathan: Yes, absolutely! With that diverse background, when did you decide on music therapy?

Larisa: I think it was in high school when I made that decision- chase my dreams and become a soccer star (*laughs), or go into music. And there was a voice in my head that said, “You probably won’t make it very far in soccer”, so I decided to major in music. However, I did not know about music therapy when I set out. I would describe what I wanted to do at different schools and they would suggest creating a degree program or a double major, because they did not know about music therapy. So I started off in music education, and later transferred to a school that offered music therapy and I thought “oh my gosh, this is a real profession!”. This was not something I had to create- it exists! So I transferred after 2 years at Ohio State to a Music Therapy Program at University of Dayton. From there, I completed my internship and started working right away as a music therapist and soon after got my masters degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Nathan: Cool! That actually kind of leads to another question. What was your favorite part about being a student at the Woods?

Larisa: Oh my gosh, the connection. The connections I was able to make while a student at the Woods, not only with my cohort and the connections that I made with the wonderful professors, but the connections I was able to make with myself. Interpersonally and intrapersonally, I made connections that truly deepened my work. It brought everything together for me. I found a group of people I know I will be connected with for a long time. These are the most important friendships I’ve ever had, from my time at the Woods. I was able to connect who I was personally and professionally. There’s so much to be said about my time at the Woods, it is a very special place.

Nathan: Yes, it is!

Larisa: Yeah, everything just flowed together so that my work became part of my studies, and my studies were able to be completed in my work. It really helped to introduce me to new things and possibilities and set me on a path to continue to explore and to continue to deepen those connections that were made.

Nathan: You have a unique situation: You were a student at the Woods and now you are teaching at the Woods as well. What’s that like?

Larisa: It’s fantastic to be able to return to the Woods and to hopefully offer some of what was offered to me as a student to future music therapists. In a way, it’s giving back to the Woods and to the profession, and at the same time it is quite rewarding to witness the growth of the students, to see that light bulb go off for them. I’m really inspired by the work that they do and the sacrifices they are willing to make to become a music therapist- it’s great.

Nathan: Out of curiosity, what classes are you teaching (in the MTE-D program) right now?

Larisa: I’m supervising the Practicum courses, teach the Music Psychology course, and teach our Seminar course which covers ethics, reimbursement, and preparation for internship. And then I also supervise students in their internship.

Nathan: Nice! How long have you been teaching?

Larisa: The MTE-D Program started in 2012 [by Dr. Tracy Richardson], so I’ve been teaching at the Woods since 2012. Before that I had the privilege of supervising students in the Undergraduate Music Therapy Intensive Practicum course [in collaboration with Associate Professor Sharon R. Boyle], so I had some students from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods come out and spend 4-6 weeks during the summer for a practicum experience in the long term care facility where I worked at the time. That was great. I started working as a music therapist in, I think, 1996? And I began an internship program, supervised students, and taught as Adjunct Faculty at University of Dayton, and now at the Woods. In January, they made me the full-time Coordinator of the MTE-D Program.

Nathan: Congratulations!

Larisa: Thanks!

Nathan: These last two questions are a little more laid back: What type of things do you like to do outside of work?

Larisa: I have my furry little four-legged friends, I practice yoga, and I continue to make music just for fun. I love to garden and to cook.

Nathan: Last but not least, and this might be challenging as a musician, but what’s your favorite song and artist right now?

Larisa: That is such a challenging question to answer! And it might be challenging for our clients as well, even those non-musicians...if I was stranded on an island, I can always go back to Gershwin, and “Rhapsody in Blue”- it always brings a smile. There’s a certain point in the piece where I always get goose bumps. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d always come back to that. But I enjoy many styles of music as a musician.

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For more information about the Undergraduate (Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy) or the Music Therapy Equivalency Campus Programs, contact Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Therapy:

(812) 535-5145