Archive | July, 2011

A Special Announcement And A Few Of My Favorite Things

By on July 27, 2011 in Kat's Musings

I have such exciting news! More on that later, but for now, do you ever feel fully supported by your friends, family, and colleagues? I have been just that lucky recently!

Right now I’m feeling like there is an answer to every question, and a solution to every problem. I am so thankful to have these solution-providers in my life!

Problem #1: It is awkward to carry boomwhackers.
Solution #1: Boom Totes from Michelle Erfurt at the Music Therapy Tween.

Boom Tote

Michelle sent me two bags, one for the shorter boomies, and one for the longer boomies. AND she put my Rhythm For Good logo on the big one! The really cool thing is that the mesh top gives me a sneak peek at what’s inside instead of leaving me hanging.

Before Michelle’s bags, I used opaque bags. They have a very cute design, but you cannot tell what’s inside! I love the mesh top. It saves me a bunch of time digging through to see what’s inside.

You can check out Michelle’s other goodies for sale at her Etsy shop. Continue Reading →

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Ever heard of music for the Deaf?

By on July 21, 2011 in Rhythm Renegades

This week’s Rhythm Renegade is Natasha Thomas, board-certified music therapist extraordinaire, who works at a school for the deaf. She blogs regularly about her experiences at Music Moves. I have been especially “moved” by her blog because it brings light to a very unique topic: Music therapy at a school for the Deaf. Here’s what you’ll learn from this video

1. Therapeutic objectives for using music therapy at a school for the Deaf here: 1:35
2. How awesome Twitter is for professional development and burnout reduction here: 3:50
3. Awesome song share for kids here: 12:10

How did I DO this? First, I Skyped Natasha in fullscreen, then I recorded the screen via ScreenFlow, then I uploaded the video to my YouTube account. Badda bing, badda bang. There you have it ~ a video interview online. Give it a try! Get Screenflow now.

Continue Reading →

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Don’t Do A Corporate Teambuilder Without Giving This Away For Free

By on July 14, 2011 in Drumming

I was super slammed yesterday. Here was my schedule:

9:30 – 10:30 AM: Prove to a new administrator that music therapy is worthy of keeping in the budget. [✔ Success!]

12:30 – 1:30 PM: Facilitate a corporate drum circle with 60 engineers. [✔ Success!]

4:30 – 5:30 PM: Celebrate a year anniversary for a retirement community client by facilitating a performance by our drumming group. Then stroll around for 30 minutes singing old jazz tunes while the residents eat and dance. [✔ Success!]

Corporate Drumming

Facilitating Teambuilder in Pacific Beach on the bay ~ July 13, 2011


It sounds easy enough, but with all the various tasks and mindset shifts that had to take place in between all the sessions. Oh my goodness. I was brain dead and comfortably tucked into bed by 8:30 last night.

The gig that really wiped me out was the corporate drum circle. That drum circle made me do some brain acrobatics and prepping like you wouldn’t believe. All for the best: It turned out to be a smashing success! Lots to learn, but it was very well-received.

After processing through it all, I realized that I shouldn’t ever do a corporate teambuilder without giving this away ~

Gratitude.

Of course, we had a crazy amazing time drumming, and we gave thank you rumbles to my assistant, the organizer, the venue, the manager, the beach, the sun, etc. In fact, when the manager spoke before any facilitation, the group independently rumbled in new members to the team!

And inwardly and personally, I was thinking deeper about gratitude.

Continue Reading →

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VIDEO INTERVIEW: Keith Terry, Body Musician

By on July 12, 2011 in Rhythm Renegades

This week’s Rhythm Renegade is the amazing body musician and founder of the International Body Music Festival: Keith Terry of Crosspulse. Keith is a 2008 Guggenheim Fellow, winner of numerous international awards and grants, producer of several performance and instructional CDs and DVDs. The list goes on and on.

The International Body Music Festival is November 1-6 this year in the Bay area. Get your tickets now!

Are you ready to be inspired? In the interview, Keith talks about how he got into body music, what his daily life is like, how he got some of his favorite people together to form the International Body Music Festival, and he shows off his head-turning talent at lucky number 11:11 ——> Prepare to be amazed!

How did I DO this? First, I Skyped Keith in fullscreen, then I recorded the screen via ScreenFlow, then I uploaded the video to my YouTube account. Badda bing, badda bang. There you have it ~ a video interview online. Give it a try! Get Screenflow now.

If you like this post, then you’ll love these:
Mark Powers, Rhythm Renegade
ABC’s of DrumSkype
VIDEO: People Make Music.

Continue Reading →

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What Do Older Adults Really Want?

By on July 5, 2011 in Older Adults

In the psychology courses I took while studying to be a music therapist, I inadvertently skipped over the chapters on Disengagement, Activity, and Continuity Theories of Aging. I had no idea they existed until just recently.

Disengagement Theory struck me the most. I’ve always respected anyone’s decision to say NO to the drum circle, or to say NO to bedside music therapy, or to say NO to playing shakers and dancing. But now my feeling of respect for the NO decision runs deeper. There’s a level of dignity that goes with respecting someone’s choice to decline.

Activity theory of aging

Reading about these three theories of aging has given me a new perspective. All of them come from the 60s, and all of them have been criticized for various reasons:

1. Disengagement Theory of Aging: Social withdrawal benefits both the individual and general society.

2. Activity Theory of Aging: Social activity benefits both the individual and general society.

3. Continuity Theory of Aging: The individual maintains the same personality and activities while adapting according to life course and the past. This theory is an expansion of the activity theory.

Continue Reading →

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