Howdy partners! We’re roundin’ up all the little dogies to take Online Zennn. The last day for enrollment is Monday, but you can get a head start by signing up now.
Would you like to sell products online? Would you like for people to find you on Google? Would you like to share your brilliance with the world? Then you gotta check out Online Zennn.
Today we had a Q&A conference call, and I answered some Q’s.
Listen to the audio by clicking play:
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I briefly sat on a social media panel. I had to leave early for a meeting. This post fills up what I forgot to mention in my 5 minute spiel at the beginning.
Thanks to Kimberly Sena Moore, Meryl Brown, Michelle Erfurt, Rachel Rambach, Roia Rafieyan, Matt Logan, Bill Matney, Michelle Strutzel, and Sarah Sendlbeck for being Mad Producers in the social media panel at conference.
It seems as though they (and many more) have already realized web-based rejuvenation, inspiration, and just plain awesomeness.
There is a beautiful marriage created when you can pinpoint your unique talents and pair them with a deep need in the world community. That’s how to produce value and not get burned out.
While using your unique talents and producing stuff that makes you feel incredibly happy, you can self-rejuvenate AND help others at the same time.
That’s why I challenge you to throw stellar value into the web based upon your unique talents. Begin producing as much as you consume. But here’s the caveat… Only produce content/vids/products that inspire YOU.
Here are some unique talents of Mad Producers that meet deep community needs from my eyes:
Kimberly Sena Moore—
Clean, clear explanation of music & brain meets uninformed and misunderstood ideas.
Answers to private practice meets those who cannot make it to conferences, those who need info online now.
Meryl Brown—
Mom + Music therapist meets those lonely music therapist moms who think they are alone.
Michelle Erfurt—
BoomTotes meet those who use boomwhackers and need to transport them from place to place.
Rachel Rambach—
Song machine meets those who love to play but do not write original music.
Roia Rafieyan—
A music therapist’s self reflection and deep personal evaluation meets other music therapists who think they are alone.
Matt Logan—
Technology and student relations meet hip, cool students and interns who are tech/online savvy.
Bill Matney—
Therapeutic potential of drumming traditions meets music therapist who needs to access and learn about indigenous drumming traditions.
Sarah Sendlbeck—
Intern wisdom and practical tips meet interns who feel isolated, alone, and devoid of peer community.
Intern eclecticism meets music therapist who needs a fresh perspective.
Michelle Strutzel—
Clever session ideas meet students, interns, and pros who need refreshment and new ideas.
Mine would be arranging music meets the music ed community devoid of pop song arrangements for boomwhackers. Or maybe drumming with older adults meets those who would like to utilize drumming to connect with their clients.
UNIQUE TALENTS + DEEP COMMUNITY NEED = VALUE.
Advocacy is an organic by-product of your own stellar value that is produced. Agree? Disagree? Do tell.
[Then quit reading this, and go produce some awesome content!]
AMTA is right around the corner. I am thrilled and blessed to be able to participate this year. I was telling Jessy Rushing yesterday that last year was my first year ever giving a solo presentation. I still feel like such a rookie at this. [So nervous in a good way!]
If you would like to have access to all of my conference handouts, then visit this page and type in the password that I am giving out at the presentations. I’ve included handouts for the Get Drumified with Older Adults CMTE, Online Zennn concurrent, and 2 digital media round tables. If you’d rather have instant access to the PDFs, then you can enter your name and email below to get them now.
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The Juicy Announcement
I will be letting you in on a little secret about a new project in 2012 at the Online Zennn presentation. I truly believe that this new project will have quite an impact. I’ve been working behind the scenes with Janice Harris, Natalie Mullis, Jessy Rushing, and a few more on this new project. And I cannot WAIT to spill the beans and let you know our plans at the presentation!
I hope to see you at Online Zennn:
Saturday, Nov 19 at 3:45PM—-in Meeting Rooms 301-302-303 if you’d like to hear the news.
More presentations that I hope to sneak into follow:
Saturday, Nov 19 at 1:30PM: Therapeutic Drumming and Aromatherapy with Judith Pinkerton and Alyssa from Remo Saturday, Nov 19 at 9:30AM: Schoolhouse Stories with Daniel Tague Sunday, Nov 20 at 8:00AM: DIY Approach to Recording with Rachel Rambach
Don’t forget to stop by and visit the Pros in the exhibit hall.
See you at the conference! But if you can’t make it, be sure to download all the goods from my presentations.
Last month I wrapped up the first Online ZEN course, and I have only now begun to realize how pertinent program evaluation procedures are.
Of course, I’ve sent out surveys to my regular clients before. But after reading the Online ZEN evals, I’m convinced that I need to do this with my regular music therapy & drumming clients on a continual basis. I’m so grateful to have this crossover insight. The feedback has been extremely helpful to me while I ramp up for the next course.
Now for the good stuff. You know your business is already awesome. How can you sustain it and keep your clients uber happy?
★ (For new clients) What hesitations did you have before hiring a music therapist? This one will open a window into questions and/or issues your potential clients may have that you haven’t thought of. Any answers to this question should be turned around and placed in bold fonts and large types on your marketing and educational materials. For instance, your client’s answer “We weren’t sure we had money in the budget” should turn into educational material like this “Are you concerned about spending money in your budget? Here are 3 ways music therapy can actually *save* your facility money.” Capiche?
★ What short-term changes do you notice in your patients/students/residents/clients/families after a music therapy session? Reading the answers to this one will help you understand whether your clients are seeing the same changes that you are. Compare your documentation notes to these answers.
★ What long-term changes have you noticed in your patients/students/residents/clients/families after being involved in music therapy for ____ amount of time? Answers here will help you carve out the long-term treatment plans, and compare to your own documentation.
★ What is the most effective music therapy intervention you’ve seen used with your patients/students/residents/clients/families? (or, What is your favorite drumming experience you’ve seen us use at your facility?) Whatever answers you get here, do MORE of in your sessions.
★ Would you recommend music therapy to your colleagues? This triggers your client to think of how they might be able to take action and spread the word about your services for you. The strongest marketing is done by word of mouth.
★ Please explain in as many words possible how we can make our music therapy services better. This will give you a hint as to how you can serve your clients even better. Seeing this question let’s your clients know that you deeply care about giving them the best experiences possible.
You could dig deeper, but this is a solid start. Also, I enjoy open-ended, narrative answers more than multiple choice. You can see more of your clients personality and preferences this way.
How do you evaluate your music therapy or drumming programs? How do you keep your clients happy?
Whether you are facilitating a music and movement session for older adults, corporate team-building, or support groups (cardiac, cancer, Parkinson’s, COPD, chemical dependency, or other), these short, easy tricks will help you build rapport fast while uplifting the participants. A few of these have been influenced by Christine Stevens, Arthur Hull, and Barb Reuer, so many thanks to those who came before us!
I started with 7, and now there are 10! These were written with groups of 30 or less in mind:
1. First and foremost, listen to your clients. This means that you’ll have to create opportunities for the members to share. Whether it’s a check-in, a call for answers to a question, or a pre-group discussion, weave whatever your clients share into the session. If you honor your client, he/she will completely trust you.
2. Learn the name of every single participant in your group.
3. Position yourself as the facilitator. At the beginning of the session, make a lot of pleasant eye contact with each participant, set the intention, and give thanks.
4. Invite everyone to look at each other. After the first music-making piece, invite your group members to turn to their neighbor and say “You’re an AWESOME drummer!” After the second music-making piece, invite the members to applaud their neighbor. I guarantee immediate smiles all around.
5. Make it safe for spontaneity. Mention that in this session, participants are not only allowed, but encouraged to spontaneously burst into song.
6. Rumble for or applaud anyone who spontaneously bursts into song.
7. Set a rule. If someone makes a joke, then sing “Shave and a haircut,” respond with two big hand claps or drum beats.
8. Showcase participants. Create space for solo, duet, and trio improvisations.
9. Always reinforce this mantra: “There’s no wrong way to play.”
10. End with gratitude. Use Christine Steven’s celebration circle where each participant is invited to “stop” the music and share a word of celebration. Another helpful trick is to invite each member to share just one word, and go quickly around the circle in order.
I'm Kat Fulton. I'm a music therapist, and I believe that everyone with a heartbeat is born with *RHYTHM* Do you agree? Join the movement! Enter your name and email below to get behind the scenes at Rhythm For Good.
Catch me if you can–