July 11, 2009 - Strength-Based Improvisation

In this week's show, I'll be talking with Lisa Jackert and Robin Rio about Strength-Based Improvisation.

Strength-Based Improvisation is a new approach that is geared for participants with any amount of improvisation experience. Participants may use the instrument of their choice, which can include percussion or voice. Non-threatening experiential opportunities are aimed at personal exploration while simultaneously learning approaches to engage clients.

Lisa Jackert, MA, MT-BC has 20 years of experience in adult/geriatric psychiatry, substance abuse, eating disorders, and wellness. Currently employed by Community Hospital of Long Beach and operates a private practice. She has been a clinical training director and past professor of Music Therapy at Chapman University. She received the award for Professional Practice at the 2005 Western Regional Conference. She is also a FAMI-candidate of the Association of Music and Imagery and has been focusing on the use of The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music with infertility and pregnancy. Currently, Lisa is on the Board of Directors for the American Music Therapy Association.

Robin Rio, MA, MT-BC is professor of music therapy at Arizona State University. She also has many years of experience working with a variety of populations, including the geriatric population and the homeless. She is also is on the Editorial Board for Music Therapy Perspectives and has recently written the book: Connecting through Music: Music Therapy in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care. Currently, Robin is serving as a member of the Ethics Board for the American Music Therapy Association and has past served the Western Region of AMTA as Vice President.

For more information on Strength-Based Improvisation, click here.

July 4, 2009 - No show today.

I intended to do a special Holiday Edition of the show this week, but I am working on a new product that I hope to share with you all next week and I don't want to lose that momentum! So here is the information I was going to share on the show:

Music is essential for life. Otherwise, why would people bother making music after traumatic experiences, like the Oklahoma City Bombing, when a music therapist was asked to sing Amazing Grace over and over again to provide some comfort for the people in her building a few blocks from the Federal Building? Or why would quartets be written in Nazi concentration camps by Messiaen?

So making music for yourself or with others is important and each week I will share with you information about how music will affect your life and how to make music a part of your healthy living. Since this weekend is Independence Day, let's look at patriotic music and incorporate some ways to use it this weekend.

How many patriotic songs do you know? There are four primary patriotic songs that most people know: America (My Country 'Tis of Thee), America the Beautiful, The Star-Spangled Banner, and God Bless America. (I also like to include Take Me Out to the Ballgame as a patriotic song!) Singing these songs with your family can help bring the family together, and can help teach your children some patriotic concepts (not to mention vocabulary). Whenever you attend a sporting event where the National Anthem is sung, be sure to sing out with pride, whether you can sing in the key that the performer selects or not! This is our song and we should sing it with pride.

Here are five tips for using patriotic music this weekend:
• Play some Sousa marches as background music for your 4th of July cookout
• Sing God Bless America with your family before heading out to see the fireworks
• Attend a parade and see how many patriotic songs you can identify
• Play name-that-tune with songs of each branch of the military
• Listen to America the Beautiful (or play it on your favorite instrument) and reflect on what makes this nation great, remembering that what you think about, you bring about

Thanks for listening! Let me know what you think.

Janice

June 27, 2009 - No show this week

There's no show this week because I'm traveling to Baltimore to attend meetings for the American Music Therapy Association. I think I'm actually giving a report during my showtime! I'll be back next week, July 4, for a special holiday edition of the show.

Take a moment to listen to an archived show and leave a comment on my blog to let me know what you think!

Thanks for listening.

June 20, 2009 - Music Therapy with Trauma/Attachment Disorders

Join me this week with my guest, Kimberly Sena Moore, MM, NMT, MT-BC, the Director of Neurosong Music Therapy Services, Inc. (Join me this week with Kimberly Sena Moore, MM, NMT, MT-BC, the Director of Neurosong Music Therapy Services, Inc. (www.neurosong.com). She founded Neurosong (formerly KMS Music Therapy) in 2005, which now treats clients with trauma and attachment issues, neurologic disorders, and special needs. Kimberly has advanced training in Neurologic Music Therapy and uses a neuro-based approach in her clinical work. She founded Neurosong (formerly KMS Music Therapy) in 2005, which now treats clients with trauma and attachment issues, neurologic disorders, and special needs. Kimberly has advanced training in Neurologic Music Therapy and uses a neuro-based approach in her clinical work.

Listen live Saturday, June 20, at 5:00 Eastern/4:00 Central/3:00 Mountain/2:00 Pacific by clicking http://blogtalkradio.com/jharrismtbc or calling 646-652-2850.

June 13, 2009 - Pastoral Music Therapy

My guest this week is Dr. Charles Gourgey. Charles (Carlos) Gourgey is a Board Certified Music Therapist and New York State Licensed Creative Arts Therapist with two decades of hospice experience. He has also worked in various nursing homes and published articles on psychology, disability, and religion, and is the author of the articles on his web site, MusicIsHope.org.

His approach is called Pastoral Music Therapy. This approach addresses the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families. Drawing upon the music of different cultures and traditions to tailor the therapy to the individual, Pastoral Music Therapy can create a link between the impaired person and family members even when verbal communication is no longer possible. Music can help mobilize the person's inner resources, building resistance to fear and depression. Music can also create shared experiences between these people and their families, maintaining communication and relationship even until the very last moment of life.

Click here to listen.

May 23, 2009 - Here's a quick way to adjust your attitude!

We can influence the music we hear and the messages we hear in our heads. Take a minute to pay attention to your soundscape. Do you hear traffic, or computer-buzzing? Are you listening to the news? Is it positive or negative? Are you listening to music? What are the messages in the music? Do they help you to feel good and stay positive or are they negative messages?

Choose music and messages that help create the life you want for yourself. Take a music bath-surrounding your senses with music that makes you feel wonderful! Create the attitude you want to have for yourself by listening to music that reinforces that attitude.

I would love to talk to YOU on my show this weekend!

Call in to talk to me about the music influencing your life at 646-652-2850 on Saturday, May 23, 2009, at 5 EDT/4 CDT/3 MDT/2 PDT.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

May 16, 2009 - Cardiovascular health

We all know that music makes us feel good and that it can help us relax. We also know that chronic stress causes blood vessels to become rigid and the risk for arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) increases as we age. But did you know that music can affect our cardiovascular system?

CNN posted an article recently about some research a cardiologist did with music. The story concludes that
- Music, like laughter, opens up blood vessels and produces protective chemicals
- Constricted vessels can lead to high blood pressure, increase heart attack risk
- Hospitals across the country use music therapy to help patients heal

This week I'll be discussing that article and talking about music therapy and cardiovascular health.

Check out the article here.

May 9, 2009 - The Just Desserts

Lisa Shawley, MT-BC, will be here representing the group The Just Desserts, an internationally traveling performance and educational ensemble spearheaded by (herself) accordionist, flautist, pianist, vocalist and music therapist Lisa Shawley, and cellist, guitarist, bassist, vocalist and music educator Michael Shay. The Just Desserts performs as a duo or as an expanded ensemble (trio, quartet, or larger) that can include percussion, piano, winds, violin, guitar, piano, bass and/or drums.

Their mission is to encourage exploration, expression, and inclusion through music and culture in the global community.

Join us Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 5 ET/4 CT/3 MT/2 PT. Call in live 646-652-2850.


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