343

Susan, Tracy, Dennis, Maryanne, Joe, Claudia, Judi - Riverview Elementary School, a church dinner and a friend whose mom is ill. . .

336

Welcome aboard, Jackie, Angela, Heather, Tracy, Danette, Andrea and Barbara!

Drumming and Parkinson's Disease

Great article about a drumming group in Richland, WA for people with Parkinson's Disease.  Bill Dluhosh is the music therapist at the Medical Center there.  He's a Marylhurst music therapy graduate!!  Congratulations, Bill!
http://kadlec.netreturns.biz/HealthInfo/Story.aspx?StoryId=5fa97725-a863-46b6-ad40-200860ba223d

Journal of Biomusical Engineering

http://www.ashdin.com/journals/jbe/aims.aspx
Music, The Body in Time and Self-Similarity Concepts by Daniel Schenck

This abstract discusses how research into selfsimilarity and space-time can provide insight into the mechanisms by which the six elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, dynamics, and form) are successful in eliciting profound physiological responses. When these mechanisms are more fully understood, they can be used  to develop diagnostic protocols which contribute a scientific basis for using music as a clinical intervention in a variety of diagnosed populations.

Music as Medicine, Dr. Deforia Lane

I continue to be inspired by reading Music as Medicine by Dr. Deforia Lane, who recently came to the Pacific Northwest to speak about her work.  "The tool I use, music, is powerful indeed" she says.  "who can understand the way it moves in the head, the heart, or someone's soul?  And who can explain the weight of the emotions that are carried on a song:  grief, hope, joy, love, sorrow, maybe just one, maybe one and another, maybe all the bittersweet stirrings of what it means to be alive?"

Music therapy make miracles!

http://www.grammy.com/news/music-makes-miracles

329

I surpassed the 300 mark today thanks to several wonderful encounters:
18 - Parkinson's Support Group at Legacy Salmon Creek (I gave a presentation about singing and Parkinson's Disease to this group today.  Hoping to establish a Tremble Clefs Choir in Vancouver)
3 - Legacy Salmon Creek employees (As I carried my guitar around the hospital looking for the meeting room, several employees stopped and chatted with me about music therapy)
16 - Mastermind group members(Who gave me some great advice about marketing my music therapy business)

Gluten-Free and Children with Disabilities

My Daughter Sarah gave a great talk last night at a Parent Coalition meeting at the ARC of Clark County about the benefits of gluten-free eating for children with disabilities.  Check out her blog at:   http://butwhatshouldieat.blogspot.com/

Therapeutic Singing and Parkinson's Disease

Check out this great example of using therapeutic singing in Parkinson's Disease:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQHdvxTD4g0

292

Adding my good friends from Bunco - Kiplee, Jane, Denise, Irene, Laura and Patty.  Fun reunion last night at Tommy O's!

Leads and Needs brings me to 286

I love networking at Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce events!  Today I spoke with Shastine, Frank, Glenn, Shari, Jeff, and Shayne.  All of these great people shared with me about their businesses too and are doing great work in Vancouver, WA. 

280

Today I spoke with Rich, Holly and Lynn about music therapy. 

277

I gave a presentation to a group of Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists last night at Shriners' Hospital in Portland.  I spoke about current research with children with developmental disabilities, and my own experiences with children with special needs.  The audience was lovely and had many questions for me, the most interesting of which regarded whether my services compete with what they are doing . . . I said that music therapy is part of the interdisciplinary team and works hand in hand with other therapists and professionals, not in competition.

261

More people in Vancouver, WA know about music therapy thanks to the Self-Employment Conference at the Hilton today!  Great speakers and wonderful networking opportunities!  Each person I talked to had something fascinating to say about their own experiences with music ~  It truly touches us all with its power.

Music Therapy and children with developmental disabilities

Music therapy is the clinical use of music to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship.  Music therapy can help children with developmental disabilities improve their cognitive skills, physical coordination and abilities, social skills, communication, and emotional stability.

By this principle, music therapy can be a powerful tool in establishing or maintaining the health and well-being of a child with a developmental disability.

Read more: Music Therapy for Children With Developmental Disabilities | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5569650_music-therapy-children-developmental-disabilities.html#ixzz1MZUJnnJV

Music therapy helps children with self-care

Research shows that embedded song interventions can help a child with autism during multi-step self-care tasks.  These songs can help a child successfully complete tasks such as hand-washing, toileting and cleaning up, increasing the child's independent performance of these tasks.  (Kern, Wakeford, Aldridge, 2007) 

"Disabled could lose a lifeline" Oregonian May 14, 2011

On the front page of The Oregonian today there is a picture of two clients at their music therapy group at Bethesda Lutheran Communities in NW Portland.  "A dozen men and women in the (music therapy) circle wouldn't even make eye contact a year ago.  But on Friday some sang, others clapped or shook tambourines.  Many smiled.  It's all a part of the music therapy class offered at Bethesda . . . that serves people with developmental disabilities."                                                                                                                           Let's hope that somehow music therapy is spared in these tough economic times.

Dr. Deforia Lane

Yesterday, a group of us travelled to Seattle Pacific University to spend time with renowned music therapist Dr. Deforia Lane.  Her work with music therapy in medical settings is legendary and she is inspiring and lovely in person.  She spoke not only about her work but also her faith and how the two interconnect.

245

At the East Vancouver Business Association meeting this morning I spoke with several people about music therapy - Gayle, Sue, Craig, David, Stew and Kelly.  The meeting was held at the beautiful Beacock Music store on 164th Avenue.  Craig was particularly interested in my work and shared how he uses music to relax, both by playing his guitar and by listening to his favorite types of music.

243

Between Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Edward Jones, I added 5 people to my list today; Rosemary, Violet, Andy, Pamela and Matt! 

238

The wonderful people at PIA - Partnerships in Aging - in Vancouver, WA, invited me to give a presentation on music therapy today.  We talked about how music therapy can be a wonderful treatment modality for elders with dementia and other illnesses and conditions related to aging.  We sang, shook egg shakers and played tone chimes. 
Several people shared their stories with me, including a woman for whom music plays a central role in her life.  She is an accomplished pianist and vocalist, now working with elders, and she says her music feeds her soul like nothing else.  Another woman is a trained opera singer who also does wonderful work with vulnerable seniors.  It was an honor to be able to speak to this group and share the power of music.

224

Yesterday I talked about music therapy with my dear friend Cheri, a beloved music teacher in our school district.  She had several ideas for me on how to get known, including a referral to a therapist who works with children on the autism spectrum and an idea for summer camps.  Thanks, Cheri!

I also had the opportunity to give my elevator speech to a group of 18 local business owners at a networking workshop ("Networking 4 Newbies"!) today.  The group included photographers, health coaches, an interior designer, a commercial mover, a seamstress, and a professional networker, among others.  It was great to put myself out there with others trying to do the same thing!

The Columbian page D6 - Karaoke experiment for diagnosing dementia

Interesting article about using karaoke in the diagnosis of dementia.  Check it out on page D6 of today's Columbian.  Researchers recorded people singing along with "My Girl" by the Temptations then watched their performances.  If the client showed reduced self-consciousness, it pointed to possible degeneration the pre-genual anterior cingulate cortex of the brain, possibly helping doctors diagnose demetia and  other cognitive problems earlier.

205

After a great introductory meeting at BNI this morning at the Firstenburg Center, I have passed the 200 mark!  I had 30 seconds to tell local business people what music therapy is all about and there were 27 members present.  Lots of great discussions afterward!

178

The activity director of a convalescent center and his co-worker now know about music therapy.  So do a caterer and massage therapist!  Thanks for listening Bill, Amy, Marilyn and Jason!  Bedside music is wonderful for people recovering from surgery or who are in chronic pain.

174

Thanks to the lovely people at Keys to Advancement!  7 wonderful employees experienced music therapy today and are now more energized, less stressed and ready for the day~ Thanks for all the support, referrals and feedback.

Anne talks about the 1000 person project

My project to talk to 1,000 people about music therapy will be the subject of The Music Therapy Show this Friday on blogspot radio -- listen in!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jharrismtbc/2011/05/06/1000-person-project

Musician Shares Ballad of Addiction - The Columbian

Check out the article on the front page of today's Columbian, "Musician shares sad ballad of addiction with teen boys."  The article explains how local blues singer Lisa Mann shared her gift for songwriting and performing with clients at Daybreak, a Vancouver, WA drug rehab facility for teen boys.  The article says she talked to the boys about her own addictions and recovery and how her music helped her heal.  Great article!

Art and Music Camp Registration

Sign up now for Art and Music Camp for Children with Special Needs: http://www.upbeatmusictherapist.com/music-day-camp-register.html

167

Did I mention that my primary care doctor at Vancouver Clinic works part-time at SW Washington Hospice?  I talked to her at my last appointment about the wonders of music therapy in hospice care.

166

Lindsay, a real estate agent, was fascinated by my music therapy discussion today!