Sing Along at 11:00am

I appreciate a good Sing-Along and always have...  However, I have mixed feelings in regards to the sing-alongs that take place on the Today Show with Kathy Lee and Hoda Kotb at 11:00am.  This morning I heard "Play That Funky Music White Boy" in the other room, so I walked out to see what was going on.  You have Hoda jammin' and singing to the music...  Then you have Kathy Lee looking unimpressed, confused, and somewhat out of place sitting along side of her.

First, thank you Hoda for committing EVERY time!  She sings, although her voice isn't necessarily record quality.  I like this though, because it's encouraging to all the tone-deaf or shower-only singers out there!  ;)  But, shame on you Kathy Lee for not embracing this moment to look silly, sing along, and commit to the musical moment in front of thousands of people!  It could be a moment to really grab the watchers at home - but it needs a little work week to week.

As I often say to people who don't always enjoy the music therapy taking place in the classroom next door - that happens once every other week for an hour and a half...  LET YOURSELF GO!  Tap along to the beat, listen to the happy voices, and possibly even SING ALONG!  :)  You may find that it lifts your mood even more!

So, I want to say:  Kudo's to Hoda for having fun and making music! Your sing alongs always make me smile - so don't stop!

To Curtain or Not to Curtain

To Curtain or Not to Curtain...

My clinic is off of a busy road that gets a lot of traffic.  In addition there are many people who walk by on foot.  I often stare out this window - how could you NOT - while working at my desk.  DOWNFALL:  The window is NOT insulated at all and the heat pours into the space making it really hot!  I have been trying to find something cheap, but wasn't coming up with anything...  Until today, when I found these curtains on the floor in another suite where I work - FREE to a good home!  What do you think?  To Curtain or Not to Curtain?

I'm with the DJ okay?

This post is not about "music therapy" per se...  But it is about an entertaining music experience that I had this past weekend while performing the music for my college roommate's wedding.  I had the honor of performing all of the ceremony music for the wedding.  This included playing the flute as well as singing and playing keyboard.  Due to my part in the wedding, I had to work closely with the DJ, as he was running sound for the wedding as well as the reception.  We will call this DJ - Mike - to make his identity anonymous. 

First, I'm reminded of this song...

Here are my three entertaining experiences with him:

1.)  I had to email some tracks to the DJ for some editing.  I got his email which was dj****@unhotstuff.com .  I emailed him and it came back to me with an delivery error.  I called to confirm his email address and he - while sounding slightly offended - said "It's dj****@FUNhotstuff.com not dj****@UNhotstuff.com !"  While I felt slightly bad for this mistake, I couldn't stop laughing uncontrollably while trying to end the phone conversation.

2.)  After the ceremony was over I was trying to zip up my full keyboard size case which has both zipper tabs broken off.  It was windy - the wedding was on the beach - and I was concerned that my skirt may decide to have a mind of it's own, so I asked the DJ if he could help zip the case for me.  He replied, "Sure!  I'm really good at zippers, as well as bras!"  Smile and nod Jaime...  Just smile and nod...

3.)  While sitting at the wedding with my sister, we were doing the usual waiting for the bridal party to get there after taking pictures thing - entertaining ourselves on our phones - what everyone does now days.  I grabbed my phone and had a text message from a number inserted in my phone as "Erin's Wedding DJ."  The text said "Can the DJ flirt with you all night? :-)"  I like technology and everything, but what happened to walking over to someone and TALKING to them...  What is someone supposed to say to that text anyway?  I figured that no words was better than any words I could come up with at that point...  Again, smile and nod Jaime...

So, as I (in middle school and high school) LOVED the above song, thinking it would be fun to be "with the DJ okay?"  This time may have passed...  I want to thank this DJ "Mike" for noticing this new momma...  To let him know that I appreciated the lovely song selection throughout dinner - which included John Mayer, Adele, Amos Lee, Jack Johnson, and Allison Krauss.

However... I can do without the Chicken Dance.

30 Minute Conversation with No Words...

I was recently on maternity leave after giving birth to my son - Aiden.  I feel both sad and happy about going back to work, because I love my job but of course want to spend the days and nights with my baby!   

So, I wanted to ask you...  When was the last time YOU had a 30 minute conversation that consisted of NO WORDS? 

This last week, I had one of those sessions where I left KNOWING that it was a positive experience for the client - this person made great strides on his/her goals!  It was an awesome 30 minutes!  The music flowed through musical changes that were fueled by his/her changes in playing and singing.  (Don't be confused though, no singing with WORDS, just PITCHES!)  Pitches that purposefully follow musical progression and tonality.  The musical interaction went from upbeat and excited to rhythmically playful to vocally full and thoughtful.  We were "talking" all while "music-ing!"  It was 30 minutes where it felt GREAT to be a music therapist.

I take these moments home with me every day. Aiden doesn't have words to communicate - so I take my guitar and sit with him, vocalizing/singing together.   He coos and smiles and communicates with his eyes - probably very content and comforted because he heard these sounds from the womb for 9 months.  We have a conversation, with no words, because they are not always necessary. Give it a try sometime. You may be amazed with the outcome!

I was looking for a resourse to give a little more information for those of you who like links and small articles to read...  This is what I found:

Here is a good place to go to find more information on "Who Can Music Help?"

Nordoff Robbins is a UK national charity. They are part of an international network of Nordoff Robbins organisations that draw inspiration from the innovative work of their founders Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins.

New to Blogging

I've been thinking about creating a blog for some time, but couldn't decide if I had enough "Things Worth Noting" that others would want to read.  I decided that I will jump in and at least check out how a blog works, test it out, and see what happens!

To tell you about myself...  My name is Jaime.  I'm a new mommy, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a music therapist, a musician, a performer, an actor, and a lover of life.   Maybe this blog will be endearing...  Maybe it will be funny...  Maybe it will be informative...  Maybe it will be educating...  Maybe it will be completely boring...  You can decide that for yourself, if you choose to read it. 

I'm calling this blog "Things Worth Noting."  The definitions of "Note" being:

•  A brief record of facts, topics, or thoughts, written down as an aid to memory
•  A short informal letter or written message
•  A single tone of definite pitch made by a musical instrument or the human voice
•  A written sign representing the pitch and duration of such a sound
•  A key of a piano or similar instrument
•  A particular quality or tone that reflects or expresses a mood or attitude

These definitions are perfect as this will be a compilation of topics and thoughts written down.  It is kind of written in a letter format, as I'm talking to SOMEONE out there!  I'm a musician, more specifically a MUSIC THERAPIST, and I will be writing about music therapy I witness all around.  This quailfies for music in my sessions, music I perform, music I witness, music I enjoy, and more. 

I'm using "Noting" as a verb.  Although I most often use "note" as a noun - a music note, a piano note, a written note.  Similarly, we don't always sit back and witness "music" as a noun, as a whole we actively make music, create music, or choose music.  So, I like to use "Music-ing" as a verb.

Noting - Note - Music - Musicing...  See the connection? 

So...  Here we go!