Music Therapy with a Nonverbal Adult in Boise

Sometimes it is interesting the things that excite me during a music therapy session.  One of the great things about music therapy is that it is personal to each individual.  Everybody has different things that we are working on through music therapy.  I got really excited about a seemingly small thing because it was a huge step with the person I was working with.

I have been working with a nonverbal young adult woman for a while, and she has a real difficulty connecting with people and especially with playing an instrument by herself.  This week I kept encouraging her to play my keyboard.  I held it out to her, and she started reaching her hand out.  That was a big step in and of itself for her.  But I kept the keyboard there and she reached her hand closer and closer to the keys until she played a note.

After she played the note she got the biggest smile on her face.  She got out of her chair and gave me a big hug. Who knew that one note on the keyboard could bring that much excitement and connection.

Music Therapy dealing with intense emotions in Boise

I am working with a young man in Boise who is working on a dealing with some intense emotions.  One of the beautiful things about music therapy is that we can address things without the client realizing that is what we are addressing.  So during our music therapy sessions, I am teaching him different things on the guitar and we are playing and singing different music and generally "jamming out" as he likes to call it.  In between we talk about using music as a positive outlet, and he discusses his feelings.  We have written songs talking about what is going on with him.

During the session he looked up at me and he said, "You don't know how much I look forward to this every week.  This is really the only thing that I look forward to."  So, I am able to help him work through his difficult and intense emotions without ever having to ask him, "how are you feeling?" or say "let's talk about your emotions."

Unexpected music therapy outcome in Meridian

Music therapy can address specific needs, and sometimes it can have positive effects without having specifically addressed them.  There is a young man that I am working with in Meridian who is nonverbal and also has a lot of difficulty swallowing.  One of the goals that I am doing with him is working on using his voice more.  He is doing singing (though he doesn't form words) and he is beginning to verbalize when I ask him questions.  That in and of itself is great.  We want to see him using his voice as much as we can, and his verbalizations are getting more clear so that family is saying that they are understanding him more.

There is another effect that has occurred because he is using his voice more.  The family has noticed that his incident of choking has gone down most likely because he is using his voice more and strengthening the muscles.  One of the things I love about music therapy is that like anything there is side effects.  However, music therapy's side effects are positive rather than negative.

An Experience with a Music Therapy Group in Boise

Doing music therapy in groups has a different dimension than individual music therapy.  Sometimes it is the peers that they are interacting with that bring things out of them.  Recently while doing a music therapy group I saw an amazing interaction.

One of the participants is very withdrawn and one of the participants is very outgoing.  It is really fun to see the outgoing person really draw something special out of the withdrawn person.  This was really evident when we started to do some dancing to the music.  I have not seen the withdrawn person dance, but when her peer came over and asked her to dance she stood up, had the biggest smile on her face and danced with him for the whole song.

Music Therapy Open House in Ontario Oregon!
(for Anyone with a Barrier to Communication, Learning, or Wellness)

 How Much? 

FREE!!  The idea is to raise awareness about music therapy and how it can help people - so even if you are just a little curious (or maybe just bored on a Friday night), come and check it out! Plus, light refreshments will be provided. Free food and live music, you can’t beat that!

Why?

Because Music Makes Connections. The benefits of music therapy are numerous, but include empowering people with a variety of barriers to engage with others in a fun and nonthreatening way, develop strong relationships, manage emotions, improve memory/cognition, and to learn things about music and about themselves in a unique and powerful way.

When?

Friday, June 1st from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Location:

THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 

(click the link to see a map)

212 SE 10TH STREET

ONTARIO,  OREGON

Who?

Anyone with a barrier to communication, learning, or wellness should be there (and their families can come too =).  Examples of people who find music therapy beneficial include those with autism, developmental/cognitive delays, dementia/Alzheimer’s, hearing loss/cochlear implantation, mental illness (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc), chronic pain, stroke-related deficits (especially those with aphasia), Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders, and people struggling with addiction.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please RSVP so we can know how many to plan on (but feel free to stop on by anyway even if you don’t- we are always up for a surprise  =).

music therapy with stroke patient with aphasia in Boise

It has been fun working with a stroke patient with aphasia.  Aphasia is a very frustrating condition where they can understand everything that is happening, and they know what they want to say, but they just can't form the words.  Because of the way that music is processed in the brain, people are able to form words when singing before they can form words through speaking.  It is an exciting moment when we are doing music and she is singing and suddenly she forms a word.  The look of excitement and almost surprise is priceless.

I am doing some more work for people with aphasia in June through the Idaho State extension with a pilot program.  If you know anybody who might be interested, please let me know.

Radio Podcast

Please check out me on the radio on a program called Piece of Mind.  Here is the podcast:http://pieceofmind.me/ftp___pieceofmind.me/Podcast/Entries/2012/5/12_Matthew_Jordan_Music_Therapist__Music_as_Medicine.html

In the podcast I talk about music therapy and play some of the music that I have done with people.  It was interesting to be on the radio.  I've never been in a radio station before.  I don't know how much sense I made because I was really nervous.

Smiles through music therapy

Great things in life happen in small moments.  One of my favorite things while doing music therapy is seeing the smiles.  Smiles for most people is a regular occurrence, but for some people smiles rarely happen.  They are stuck in confusion through dementia or frustration because of a stroke.  Sometimes it just difficulty connecting with people.  It is amazing when I see these people smile.  I just love being able to see a change from frustration, confusion, pain, or disconnection to eye contact and a big smile.  Smiles are a thing that most people take for granted, but I have seen smiles that were miraculous.

Music Therapy in Boise

It is really true that music makes connections when nothing else can.  I was working with a young girl with Asperger's for the first time.  She was hesitant to engage, but once the music started she became much more animated she began telling me of connections that she had to different music.  The more we did music together the more she began to smile and began to interact with me.  At the end her mother came and told me that she does not talk to anyone, and she was amazed with how much she talked with me.  It is moments like that which makes me glad that I am a music therapist.

Music therapy and dementia patients in Nampa

While working with clients who have dementia, I have seen many connections made.  While doing music with them connections are the rule not the exception.  I remember seeing a patient in Nampa for the first time.  She lived with her husband of 60 years who was looking for some way to reconnect with her.  Almost immediately as I started doing music, the client began to sing.  A shock look came on the husbands face and he began to cry.  During the session he kept looking at his wife and saying, "See you do remember.  You do remember."  I love being able to give people those chances to reconnect and break through the barriers that come with dementia.