I grew up playing instruments. I began playing the piano when I was 4 - my lesson partner is still one of my best friends today - and started playing the flute when I was in fourth grade. I don't know why this blog title stood out to me, but I liken it to music and music therapy and this current quarantine. I have played and instrument all my life, practicing and focusing on my task like an uphill battle, good times and bad. I have never run a marathon, but I feel like it would be my entire practicing career in 2.5 hours.
I remember sitting at my piano, practicing when I was probably in fourth grade. My mom made me practice, I didn't want to. I refused actually. My sisters and brothers were outsdie playing with our neighbors and swimming in their pool. The LAST thing I wanted to be doing was practicing! My mom made me practice. (I can still play that song that I sat at the piano crying over, to this day). Funny how things like that work. Every step I took, every moment I sat at the piano (whether I wanted to or not) let me to this - right here.
We are in an unexpected time and yet, there are some who live in a time like this consistently. At the KEYS program, these last two months have been a new experience for us. We have rewritten our "normal" and created completely new and unexpected experiences. If you scroll through the website, you will see just a glimpse of what I am talking about.
So much has been closed down, and yet we have so many new offerings. We have been able to create a telehealth offering - music therapy sessions all online! Telehealth in music therapy, or telemusictherapy, is a viable option to provide music therapy services when an in-person session may not be feasible (not only during this time that we are all in quarantine, but beyond that...when an in-person session is not possible). Even though the session will take place via computer, the music therapist will continue to address individualized, therapeutic goals and objectives for the client. Telehealth sessions implement music therapy techniques that are typically used in face-to-face sessions. These techniques can include songwriting, active music playing, improvisation, relaxation, and more. Telehealth music therapy sessions model the traditional in-person sessions and follow a similar structure.
As we navigate an unforseeable future, it is important for us to maintain our connections with each other. We are here for you. If you are interested in pursuing our telehealth platform and checking out music therapy sessions, we would love to chat with you!
I have heard of music therapy being compared to a marathon, and rightly so, because success requires constant dedication and application. But think of it also as climbing a mountain, where every small step builds on the last and takes you closer to your goal. If we keep putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, week after week, we can build quite a momentum that will take us to our goal, the summit. I can’t wait to see the view; can you?