metric music therapy blog

I wanted to pass along a wonderful video Emma created.  She wrote and directed this documentary for her class.  I think you will find it to be inspiring!

Me And God Hoping To Beat Autism Soon

Today on Oprah, Roger Ebert, a well regarded film critic, debuted his augmentative and alternative communication device.  Wow!  I was so pleased to see this get the attention it deserves. After cancer, Mr. Ebert was left without the ability to speak…but not left without the ability to communicate.

I hope you all get a chance to check it out http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Roger-Eberts-New-Voice.

This demonstrates the importance of communication. I feel it’s best put in Mr. Ebert’s own words:

“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this, and I am happy that I lived long enough to find it out.”

Despite all he’s experienced, he’s able to look at his circumstance and see that through alternative communication he’s able to participate and communicate in this world…and that makes life rich!

We are happy to announce we are expanding services to the west LA area!  We will be joining Leaps ‘N Boundz (www.leapsnboundz.com) in their space:

5433 Beethoven Street
Los Angeles, Ca 90066

As of now, we are starting to book Friday appointments with room to expand.  If you are interested, or know someone who is, please pass this along.  Feel free to email me directly or use info@metricmusictherapy.com.

In order to provide these services, we’re welcoming Katie Hutchens MT-BC, NMT Fellow, a board certified neurologic music therapist, to our team.  Katie has worked with persons with special needs since 2005 and is supportive of alternative augmentative communication strategies.  Similar to Metric Music Therapy’s views, Katie assumes competency and provides individualized, scientifically founded neurologic music therapy services.

We will also be having a free one-hour presentation on the definition and benefits of neurologic music therapy for persons with special needs.  We hope that by providing this educational opportunity, we can better explain the science and application of music to address non-musical goals, such as movement, speech and language, and cognition.  The details of this event are in the works, but we’ll email you again and post it on our website www.metricmusictherapy.com.

Thank you for spreading the word and we look forward to this great addition!

I get so much motivation and excitement for my work through research and science.  Recently I had the opportunity to attend a neuroscience and music conference.  The presenters ranged from researchers examining how the brain perceives different types of musical information to clinical music therapists using this research information in their own therapy practice.

The overwhelming amount of information coming out about music and neuroscience is inspiring!  The parts of the brain used to process musical information are core neural structures.  Rhythmic information especially organizes our brain cells and creates a symphony of brain communication to promote functional, non-musical skills.  Essentially, music appears to speak a type of brain language unlike other information.

I wanted to make a quick post on this issue to communicate the important role that music plays; not just for all of us who use it to ‘feel better’ but that it changes our brain in a unique and extraordinary way.  For persons who have perhaps experienced a change due to stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, autism, to name just a few, music accesses new, undamaged circuits to facilitate change.  (Of course, the educational and clinical background of a skilled music therapist is important.)

Dr. Michael Thaut at Colorado State University is quoted as stating, “The brain that engages in music, is changed by engaging in music.”  In the coming years, I know the research and understanding of this wonderful fact will be heard.  And in the meantime, I’ll continue to be inspired and motivated by my work!

These past few weeks have been filled with reminders of the importance of communication.  It is vital to life.  This point can get lost in the shuffle for those of us who have the luxury to communicate with our voices.  I am beyond grateful to have been introduced to alternative and augmentative communication techniques.  This avenue of communication has changed the way I look at the world, the way I look at ‘disability.’  For many people in our communities, the use of their voice is inhibited by a body that won’t do what they want it to do.  This can vary in cause from stroke to autism.  It is essential to assume competency and recognize that what you see can not be the way to judge intelligence or abilities.  The bottom line is we ALL have the right to find a way to communicate effectively and appropriately.

I encourage you all to be mindful of communication’s impact on your everyday life.  What would you do if you couldn’t exercise this right?

If you are interested in learning more about alternative communication strategies in the Southern California area, visit www.wapadh.org and it’s Communication Services.

Sometimes I forget to answer the simplest questions!  I had a parent this week ask me “What’s with all the walking you do?”

The movement exercises we do at the beginning of our sessions provide a VERY important purpose.  For neurological systems that have difficulty with regulation, getting the motor system organized prior to higher cognitive tasks (speech, language, attention) is imperative.  During this ‘walking time’, I’m able to measure cadences to accurately and responsibly use rhythm.  In addition to walking, crossing midline is equally important.  In our most recent newsletter (to receive the newsletter, visit our website) we discuss research supporting the importance of connecting both sides of the brain through crossing midline exercises.  In having the right arm cross over to the left side and the left arm cross over to the right, the two hemispheres of the brain are communicating, therefore improving those healthy neural pathways.

I hope this helps explain the reason behind all that walking!  We will continue to use this blog as an outlet for your questions and don’t hesitate to contact us with your thoughts at www.metricmusictherapy.com!

This is the most common response I hear when I meet a new patient.  While many of us might feel as though we “don’t have rhythm,” the research says otherwise.  It is nearly impossible for our brains to ignore rhythmic information; it’s automatic!  When rhythmic information is presented, our brain is constantly analyzing the time BETWEEN the beats, not the beats themselves.

So why is this so important?  For those of you who say you don’t have rhythm, this is key.  You might not move exactly to the beat, but you may be delayed in your movement.  In other words, your movement still shares the same interval time between the beats of the music, it’s just not happening right on cue with what you hear.

As a neurologic music therapist, this understanding changes the way we use rhythm.  While it’s important to match each person’s cadences, we must trust and know that their brain is perceiving the rhythm provided and using this information to organize many important skills, even if people don’t move to the actual beat.

So to those of you who say you don’t have rhythm…you do!  And don’t let this deter you from the wonderful benefits neurologic music therapy provides!

Metric Music Therapy now has a blog!

It is our goal to provide links to interesting research, news, and events.  We also hope to offer insight into the profession of Neurologic Music Therapy and how it benefits so many with special needs!

Continue to check back in from time to time and feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.  Thanks!