Guitars & Granola Bars

In this episode, I'm chatting with Danielle Oar.

Danielle shares the story of her pregnancy — an “unexpected blessing” — and how she pursued her music therapy studies while raising a baby as a single mother, along with how the support of colleagues, family and friends allowed her to complete her degree, internship, and eventually open a private practice.

Danielle began her journey as a mother during her junior year of her music therapy degree. The role of mother and music therapist gave her unique insights into both worlds, and was a trial of strength as she supported herself and her son through school, internship, and starting a business. Located in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, Danielle has started a vibrant new private practice and supports her son as a single mother. Music has enriched their relationship and created resilience to the struggles of supporting a baby and a business.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Amy Schaack.

Amy talks about building her private practice and hiring employees, sustaining her business through two maternity leaves, and how her company is soon taking music therapy "on the road".

Amy owns Life In Harmony Music Therapy, LLC, a growing private practice in Southwestern Wisconsin. She spent the first four years as a professional developing a music therapy program at a local hospital which later transitioned into a private practice. The business has survived two maternity leaves nearly a year apart and has continued to grow through the process (now employing three music therapists!). Amy's family includes her husband, Bradley, who works full time and also serves as the practice's administrative assistant, Selah (turned two at the end of November), Jovin (will be one the beginning of April), and Chloe (her very first child... a Boston Terrier).

For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Christina Stock.

Christina shares her journey through perinatal depression and birth-related PTSD, how she handles the "work-life wobble", and the importance of building a local community of support.

Christina is a full time mama and part time music therapist. She graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Music with a concentration in ethnomusicology from The University of Texas at Austin in 2005 and her Master's degree in Music Therapy from Texas Woman's University in 2009. Christina has been a music therapist for a little over five years and has worked as a music therapy subcontractor, in a pediatric hospital setting, and currently works at an adult cancer center in Dallas. She is from New Braunfels, Texas, and considers herself a country mouse in the big city with her husband and two young children.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Erin Lunde.

Erin shares how she schedules her clinical work around time with her son, her practice of setting 3 big "to-do" priorities each day, and lists quite a few of her favorite podcasts related to motherhood.

Erin owns Sound Matters Music Therapy, LLC, a private practice based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She works with adults and adolescents with developmental delays. Erin has a son who is now 17 months old, and is pregnant with her second child, due in August.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Carrie Friddell.

Carrie talks about her experience being pregnant while completing her internship, her decision to take time off to raise her children, and how she is slowly but surely building up her private practice now that they are a little older.

Carrie received her MT-BC Certification when she was pregnant with her first child, Lucy, in 2005. She now also has a son, Ethan, who is 5 years old and about to go to kindergarten this year. Carrie has slowly been building her private practice as her children have gotten older, and has taken a journey of only working very part time while her children are small with hopes to build a bigger independent music therapy practice in the future.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Laura Theismann.

Laura shares the story of finding out she was pregnant, how her son has influenced her work as a music therapist, and the challenges and perks of having a background in child development when it comes to parenting.

Laura is a graduate from the University of Alabama and began working in 2012 at Key Changes Therapy Services in Columbia South Carolina where she serves a variety of populations including children with Autism and developmental delays, Dementia/Alzheimer's patients, individuals recovering from stroke, just to name a few. Laura is married and has a three year old son that loves to keep her on her toes. On the journey through balancing music therapy and motherhood, Laura is learning very quickly that every day is an adventure, but is loving every minute of it!

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Meryl Brown.

Meryl openly shares her struggle with postpartum depression, how she completely rebuilt her private practice after recovering, and the steps she took to successfully prevent PPD after the birth of her second daughter.

Meryl is a mother of 2 (a 5 year old and 9 month old), wife and music therapist living and working in Central Illinois. She "balances" parenthood and music therapy business ownership, as she owns and operates Developing Melodies, a private practice in Bloomington, IL, nurtures her two littles and aggressively participates in self-care by way of running (marathon training anyone?) and volunteer opportunities; serving as President of her Kiwanis Club, Treasurer of the Illinois Association for Music Therapy and serving on the WeCare Twin Cities Half Marathon planning committee.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Natalie Mullis.

Natalie shares how she prepped her business before her baby was born, spent her maternity leave making major changes to her private practice, and her secrets for getting work done with her son at the office.

Natalie is the owner of Key Changes Therapy Services, LLC in Columbia, South Carolina and mom to her son Desmond who was born in the summer of 2014. She decided to expand her small music therapy private practice during maternity leave to offer speech therapy services and hopefully, occupational and physical therapy in the future.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Amanda Clay.

Amanda discusses what it was like working in the psych setting while pregnant and shares TONS of practical advice for women who may be grappling with working mom guilt.

Amanda is a St. Louis native and Chicagoland transplant as of 2012. She works at a therapeutic day school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders where she’s frequently pinching herself with how lucky she is to have so much fun at work every day. Amanda has a husband and young son, and is navigating her way through new motherhood through minor failures and occasional triumphs.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Tamara Leszner-Rovet.

Tamara talks about maternity leave in Canada, how she was able to keep her private practice going in the months following her son’s birth, shares a super cool iPad app she uses in her adapted lessons, and much more.

Tamara is a Toronto-based Music Therapist and Piano Teacher. She holds an Associateship in Piano Performance is a Registered Music Teacher. She also holds an Honours Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree with Internship from the University of Windsor, and is an Accredited Music Therapist. She has specialized in teaching piano and providing adapted lessons to children, adolescents, adults, and to individuals with special needs for over 15 years. In her Music Therapy practice, she specializes in working with children and adolescents with neurological and developmental delays.

For show notes from this episode, visit www.listenlearnmusic.com/podcast.