Not Your Average Music Therapist

I recently chatted with @amandabmusictherapy, and I wish we could have met up in real life on the beach near where she lives and done some shelling together. I imagine smiles and laughter, warmth and a cool breeze, sunshine and the best conversations. If that’s something you’d like to have with a music therapy buddy, I invite you to listen to this recent episode! Here are some points we covered: 3rd spaces, education in child life, college through COVID, after college realities, burnout, self care, adulting, sustainability in music therapy, resilience and changes, identity crisis, finding balance, fulfilling passions and needs in other ways, peace and making it work for you, REST, systems, gray areas in music therapy, community, social media marketing, and guitar tips. Phew! It was quite the loaded episode and we probably could have gone into even more! Enjoy this episode and its sweet reminders about staying afloat through the waves of life and work.

Connect with Amanda! 

@amandabmusictherapy

Of note from the episode is Lizzie Digiovanni @musictherapyaugmented with her new course on music therapy and social media marketing. Check it out!

Enjoy this episode with music therapist, dementia practitioner, and business owner, Tara Jenkins. Hear what it’s like working with older adults, being a seasoned music therapist, and having resilience through challenges. This conversation also gets really specific on music therapy group sessions, Thanksgiving song ideas, and rates for music therapy group and individual sessions. We’d love to hear your thoughts - send a message on Instagram (@hellokimbest or @musictherapistpod) or send an email to [email protected].

Connect with Tara online!

@HarmonyInDementia

www.harmonyindementia.com

Lessons learned and Encouragement shared

What do gardening and business have in common? In this episode, Kim shares her experience with both and drops insight into the process of starting something new. Enjoy!

kimbest.com/musiccanhelp

This is a short conversation about holding on until things get better, because they just might.

Items mentioned in the episode:

Subscription to receive letters of encouragement in the mail: pattern.com/kimbest

Student to professional flow chart, Taking time off reference, and more resources: kimbest.com/resources

End of the day review pad and Music can help T-shirts: kimbest.com/shop

New seasons are a good opportunity to reset, check in with yourself, and look expectantly ahead. In this episode I talk about Personal, Work, and Fun things to do at the start of a new year, new month, or new season. If you’d rather read this episode, check out the blog here: kimbest.com/blog

Some links from the episode: 

Free “Take Time Off” Reference and CMTE-entering guide, kimbest.com/resources 

Basic Business Spreadsheets, kimbest.com/shop/p/spreadsheets-for-taxes 

Vision Board Making, kimbest.com/blog/visionboard

BEES! Listen to some top-tips, to steer clear of bee stings, from a music therapist/beekeeper.

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with my husband on a church roof with Nick Lord and the bees. Nick taught us all about bees and the process of beekeeping and harvesting honey. It was fascinating, and we found the queen on the first frame we looked at! This was definitely an experience to remember, and thankfully we can savor it a little longer with the hyper-local honey Nick gifted us.

Nick is a music therapist who has ventured into his other hobbies and passions in a big way, such as starting beekeeping on roofs around Rochester.  

WHERE TO FIND THE HONEY:

Find Flower City Bee Works honey locally in Rochester, NY at Stacy K Floral or one of Nick’s pop-ups around town (or you can enter our giveaway! Ends Nov 4). 

Strangebird Brewing in Rochester has honey brown on tap/in cans, called Do Up, using honey from their rooftop hives that Nick manages.

WHERE TO FIND NICK’S MUSIC:

Cover group: Spring Drive, www.springdriveband.com

Folk group: Chaz & the Dazzlers, Intelligence Is Rising on Spotify

CONNECT WITH NICK:

Instagram: @flowercitybeeworks

#rochesterny #beekeeping #hyperlocalhoney #musictherapist #musictherapylife #musictherapists

Welcome to this joint podcast episode! This is part 1 (of 2) of my conversation with Dannielle Caldwell, content creator extraordinaire, co-host of MTPT (Music Till Proven Therapy) podcast, and the creator of the all-new NEW PROFESSIONAL RETREAT! The retreat is happening THIS Saturday, September 28th, and you can still register up until Friday. There are limited spaces, so make sure you register now!

In part 2, Dannielle shares all about the retreat and I share a special discount for all of you! Check out the second half of this episode here: www.musictherapynow.net/podcast and register for the retreat here: www.musictherapynow.net/newprofessionals

These episodes are great for all music therapists, not just new professionals, as we share our stories and glean wisdom from the steps we’ve taken. Hope you enjoy!

Connect with Dannielle here!

@mtptpod

@danniellemtbc

@musictherapynow_

@musictherapyednow

www.musictherapynow.net

Welcome to this joint podcast episode! You'll hear part 1 on the Able Voice Podcast with Hayley and Kim of Synergy Wellness.

Some topics from the episode: 

• Behind Not Your Average Music Therapist podcast

And the book I referenced, which I could not remember the name of, is Defining Music Therapy by Kenneth Bruscia.

Enjoy the episode!

Connect with the guests

Instagram: @synergymusictherapy, @ablevoicepodcast, @mtahayley, @mta.kimberly

Email: [email protected]

Website: synergymusictherapy.com

Facebook: facebook.com/synergymusictherapy

You're always welcome to send me a message at [email protected] OR connect on Instagram: @kimberlyjanebest, @musiccanhelp, @nymusictherapy, @musictherapistpod

P.S. it's beanie season!!! You can find them here: kimbest.com/shop

About the guests: 

Hayley (she/her) is a certified music therapist, speaker, and author living in Bermuda! She is passionate about lots of things including accessibility, anti-oppressive practice, and finds her clinical passion in working with older adults (e.g. dementia care and end-of-life care) and in neurologic rehabilitation.

Kim (she/her) is a certified music therapist and singer-songwriter based in Kingston, Ontario. She works with many people, but her main area of focus is within the realm of mental health care, supporting people of all ages in living a fulfilled and healthy life.

Together, Kim and Hayley, are the co-founders of Synergy Music Therapy & Wellness services which is the umbrella hub for a number of passion projects including the Able Voice Podcast. Under the Synergy MT brand, Hayley and Kim offer music therapy sessions with a team spanning across Canada and Bermuda, have released sticker collections, and most recently introducing their new Synergy Soirée series of events. 

This episode is real, raw, and oh so honest. Many of us have had less-than-ideal experiences working for other music therapists, and we’re here to spill the tea. Please know that these are our personal experiences, thoughts, and perspectives. I truly hope there are music therapy businesses out there doing things differently, but for now we will open the conversation up so that maybe, just maybe another music therapist won’t go through what we’ve each been through.

Just a note, this episode was recorded in 2023. 

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Head over to kimbest.substack.com to share your thoughts and see what other people are saying about this episode!

>>>>>>Take a look at the Survey Results<<<<<<

Notes from the episode ⬇️

Links:

• Shannon’s podcast, Casually Green on Spotify

Topics from the episode:

• What are the worst things you went through in music therapy jobs?

Advice for new professionals:

• Sense of self outside of music therapy

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Connect with the guests in this episode!

Jules Joyce

Pronouns: she/they

FB: Juliana Rose

Instagram: @_jujujules11

Cheyenna Eagle

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Email: [email protected]

FB: Cheya-Rain Eagle

Instagram: @cheyarain

Shannon Ogden

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Instagram: @shannon_mtbc

If you’d like to share your story, email [email protected].

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If you’d like to join the “pod” that supports this podcast, go to patreon.com/kimbest.

And here are some extra links for you:

kimbest.com for resources and added support for music therapists

Instagram: @kimberlyjanebest, @musiccanhelp, @nymusictherapy, @musictherapistpod

I recorded this in April, right after World Music Therapy week. So, enjoy all things music therapy in this episode!

Here are some of the topics discussed.

-using flute in music therapy sessions

-adults with dementia using jumbo guitar picks

-QUESTION: “I really love the field of music therapy, but I’m not sure if I’m going to be a good music therapist. Any advice?”

-QUESTION: “mt intern here! do you recommend being a contract MT or being hired by a facility and why?”

-QUESTION: “What is one thing you like about yourself?”

-QUESTION: “How did you decide to become a music therapist?”

Send in your own anonymous question: https://ngl.link/kimberlyjanebest1

Check out Patreon: patreon.com/kimbest

Read some creative writing: kimbest.substack.com

Kim on Instagram: instagram.com/kimberlyjanebest