Ready, Set, Improvise!

Adapting to change is an unavoidable part of our daily life. This can be recurring, but in most cases, it is unplanned and spontaneous. Improvisation plays a major role in supporting participants to understand and accept the random moments that occur in our day-to-day. Transferring this into a session, it becomes a creative activity of an immediate "in the moment" experience which should be encouraged and embraced on a regular basis.

In this episode, Soya talks about how improvisation has informed her approach to sessions, how it's transformed her outlook of music therapy to become more "in the moment"-based, and how you can include it in your own line of work.

For more information about music therapy, please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website:

https://www.austmta.org.au/about-us/what-is-mt/ 

Working Monday to Friday has long been the norm for many generations as part of our daily living. While we often centre our lifestyle around our work schedule, but recently it seems that working 5 days may be overrated. 

Many Nordic studies show that working only 4 days each week has significantly boosted an employee’s overall mental health, motivation, and wellbeing, in addition to improving their quality of work. Can it be applied within a music therapy context? Is it sustainable in the long run or how do I decide between a 4- or 5-day work week?

 Joining Soya is Catherine Vesic, a 2nd year RMT, who is currently adapting a 4-day work week to challenge the norms of working a typical “Monday to Friday”. She also praises its benefits of increasing her motivation to work while enjoying a work/social balance.

If you would like to contact Catherine for further information, you can email her at [email protected]

For more information about music therapy, please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website: https://www.austmta.org.au/about-us/what-is-mt/ 

Stress is a major factor that can have an impact on our ability to run sessions effectively for our clients. Furthermore, burnout becomes a subsequent result to stress that is ignored and dusted under the rug. So, how do we incorporate self-care into our workflow and implement it as part of our daily routine?

In this episode, Soya is joined by Erin Skinner, a fellow 2nd-year RMT and former colleague. Erin reflects on her new grad experience and how she has evolved her routine by putting her needs first. She also discusses about managing your own work ethics and expectations within a realistic point of view.

 For more information about music therapy, please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website: https://www.austmta.org.au/about-us/what-is-mt/ 

Finding a job as a music therapist is not always an easy feat. While the awareness of music therapy is increasing, it still has a long way to go to be a well-respected role amongst other allied health professions. But no matter how new or experienced we are to this profession; we can all contribute to the advocate for the value of music therapy.

In this episode, Soya discusses the reality of music therapy job listings and why they are difficult to come across. We’ll also touch on a few accessible ways that you can advocate from your end to spread the message of music therapy. Teamwork makes the dream work!


Want to collaborate on a newsletter with me and spread awareness of music therapy? Send me a direct email at [email protected], or visit my website at https://soyathippawalmusic.com.au

For more information about music therapy, please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website: https://www.austmta.org.au/about-us/what-is-mt/ 

It is no secret that COVID has had an immense effect on everyone, especially students and graduates. While it has also affected the continuation of work, some may call this period as an unintentional opportunity to improve their skillset or to reflect on their practice.

In this episode, Soya is joined by new graduate music therapists, Laura Elliott and Michelle How. They reflect on their journeys in becoming RMTs whilst studying the course in different states (NSW & VIC), and chat about the future of music therapy when it comes to telehealth and face-to-face sessions.

Oh, and they participate in "Are You Musical?", a quiz about all things music and music therapy - who will be the winner?


If you're interested in studying music therapy, it is currently offered at the following universities:

Western Sydney University - https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses/postgraduate/master-of-creative-music-therapy

University of Melbourne - https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/master-of-music-therapy/ 


For more information about music therapy, please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website: https://www.austmta.org.au/about-us/what-is-mt/

Your inner voice says “Nah” or “No way”, but your instinct wants to say “Sure, no worries” – sound familiar? When a request is asked of us, we are often compelled to say “yes” and resent this decision later. So, how do we say “no” without affecting the relationship with your client, clients’ family or even your boss?

In this episode, Soya explores why saying “no” is important for an RMT to do their job right, shares her own experiences on why saying "yes" isn't always the best response, and the strategies that you can use to support your own workflow.

You can find “The Power of A Positive No” by William Ury at the following retailers:
Amazon AU - https://www.amazon.com.au/Power-Positive-No-William-Ury/dp/0340923806/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+power+of+positive+no&qid=1632116776&sr=8-2

Booktopia - https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-power-of-a-positive-no-william-ury/book/9780553384260.html

For more information about music therapy, please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website:
https://www.austmta.org.au/about-us/what-is-mt/ 

Ever wondered what music therapy really is and why we should we care about it? And what does the near future look like post-pandemic?

In this episode, Soya discusses what this profession is with a glimpse of being a 2nd-year music therapist, and touches on the future of music therapy after being affected by COVID.

For more information about music therapy, please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website:
https://www.austmta.org.au/about-us/what-is-mt/