The Music Therapy Show

My guest this week is Anita Louise Steele, Director of Music Therapy at Ohio University. Professor Steele was the creator and Director of Music Therapy as well as a practicing clinician at The Cleveland Music School Settlement from 1966 until 2003. In that position she managed a large department of music therapists and developed service contracts with schools, hospitals, treatment centers and nursing homes. She designed the community-based model for delivery of music therapy services and a community based training model for music therapy interns. In addition, Professor Steele was instrumental in the development of a music therapy degree program in the greater Cleveland area and was its first instructor.

"Bongo" Barry Bernstein, 55, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Wednesday, August 26, 2009. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Music Therapy. While a music therapy consultant for the Blue Valley School District he performed at libraries and schools around the region. Barry will be greatly missed. This show is dedicated to him and will feature percussion techniques that he taught.

Kimberly Sena Moore returns as my guest this week to talk about secondary trauma when working with people who have survived trauma. We'll also discuss self care for the therapist.

Scott F will be my guest today to talk about chip music, or 8-bit music.

Kalani is an internationally acclaimed percussionist, educator, and presenter. With over 30 years of professional experience in a variety of fields, Kalani’s work honors past traditions while expanding the fields of music education, music therapy, and wellness. Kalani began his professional career at the age of 15, playing for several local bands in the San Francisco Bay Area. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1982, he expanded on his work to include orchestral and world percussion genres. After graduating from Cal State University Northridge with a BA in Music, Kalani went on to co-produce music for a Vegas-style show, Night Magic. In 1988 Kalani worked with legendary drummer Max Roach to create the soundtrack for a Berkeley Repertory Theatre production of The Hairy Ape (Eugene O’Neil), eventually returning to LA to tour with Vic Damone in 1990. In 1991 Kalani was invited to tour with Multi-Platinum recording artist, Yanni, performing on the widely acclaimed “Live at the Acropolis” video, which sold over 7 million copies world-wide. Kalani has also toured nationally and internationally with Barry Manilow, Suzanne Cianni, Benise, and a host of other artists. Kalani can be heard on CDs and soundtracks for the Nature Company, Jim Hensen Records, Paramount Pictures, Sony Records, Tri-Star, Disney, Warner Brothers, and others. He has released three original music CD; Pangea, Insights, and Origins (the last with Kevin Winard and Mike Faue). http://www.kalanimusic.com/index.html

We're back after a two week break with Lisa Jackert and Robin Rio who developed Strength-based Improvisation. This is a new approach that offers non-threatening experiential opportunities aimed at personal exploration.

Join me this week with Kimberly Sena Moore, MM, NMT, MT-BC, the Director of Neurosong Music Therapy Services, Inc. (www.neurosong.com). She founded Neurosong (formerly KMS Music Therapy) in 2005, which now treats clients with trauma and attachment issues, neurologic disorders, and special needs. Kimberly has advanced training in Neurologic Music Therapy and uses a neuro-based approach in her clinical work.

My guest this week is Dr. Charles Gourgey. Charles (Carlos) Gourgey is a Board Certified Music Therapist and New York State Licensed Creative Arts Therapist with two decades of hospice experience. He has also worked in various nursing homes and published articles on psychology, disability, and religion, and is the author of the articles on his web site, MusicIsHope.org.

We can influence the music we hear and the messages we hear in our heads. Take a minute to pay attention to your soundscape. Do you hear traffic, or computer-buzzing? Are you listening to the news? Is it positive or negative? Are you listening to music? What are the messages in the music? Do they help you to feel good and stay positive or are they negative messages?

Choose music and messages that help create the life you want for yourself. Take a music bath-surrounding your senses with music that makes you feel wonderful! Create the attitude you want to have for yourself by listening to music that reinforces that attitude.

We all know that music makes us feel good and that it can help us relax. We also know that chronic stress causes blood vessels to become rigid and the risk for arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) increases as we age. But did you know that music can affect our cardiovascular system?

CNN posted an article recently about some research a cardiologist did with music. The story concludes that

- Music, like laughter, opens up blood vessels and produces protective chemicals

- Constricted vessels can lead to high blood pressure, increase heart attack risk

- Hospitals across the country use music therapy to help patients heal

This week I'll be discussing that article and talking about music therapy and cardiovascular health.

Check out the article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/11/music.heart/index.html#cnnSTCText