Getting Down to (Music) Business

As we evaluate the courses Ohio CEUs shares, we strive to include expertise from professionals who aren’t limited to traditional healthcare roles. This is because the background and perspectives from other disciplines, without question, can enhance all departments. This month we launched a new course that uniquely ties the practice of music therapy with the skills of leadership. Kendra Carson, the author of that course, is a music therapist with years of experience in numerous settings. This interview gives an in-depth look at Kendra and her distinctive skill set. Additionally, the interview helps readers understand the value of such a specialized treatment as music therapy as well as the vital differences between music therapy and music entertainment.

An Interview with Kendra Carson, Music Therapist

Question 1: Can you share your background with us?

Kendra:

Educational Background

I grew up in Tyngsboro, MA, and took piano lessons from a young age through HS.  I attended Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH as a Psychology (Developmental Option) major and a minor in music. Very quickly I became immersed in the music department singing in the choir, joining an auditioned chamber singing choir, accompanying vocal majors, and teaching piano.  I added a BA Piano Performance degree while at Plymouth and finished with both degrees. While at Plymouth, I was encouraged to look beyond my time there and consider going on for a master’s degree.

Before my junior year, I hadn’t heard of music therapy.  When I discovered combining my love of helping people with my love of sharing music into music therapy, I knew I had to pursue this training.  I attended Lesley University’s 2-year 60 credit master’s program in Expressive Therapies with a certification in music therapy.  My training involved a year at a nursing home that met a wide variety of needs and levels of dementia.  I also completed a year of training at Perkins School for the Blind working with Deaf/Blind youth ages 12-22.

Work Experience

My work and life took me to numerous nursing homes where I developed a true love of music therapy and helping families and residents living with dementia.  The connecting music made for families and their loved ones as well as the resident’s memories was remarkable.  My most beloved work was working as a music therapist in conjunction with the hospice team, staff, and family.

Later, while wanting to begin working with children and music therapy again, I completed the training from Music Together to teach their caregiver/baby classes.  This training helped to bolster my repertoire and reconnected with children and parents through a shared music experience.  It was soon after that Carson Music Services was created, and I began my own private practice.  Since the creation of CMS, I have serviced the Dayton area with music therapy services and even expanded into teaching as adjunct for University of Dayton’s music therapy program.

Question 2: Talk about your interest in music and how you discovered music therapy.

Kendra:

I’ve always loved music and the feelings that music can create.  I experienced my most meaningful musical experiences while at Plymouth State University while singing in Chamber Singers.  This intimate 24 voice choir brought a music experience to me that is hard to duplicate; singing a range from Avo Part to Bach.  My music degree offered an opportunity to perform an hour long memorized piano program, which even in its success was a moment of revelation that sharing music with people was more rewarding for me than playing music to people.  My music therapy training offered a range of experiences with drum circles, bell choirs, arranging music to reach clients with a variety of disabilities and needs as well as developing a greater understanding of how music reaches people and influences therapeutic change for clients.

Question 3: What credentials are necessary to be a music therapist?

Kendra:

• Specific information and the pathways to become a music therapist can be found here.
• A music therapist with a completed degree from an approved program must complete the board certification exam and maintain those credentials every 5 years.  The program includes clinical application of skills by accredited supervisors at a variety of clinical settings.

Question 4: What are some of the settings you have served, and how are they different and similar?

Kendra:

Nursing homes hosted the majority of my early work.  These facilities ranged from residential facilities for independent seniors to facilities serving the needs of residents living with dementia in early to even late stage of the progression.  These facilities were in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Ohio.  In a nursing home, the music therapist role is a supportive function: supportive to the nursing, activities, social work and spiritual staff.  A similar need I found in all the settings is the families need to connect with their loved ones.

One group I am most proud of forming is my Family Music Making group. This group formed out organically out of the needs of numerous family members wanting to connect with their loved one but struggled with the barriers that late-stage dementia brings.  The family members brought their loved one into a group setting and there they shared important musical moments they recalled and how the music connected them to their family.  Families even offered their own music by playing the guitar and singing.  This unifying need to connect is not unique but universal.  Being a music therapist, I bear witness to these connections and act as the facilitator to their meaning and significance.

Question 5: What is the most important part of a music therapy session?

Kendra:

Personally, I find the greeting and parting moments to be so vital.  Having your client feel welcomed in the start of a session and then supported and validated and even thanked at the end is vital.

Question 6: In a nutshell, what is the difference between music therapy and music entertainment?

Kendra:  

Music therapy is a clinician bringing music into a clinical session to elicit a therapeutic change that focuses on a non-musical goal.  The client and the music therapist are engaged together in the receptive or recreative music.  Clinical decisions, direction, and choices are determined by the needs of the client in the moment of the session.

Music entertainment, on the other hand, is when a musician plays music to a person and where the performers own intentions drive the musical direction void of the listeners needs in the moment.

Question 7: How can a community or school incorporate some principles of music therapy into their daily life?

Kendra:

Music therapists often work with clients on goals related to social emotional wellness and interpersonal skills.  Communities and schools often promote social emotional learning (SEL) and social skills in their programs.  How students or clients respond to a group setting, such as a drum circle, song recreative experience, or group improvisation, is a wonderful stepping off point to address numerous social goals.  How clients respond to difficult music moments, or take on leadership, or quietly pull back, or support a peer are moments often seen in music therapy groups.

Question 8: What advice would you give to a new music therapist?

Kendra:

• Don’t feel like you need to know everything.
• Take care of yourself and provide the physical, emotional and spiritual support you need to fill your cup.
• Stand up for what you believe music therapy can be in your place of work.

Question 9: From your perspective and experience in a variety of communities, what opportunities do you see for staff members to utilize music and music therapy?

Kendra:

For nursing homes, I see staff members utilizing music in their everyday interactions with residents:

• During ADL’s playing a client’s preferred listening choices
• During ‘sundowning’ times, having a simple acoustic musical version of their client’s favorite songs
• Keeping a rhythm in their gait during transfers or gate endurance with their residents (a simple beat can help regulate a client’s gait).

For nursing homes, I see staff leaning on music therapists to enhance group cohesion and sense of community:

• Group music making
• Family music support
• Drum circles
• Modified bell choirs

For nursing homes, I see staff reaching out to a music therapist to offer support during hospice, times of restlessness and anxiety or during moments of pain or distress.

Tying it All Together

This is important (and interesting) insight into the experiences and recommendations from a seasoned music therapist. We extend our thanks to Kendra for sharing her time and resources with our community. Make sure to also check out our CEU course that Kendra created that goes along with this blog post, it ties the practice of music therapy together with the skills of leadership.

Kendra Carson – Music Therapist