My intention for this episode is to jog our brains a bit to think more deeply about the music we hear each day. After recently reading the book Peak Mind, my mind has been wrapped around the importance of bringing our awareness to the mundane parts of our lives to evoke new brain pathways, strengthen old ones, and overall enhance our ability to experience our world and life.

Maggie sits down with Dr. Hiller to dive into understanding music-centered music therapy and how it is used in addiction and substance use therapy.

"Your heart continues to beat, even when it's breaking... Your heart continues to beat even when you feel joy. Your heart is strong and your heart can hold it all. "

“Home is where the heart is” - Ellisa sits down with music therapist Music Therapist, Brian Schreck, Behavioral Oncology, MA, MT-BC as he discusses his work with heartbeat music therapy and establishing a new music therapy modality, Amplified Cardiopulmonary Recordings (ACPR). His work with pediatric and adult end of life music therapy is not only deeply impactful, it is propelling the field of music therapy forward.

Learn about the science behind essential oils, how to use them for your wellness and considerations for use in your clinical practice.

“Meaningful music experiences"- Join us for a conversation with Rachelle Morgan, MA, MT-BC about music therapy and eldercare, business, and clinical inspiration for working with older adults.

We're celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month by learning about the history of a famous Jazz Standard as well as sharing some inspiration on how to use it in music therapy.

This is a beautiful story about a wave, crashing against a cliff. Focus on my voice, the movement of the wave and the details within the story. Can you feel the salty air? Take a deep breath..and listen to “The Wave”, by Liam O’Flaherty.

Ellisa and Maggie talk about their top tips and tricks for using guitar in their music therapy sessions. They share ideas on adapting the instrument for both themselves and their clients to create success and music when accomplishing both musical and non-music goals.

In this episode we will dig into how we can use music in the classroom. As it is Music in Schools Month we are rounding out this month looking at specific strategies for using music in the classroom. Not an educator? No problem, the strategies can be used in a therapeutic setting and in the home, too.

Join us butterflies, as we float along with this colorful, calming guided imagery.

"People have intrinsic value" - Ellisa sits down with Zoe Levine, LPMT, MT-BC to talk about her music therapy work in various school settings. Zoe uses foundational principles of Community Music Therapy and Critical Humanist approaches to inform their work and shares how to write goals that support the personhood of the student, first.

Ellisa shares a curated playlist with song (and intervention) inspiration for every kind of love!

As music therapists, we love a good themed session, don't’ we? The inspiration we find, the visual aids and props we get to use,  the playlists we start building in our head..It can be a lot of fun for us. But is it what our clients need? We’re going to share some clinical inspiration love and share not only ideas for Valentines theme interventions, but also ideas for covertly themed sessions and how to work around holidays.

Today is going to be a fun episode honoring National Kazoo Day on January 28th! We’re going to talk about different uses for wind instruments in music therapy and share some fun song ideas that support a kazoo solo….

When we practice slowed, deep breathing, we are slowing our heart rate- sending information to our vagus nerve and essentially communicating that we are safe. Those safety cues pump the brakes on our stress systems and the body is able to regulate via the ventral branch of the vagus nerve. The body needs these safety cues to function and access our social nervous system, so this breathing practice is one important tool for your nervous system.

It's November and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Ellisa and Kristin sit down to talk about how a practice of gratitude impacts your body and how to introduce a practice into your sessions, your work, and your life.

Join us for this interactive mindfulness activity- a creative arts take on the "breathing square" technique.

Around the dawn of the 1930’s, when sound was synchronized with celluloid of movie film, composers began to compose scores to match films, most of which was orchestral music from band composers. In 1951, the score for the film A Street Car Named Desire set the stage for Western, Original music compositions in film. Soon after-the song" “Oh, My Darling” was so successful that there was high demand for original music to be written for movies for both promotional purposes and to radio airtime.

On this week's wellness segment, find a cozy spot and join Ms. Elizabeth for a guided mediation moment for kids!