"Whatever you are doing today, matters." - Today is a special episode because it is a BONUS episode for the month of August. Today is also special because we are joined by special guest Tara McConnell, MT-BC. She is bringing us a message of encouragement, community and hope reflected not only in the music therapy work being done through Sophie's Place but also for music therapists everywhere.

Elizabeth sits down with music therapist and piano aficionado Harry Beckett to help listeners identify practical ways to improve their improvisation and jazz piano skills.

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.

"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.

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.