I was so inspired by my recent conversation with Stephanie Leavell and I am sure you will be too! Listen to learn about Stephanie’s journey to music therapy, her process of intentional songwriting and how there are TWO music therapists in her family. Minute 35-literally blew my mind and I now dream of joining Stephanie’s band. Stephanie believes that music is a great communicator and she uses all elements of music to communicate. Her music has something for all children to engage with as she expresses the intention of the song using rhythm, lyrics, melody and instrumentation.
Stephanie is the creator of Music for Kiddos, a website that provides high-quality music and music resources for music therapists, music educators, and parents. She's mom to a spunky young daughter, a seasoned performer, an experienced music educator, and a board certified music therapist. Stephanie is a Berklee College of Music graduate and is passionate about using music to help kids succeed. She specializes in working with babies and kids through age 6.
Stephanie jokes that she has a low tolerance for cheesy music. She writes music to help kids be successful in their daily life: night-time routines, transitions, movement, instrument exploration, academic concepts, and helping kids understand and express their feelings. Music cannot be "prescribed", because the effectiveness of music is highly individualized, but this is a starting point... some tried and true music and resources that you might find helpful, too.
Learn more on her website and find links to all of her socials:
https://www.musicforkiddos.com/
Link to episode transcript.https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aA6ssJJiujvh6owM3qlq4dP3wp0K9XaQcK5bKtFJ8eU/edit?usp=sharing
This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda Henley. Amanda is a board certified music therapist, researcher and educator in the state of Indiana. She also serves as the Indiana Task Force for Music Therapy Advocacy Chair. Amanda and I sat down to talk about the music therapy and art therapy licensure protection bill that is up this legislative session. This is the closest they have been to passing this bill in years and the task force could us all of our help to reach out to local representatives to tell them about the importance of title protection for both therapists and those they serve. The information below will guide you through the process
A bit more about Amanda
Amanda Henley is a native Hoosier, married to her music loving husband Jason, mom of twins, and in her 21st year as a board certified music therapist. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The Florida State University. Amanda worked in educational and community settings to support children and adults with disabilities. She also worked as a Research Associate at Indiana University coordinating and overseeing music therapy research in pediatric cancer. Currently, Amanda is a visiting lecturer at the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Music and Arts Technology Program.
Call to Action
Please help build awareness and support for SB 338 – Music Therapy Licensure! Our bill has passed out of the Senate and is headed to a House committee. We have three steps left! 1) Passing the bill out of committee, 2) Passing the bill out of the House, and 3) Signature by the governor. Please help us contact as many House representatives as possible during the month of March!
Sample letter to a legislator from a music therapist
Sample letter to a legislator from a related professional
Unsure who your legislators are? Go to Find your Legislator - Indiana General Assembly, 2023 Session
On this months episode, Caitlin sits down with songwriter and therapist, Monica Metzler. Conversation centers on grief, songwriting and all the magic in between.
Forest Veil is the solo work of Portland, Oregon multi-instrumentalist/producer Monica Metzler. Following the echoes of her elusive muse, Forest Veil makes mystical psych-folk that maps the emotional terrain of humanity and its place in the cosmos. Melding a voice that sounds like smokey quartz with psychedelic guitar riffs and enigmatic lyricism, Forest Veil’s sound evokes a haunting nostalgia for other worlds. Though she primarily writes on her own, Forest Veil records and performs with others. An avid guitarist for over 20 years, Forest Veil's music showcases virtuosic guitar shredding and dynamic musicality. Forest Veil's music has been placed in Coach ads, movies, and TV shows such as Blacklist.
Ritual Light, the newest EP from Forest Veil, was released on July 28, 2022 on Spirit House Records. The track “Phoenix” on Ritual Light, is written for Ian Mouser, who founded My Voice Music 13 years ago. Mouser, Metzler’s mentor, boss and friend, was tragically hit by a car while biking across the US in October 2021. Through his work with My Voice Music, Ian Mouser inspired thousands of youth to create, write original songs, and release them. Metzler wrote “Phoenix”, in his honor, and to give voice to her own pain and grief. She continues to inspire youth, who are experiencing trauma and living in the margins, to alchemize their pain and emotional experiences, into music and expression.
My voice Music https://myvoicemusic.org/
Let’s write a song for Ian: https://myvoicemusic.bandcamp.com/album/lets-write-a-song-for-ian
Forest Veil music links https://www.forestveil.com/music
email: ckrater@iu.edu for more information and to request a copy of a transcript of this episode.
On today’s episode we are going to explore the role of music listening in the experience of pleasure. Does music increase our ability to feel pleasure? And if so, how does it work?
You've got that right-we are talking music and sex!
I am working to make the transcripts of episodes more accessible but unfortunately for now if you email me I can get you that document! Thank you so much for understanding! musicalhealththepod@gmail.com
Resources:
Belfi, A. M., Loui, P. (2020). Musical anhedonia and rewards of music listening: Current advances and a proposed model. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1464, 99–114.
Gold, B.P., et al. (2019) Predictability and uncertainty in the pleasure of music: a reward for learning?. JNeurosci.
Huron DB. (2006), Sweet anticipation: Music and the psychology of expectation. MIT press.
Salimpoor, V.N., D.H. Zald, R.J. Zatorre,et al. 2015. Predictions and the brain: how musical sounds become rewarding. Trends Cogn. Sci.19:86–91.
Zatorre, R.J. (2018). Why do we love music? Cerebrum 2018: pii: cer-16-18.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-72772-3.pdf
https://www.elitedaily.com/p/listening-to-music-during-sex-has-these-3-effects-on-your-body-brain-8563332
On today's episode we explore what road rage is and discuss the implications of music on our driving behavior. Full transcription of this episode available by emailing: musicalhealththepod@gmail.com
Upcoming Conference Presentations
https://registration.contio.fi/jyu/Registration/Login?id=2124-KONG_MUTKU-1748
https://www.glr-amta.org/conference-overview/institutes/
Resources
https://eps.edu.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/publications/ahn-scaled.pdf
Millet, B., Ahn, S. & Chattah, J.(2019) The Impact of music on vehicular performance: A meta-analysis. Transportation Research Part F (60), 743-760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2018.10.007
Navarro, J., Osiurak, F. & Reynaud, E. (2018) Does the Tempo of Music Impact Human Behavior Behind the Wheel? Human Factors and Ergonomics. 60 (4), 556-574. DOI: 10.1177/00187208187609901
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22664690/
Ünal AB, Steg L, Epstude K. The influence of music on mental effort and driving performance. Accid Anal Prev. 2012 Sep;48:271-8. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.01.022. Epub 2012 Feb 23. PMID: 22664690.
Cook, T., Roy, A. R. K., & Welker, K. M. (2019). Music as an emotion regulation strategy: An examination of genres of music and their roles in emotion regulation. Psychology of Music, 47(1), 144–154. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735617734627
Join Caitlin as she explores how rhythm can help our bodies feel less stressed. Did you know that our brains can sync up with rhythms?! This episode reviews the current evidence on use of rhythm to reduce stress and explores the implications of rhythm in our lives.
Full transcript of this episode is available, please e-mail: musicalhealththepod@gmail.com
Join our community on facebook and instagram to get the latest updates about the podcast. Please like, review and subscribe if this is a podcast you love!
Resources for today’s episode are below.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3734071/pdf/pone.0070156.pdf
https://news.stanford.edu/news/2006/may31/brainwave-053106.html
https://psychcentral.com/stress/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress#summary
4. Nyklicek I, Thayer JF, Van Doornen LJP (1997) Cardiorespiratory differentiation of musically induced emotions. J Psychophysiol 11: 304-321.
5. Khalfa S, Bella SD, Roy M, Peretz I, Lupien SJ (2003) Effects of relaxing music on salivary cortisol level after psychological stress. Ann N Y Acad Sci 999: 374-376. doi:10.1196/annals.1284.045. PubMed: 14681158.
6. Nater UM, Abbruzzese E, Krebs M, Ehlert U (2006) Sex differences in emotional and psychophysiological responses to musical stimuli. Int J Psychophysiol 62: 300-308. doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2006.05.011. PubMed: 16828911.
7. Burns JL, Labbé E, Williams K, McCall J (1999) Perceived and physiological indicators of relaxation: as different as Mozart and Alice in chains. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 24: 197-202. doi:10.1023/A: 1023488614364. PubMed: 10652638.
8. Blood AJ, Zatorre RJ (2001) Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98: 11818-11823. doi:10.1073/pnas. 191355898. PubMed: 11573015.
9. Juslin PN, Sloboda J (2010) Handbook of music and emotion. USA: Oxford University Press.
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/003497.html
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J184v08n04_03
Fitmind.co
In episode 34, Caitlin sits down with clinical research specialist and music therapist, Jessica MacLean to gain insight into the world of music and auditory science. Have you considered the implications of music in auditory processing and speech? The interplay of the two are complex, and Jessica does a great job of explaining using her background in research and working in an auditory neuroscience lab. She describes cochlear implants and the use of music to distinguish sounds, dives into the unique role that rhythm plays in hearing and speech and shares her personal experience with tinnitus (which you will hear me struggle to pronounce). She describes what to look for in patients who are at risk for sound sensitivity- and a startling rich discussion about the triangle-you are going to want to tune in for that discussion!
We hope you enjoy this episode of musical health!
Jessica MacLean, MM, MT-BC is a clinical research specialist at the Indiana University School of Nursing. She acts as core project manager for the BIO-MUSE Study (@sherirobbteamresearch) investigating biological effects of an active music engagement intervention for children with cancer and their caregivers (R01NR019190). She received her Master’s in Music Therapy from the University of Miami, where she completed thesis research with children with hearing loss. Prior to her Master’s, Jessica worked as a research assistant for the Auditory Neuroscience Lab at Northwestern University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Violin and Neuroscience from Indiana University.”
Resources discussed in this episode:
Follow:
Sheri Robb research team Instagram: @sherirobbteamresearch
Twitter: @Robb_Research
Jessica Maclean, MM, MT-BC: @urbanfiddle on instagram and twitter
To request full transcript of this episode, please e-mail: musicalhealththepod@gmail.com
For full transcript of episode 33 please e-mail: musicalhealththepod@gmail.com
Today's episode covers some foundational elements of trauma informed care, an introduction to how trauma works in our brains and bodies and some implications for healthcare professionals.
This will be the only episode I can do this for so I am leaning into it. Have you heard of a golden birthday? Well this is our GOLDEN episode-meaning I am as old as this episode number.
So what does it mean to be golden? Gold is illuminating, sacred, durable; it is precious. It is almost universally associated with the Sun, or the highest stage in spiritual development. Gold also represents heart, love and blood
It sometimes feels like as a music therapist this is our calling. To be sacred, to be precious, to be durable.
That is a lot of pressure. Today I am going to talk about some of the things no one told me about being a music therapist and we are going also celebrate what makes us golden.
Transcripts always available upon request! Transcripts can be e-mailed within 24 hours of request.
Join special guest host Stephanie Epstein as she discusses the awesome collaboration between music therapy and physical therapy! This is sure to be a great episode.
Special guest: Chelsea Rodriguez, DPT
Join guest host Stephanie Epstein as she discusses the importance of actually talking openly and honestly about pay rates, how to negotiate higher pay and things to consider outside of base pay rate.
Stephanie is a board certified music therapist at Holtz Children's Hospital in Miami, Florida. She works with pediatric patients age birth-21 years of age on the Transplant/Surgical, Medical/Surgical, Pediatric Intensive Care, Hematology/Oncology, Adolescent, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Neonatal Intensive Care units. She is a member of PediPals (Pediatric Palliative Care) team and interdisciplinary burn team, practicum supervisor, internship director and department research advisor. In addition to her work at Holtz Children's, Stephanie serves at the President of Ukulele Kids Club Inc. Ukulele Kids Club Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for the mission of donating ukuleles to children's hospitals nationwide for music therapy programs.
For today's episode I had the chance to interview Toronto based music therapist and business owner, Miya Adout. Her company: Miya Music Therapy provides music therapy for people of all abilities. In the episode Miya talks about her company and a service that is near to her heart: senior mental health.
Website: www.miyamusictherapy.com
The Sunshine Link Website: www.thesunshinelink.com
Find them on Social Media:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/miyamusictherapy/
FB: www.facebook.com/miyamusictherapy
This Month Musical Health is shining a spotlight on music in mental health.
Ashley Scheufler is a senior music therapist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where she has been employed for almost 12 years. She works with a wide range of pediatric patients and specializes in chronic pain syndromes, cardiac, and pulmonary diagnoses. Ashley has participated in several research initiatives at her facility and served as a music intervener in studies funded by the NIH, COG, and the National Institutes of Nursing Research that focused on children undergoing treatment for cancer. Her latest research endeavor, “Comparing Three Music Therapy Interventions for Anxiety and Relaxation in Youth with Amplified Pain” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Music Therapy. This study examines the effects of three specific music therapy interventions on anxiety and relaxation levels in youth with chronic pain conditions. Ashley serves on multiple interdisciplinary treatment teams and other hospital-based work groups including the Psychosocial Division Research and Scholarly Work Council. Ashley is energized and inspirited by her husband and two children, and grounded by yoga and live music.
Link to her recent publication here: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thaa021
Learn more about the RAPS program at Children's Mercy: https://www.childrensmercy.org/departments-and-clinics/rehabilitation-for-amplified-pain-syndromes/
If you are a pediatric medical music therapist interested in joining a journal club please reach out: ckrater@iuhealth.org
This Month I will be covering topics on the use of music in pain. Today’s episode is covers some general information on how humans process and experiences pain and introduces some common uses of music to alleviate pain.
Link to session transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dd8JHt6X3wvC0HPy6U_2CX7bL58ypNcUjWpvqpOsK7M/edit?usp=sharing
On today’s episode I speak with Jenny Kaufman, music therapist on the Heart Center and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. We discuss what it is like for patients on the heart center and the music based interventions used in Jenny’s work with these patients.
Jenny is an accomplished music therapist with nearly 8 years of pediatric medical music therapy experience and advanced training in NICU music therapy as well as Neurologic Music Therapy.
All proceeds from the playing of this episode will be donated to https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/
Email: musicalhealththepod@gmail.com for full transcript.
February is designated as American Heart month and This week is Congenital Heart Defects Awareness week. CHD is the world’s most common birth defect, impacting 1.3 million infants every year world wide.
Today's episode highlights a music therapy study which focused on the use of a music intervention called entrainment and the impact of that intervention on the physiologic measures for infants in cardiac intensive care.
This month musical health will be donating proceeds to the children’s heart foundation which fund CHD research. All month the podcast will be covering topics related to heart health and music.
Copy and paste link to your browser for full study: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1repoiqjwCYTwf9dC39UFRXvTG9lD75MD/view?usp=sharing
Copy and paste link to your browser for the full transcript of the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11E5NDs_9XfyQe-6yO_Be86Tv-LSS7bFJGkmdAsoPk7A/edit?usp=sharing
Join me in this episode as we explore all things spiritual, chaplaincy and of course music! Featuring special guest Maggie La Rocque, M.Div
Maggie is a staff chaplain at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
This episode covers the topic of music and spirituality. This episode explores the definition of spirit and the multitude of ways and explores how we can cultivate our spirituality through music not only in ourselves but also those we work with.
Some resources used for today’s episode:
Aldridge, D. Music Therapy and spirituality: A transcendental understanding of suffering. Music Therapy Today, 2003
Barton M, Watson T. Inner Spirit: Investigating How Music Therapists’ Experiences of Their Spirituality May Be Relevant to Their Work. British Journal of Music Therapy. 2013;27(2):40-51. doi:10.1177/135945751302700204
Fitzpatrick, F. Why music part 9:Music and Spirituality, Huffington Post, 2013https://www.huffpost.com/entry/music-spirituality_b_3203309
Hilliard, R., The Effects of Music Therapy on the Quality and Length of Life of People Diagnosed with Terminal Cancer, Journal of Music Therapy, Volume 40, Issue 2, Summer 2003, Pages 113–137, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/40.2.113
Lipe, A. Beyond Therapy: Music, Spirituality, and Health in Human Experience: A Review of Literature, Journal of Music Therapy, Volume 39, Issue 3, Fall 2002, Pages 209–240, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/39.3.209
Moss, H. Music therapy, spirituality and transcendence. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 2019 https://ulir.ul.ie/bitstream/handle/10344/7267/Moss_2018_Music.pdf?sequence=2
Potvin, N., Argue, J. Theoretical Considerations of Spirit and Spirituality in Music Therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives, Volume 32, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 118–128, https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miu022