PsychToday

[PsychToday] Can You Divorce Music from Communication?

March 7, 2013
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I heard a claim this week that has thrown me for a loop: Music therapists should not be allowed to work by themselves with individuals with communication disorders. Given that I am a board certified music therapist (and have been for 10 years), my reaction to this claim is likely stronger than most. Nonetheless, I […]

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[PsychToday] Listening to Music Ain’t a Simple Thing

February 14, 2013
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If you were one of the millions who watched the Superbowl halftime show last week, you likely had one of two reactions: You loved it. Or you hated it. You simply need to read the headlines to get a sense of the extreme reactions people had to her performance. Some called it electric and thrilling. […]

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[PsychToday] “Silent Night” Won’t Be the Same For Me

December 22, 2012

I don’t often cry when listening to music. Don’t get me wrong—music touches me deeply.  I get chills and experience a range of emotions. I dance when I turn on the new country station, my heart feels lighter as I sing along to holiday music, and I feel goosebumps when listening to Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto […]

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[PsychToday] Music for the Wounded Soldier

November 19, 2012
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A couple days ago, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Department of Defense announced the launch of a new music therapy program at Walter Reed Medical Center. Music therapy will be joining art therapy and creative writing as a treatment option for wounded military personnel and their families…

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[PsychToday] Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Music of Politics

November 8, 2012
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Even watching from my living room in Warrensburg MO, I could feel the electricity and the energy in the room. Flashing lights, yelling crowds, waving hands, American flags flying, smiles and cheers all around. President Obama and his family walking out on the blue-floored stage. He had just won the 2012 Presidential election and was […]

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[PsychToday] Which Came First: Music or Language?

September 20, 2012
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Which came first: language or music? Traditionally, music has been considered an evolutionary byproduct of language. Language, after all, is one of the few skills we have that makes us uniquely human. Thus it has the more important evolutionary role. Music is just “auditory cheesecake.” Unimportant. Pretty little fluff. A misunderstood byproduct.But this tradition is […]

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[PsychToday] The Perks of Taking a Shower

August 24, 2012
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Earlier this week I had the happy privilege to talk to a roomful of music therapy and music education students about creativity. I talked about why creativity matters—and not just musical creativity. For these students, creativity in its many forms can help their future students and clients, it’s critical for their professional longevity and success, […]

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[PsychToday] Intergenerational Music, Aging, and You: A Q&A with Dr. Melita Belgrave

August 1, 2012
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This post appeared on my Psychology Today blog a couple weeks ago, but it’s too good not to share with you as well! Happy reading… I am so excited to introduce you to Dr. Melita Belgrave! Dr. Belgrave is a music therapist, an author, a professor, a researcher, and an all—around bubbly and inspiring person […]

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