Amy Thomas | Upstate Music Therapy Center LLC

Solitude: Peaceful or Lonely?

by Amy Thomas | Jan 3, 2021

When you think of solitude, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Perhaps a bubble bath without interruption, a cup of coffee and a good book, or a walk-in nature, all experienced completely alone because you chose to do so. Others may envision solitude as a quiet space with no sound, void of human connection. This latter description can create the opposite effect of what most people hope to achieve when engaging in solitude. Perhaps they do not like complete quiet or to be alone. Solitude has the potential to open a space where thinking occurs and if we are honest those thoughts can move to a deeper level than we are comfortable with or prepared for. “The moment that people are alone, even for a few seconds, they become anxious, they panic, they fidget, they reach for a device. Just think of people at a checkout line or at a red light,” Turkle a psychologist and cultural analyst says in her TED Talk “Connected, But Alone?” “Being alone feels like a problem that needs to be solved. And so, people try to solve it by connecting. But here, connection is more like a symptom than a cure.”

Some might confuse solitude with loneliness. The difference is that solitude is a fact that you are alone. Loneliness however is a negative response to solitude. It is a denial of wanting solitude so in response perseverating on being on your own rather than embracing the opportunity. Of course, there are times when we did not seek solitude but due to circumstances out of our control, it found us. With the COVID19 pandemic, people throughout the world experienced social distancing mandates by health departments and governments to reduce the spread of the virus. March 2020 rolled in with rapid and unexpected changes. Social settings like restaurants, coffee shops, and stores were closed and social gatherings in homes discouraged. Solitude crept quickly in, yet labeled with the title of loneliness.

How can we move forward and accept solitude as a gift in times like we are currently experiencing? Perhaps it begins with accepting these three truths.

1) Solitude when entered by choice has immense therapeutic benefits.

Over the years I have spoken with people who live extremely busy lives, not because they enjoy the level of activity, but instead because of circumstances. Many of these individuals crave solitude. They look forward to unplugging and carving out time alone to do the things they enjoy and that helps them to feel refreshed. They understand the therapeutic value. It decreases their stress. It allows them to think more clearly. It improves their creativity. It feeds their soul. With many children learning remotely due to the current pandemic, families are having to be intentional to find ways that they can each have periods of solitude to keep all family members as emotionally balanced as possible.

2) Solitude can be positive even when it comes unexpectedly.

The recent pandemic has thrown many people into spaces where they feel isolated. The health restrictions and stay at home policies have created an unpleasant experience for many, especially as we entered the holidays this past year. The limited number of people allowed to gather has caused families to avoid their traditional Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s celebrations. While some are experiencing gratitude for solitude, others are feeling loneliness and even despair with these unexpected shutdowns. The elderly, many of whom are not tech-savvy, have been cut off from their families. Singles who rely heavily on social events throughout their week are limited to digital communication, which as first seemed like a life preserver, now is not fulfilling their human need for face-to-face connections. This is hard, very hard, but there are ways to find gratitude for unexpected solitude. There is a switch we can flip to decrease loneliness. Here are a few ideas:

– Create a list of things you used to enjoy doing, things you currently enjoy, and things you are hoping to do in the future. Circle the ones that you can do as an individual activity.

– Use your five senses to be mindful of how the experience feels and in what way you are grateful for it. Add one or two of these activities to your daily schedule. Daily schedules keep us focused on things that are positive instead of resorting to feelings of loneliness.

– Within that schedule make sure to add in your social opportunities whether online or with one or two people so you also have that to look forward to.

3) Solitude can alert us to our need for support.

It’s very important that we do not ignore signs of depression and anxiety. An increased level of isolation can reveal and heighten the symptoms and cause individuals to not reach out to others. Sometimes our thoughts are heavier than we can process alone. Clinical depression is a state where you often cannot make yourself do what you want to do or enjoy. Concentration issues, crying, feeling hopeless, apathy, and irritability are other common symptoms. Severe anxiety can also surface. You may have trouble finishing a simple task, feel muscle tension, guilt, or changes in sleep or eating patterns. If this is the first time you have noticed these symptoms, or they are worse than you have experienced before, it is important to reach out or have someone you trust to reach out for you. There are mental health specialists who are available as well as your physician. If you need guidance or know someone who does, feel free to use the Contact Us link for support. A Licensed Therapist will get back to you.

As we enter 2021, we encourage you to reboot using the gift of solitude, learn to flip the switch from loneliness to creating spaces of gratitude, and seize the moment to reach out for support.

Happy New Year!

The post Solitude: Peaceful or Lonley? was first published on Upstate Music Therapy Center.

Book: The 12 Days of Christmas

by Amy Thomas | Dec 13, 2020

Blog post submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

When someone asks you about your favorite Christmas or holiday song, what is the first song that comes to mind? “Silent Night?” “O Little Town of Bethlehem?” “Winter Wonderland?” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?” If you were to ask me to pick my favorite Christmas song, I would not have said “12 Days of Christmas.” But that was until I picked up this beautiful storybook illustrated by Laurel Long.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an iconic and classic Christmas song that most everyone who celebrates Christmas knows word-for-word. When you sing the song paired with this beautifully illustrated storybook, your child will be enticed from the start! While experiencing this storybook with your younger child, you can work on a multitude of skills including: sequencing, number and animal identification, and vocabulary building. If you have an older child, feel free to work on more complex skills such as addition, comprehension, and abstract thinking. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind:

Sequencing & number identification

This is a perfect storybook to work on your child’s ability to sequence items in a story. Printed pictures from the internet of each of the different items in the song can be used to work with your child on sequencing. Have them identify the picture that goes with each part of the song. You can also encourage your child to count the items in a picture and identify the corresponding number by pointing or writing the number on an index card or piece of paper.

Vocabulary building & animal identification

There are a lot of different animals included in this classic song. If there is an animal that your child does not recognize or can not identify, make that a learning opportunity! Look up pictures of the animal on the internet, look up the word in a dictionary, discuss how it is similar and different from other animals in the story. While identifying these animals, your child will also be building their vocabulary.

Addition

If your child is an older child, you can encourage them to add up the items on each page. Each line of the song involves a different number, so cumulative addition as the story progresses is a great way to practice their math skills!

Comprehension and abstract thought

An older child can also be encouraged to answer a variety of questions during the story: Why are there only 5 golden rings? How do the 8 maids milk the cows? What kind of music do the 9 ladies dance to? These questions can not be answered by the song in the story, so it will require your child to “think outside of the box.”

If you are more comfortable using a recording while experiencing this book with a child, here is a favorite rendition of mine performed by the famous Bing Crosby:

We hope you enjoy using this storybook in your child’s schooling adventures, whether they be attending in-person, remotely, or both!

If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, click here.

Happy reading!

The History of Music Therapy

by Amy Thomas | Dec 6, 2020

It is known that music, be it through rhythm or singing, developed in early human societies well before language. Evolutionary musicologists hypothesize that it acts not only as a form of communication, but also fosters social connection and comradery in their community. Hundreds of years later, we find that same comradery through making music together in bands and choirs, or sharing musical experiences at live concerts.

Consider the role music plays in child development. Mothers have always sung to their babies—it’s an innate thing to do. Evidence shows this behavior is significant in the development of the child’s linguistic skills. Now backed up by evidence-based research, the music therapy profession was literally centuries in the making.

Music Therapy’s Early Days

Early evidence of music being used therapeutically echoes throughout the ages. Below are some examples that show just how far back the roots of the practice go, and how they evolved into the 20th century:

Plato said music is essential in forming one’s personality.
In his writings, Aristotle emphasized the ability for music to release individuals from negative emotions.
In 1560 Constantinople, where the first psychiatric hospitals were developed, music was used in the treatment of patients.
In 1789, an article was published in Columbian Magazine titled “Music Physically Considered”. This was the first publication to suggest music as a strategy to achieve medical goals.
After World War 1 and WWII, community musicians traveled to Veterans’ hospitals to offer relief from the physical and psychological pain soldiers were suffering from.
The earliest music therapy associations were formed by women. The first was founded in 1903 by Eva Augusta Vescelius (the National Society of Musical Therapeutics), a second in 1926 by Isa Maud (the National Association for Music in Hospitals), and in 1941 by Harriett Ayer Seymour (the National Foundation for Music Therapy).

Early Professional Organizations

As music therapy evolved into a profession, it became necessary to create laws, guidelines, and universal standards for practicing therapists. In 1950 the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) was founded with only a few dozen professionals involved. The founding of NAMT was a significant milestone in many ways. It unified the profession under an umbrella of practices, and led to the development of the first board certification program. In 1971, The American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT) followed as a second organization known for publishing research in its journal Music Therapy.

The American Music Therapy Association was formed in 1998 and combined NAMT and AAMT. As stated on the AMTA website: The mission of the American Music Therapy Association is to advance public knowledge of the benefits of music therapy and to increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world.

An Ever-Changing Field

Music therapists value research and evidence-based practice. Our understanding of music therapy is constantly evolving, as science and medicine discover more and more about the way music interacts with the human brain. Unlike the community musicians of the early 20th century, professionals today must achieve a myriad of competencies, maintain board certification, and sustain continuing education hours throughout their professional years.

Regardless of how the music therapy profession has changed, the same truths ring true as the early days of its conception: Music is a powerful tool. It can be used to assist in learning, as well as medically and psychologically – a truth that’s proven time and time again throughout our history books.

Works Cited

Dobrzynska, E., Cesarz, H., Rymaszewska, J., & Kiejna, A. (2006). Music therapy–History, definitions and application. Arch Psychiatry Psychotherapy, 8, 47-52.

History of Music Therapy. (2020). Retrieved December 3, 2020, from https://www.musictherapy.org/about/history/

Thompson, W. F. (2015). Music, thought, and feeling: Understanding the psychology of music. Oxford university press.

Blog post written by Katie Pistilli, MT-BC

Jazz Music Cocktail: A Healthy Recipe for the Season

by Amy Thomas | Nov 29, 2020

Do you think these legendary jazz musicians – Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker or Miles Davis – could have ever imagined the impact their music would have on a person’s mind, body and soul?

Jazz music developed in the United States in the very early part of the 20th century. New Orleans, near the mouth of the Mississippi River, played a key role in this development. African American musical traditions mixed with others caused jazz to emerge into a blend of ragtime, marches, blues, and other kinds of music.

This passionately played and written music isn’t just pleasing to the ear, there are health benefits associated with specific jazz styles. The benefits are wide-ranging, but for this blog we have chosen to focus on jazz’s power to relax us, regulate blood pressure, and increase successful sleep patterns.

Join us as we mix up a jazz music cocktail. We suggest this cocktail for stress reduction as we enter the holidays. Our recipe or one you choose to create, when listened to regularly, is sure to provide you with a happy and healthier holiday season.

Ingredient #1 Better Mood: Studies show after listening to jazz music for an hour every day for a week, listeners experience 25% less depression than non-listeners.

Begin the Beguine

by Beegie Adair

Ingredient #2 Better Regulated Blood Pressure: According to studies, music (including jazz) and laughter can lower blood pressure by causing blood vessels to expand by up to 30%.

Alone

by Kenny G

Ingredient #3 Better Sleep: Studies show that just 45 min of soft, slow music (60-80 BPM) like jazz, before bedtime results in better and longer night-time sleep which allows for more productivity during the day.

Unspoken

by Chuck Loeb

With so many styles of jazz music to choose from, the options are endless. Create your own recipe by using a mix of ragtime, smooth jazz, big band, jazz-funk, or cool jazz. Whatever you choose, studies confirm that you are making a heart and mind healthy choice.

Here is a fun fact. A study conducted by Dorothy Retallack in 1973 played music to plants for two weeks. Plants “listening” to classical and jazz music physically leaned 15 to 20 degrees toward the radio. Plants even sense the importance of leaning in and appreciating the joy of jazz.

Cheers to you, as you mix your own special jazz cocktail this holiday season!

Book: One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims

by Amy Thomas | Nov 15, 2020

Blog post by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

Song performed and recorded by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

It’s that time of year where families are supposed to be gathering together at table, sharing food and laughter, and relaxing within the company of loved ones. For most of us, Thanksgiving celebrations will look very different this holiday season thanks to COVID-19. Families are being told it’s better to see only those in their immediate household. Large gatherings of people who do not live in the same household are frowned upon. For adults and children alike, these changes can be hard to digest. Young children may not understand what is going on in the world, but One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy will allow your child to focus on the meaning behind Thanksgiving and to be thankful for everything in their lives.

This particular storybook is geared more towards young children. It is a piggy-back song to the well-known tune of “One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians.” Your child can engage in practicing a variety of skills such as counting, building vocabulary, and answering questions. While reading or singing this song to your child, here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

Practice counting numbers 1-10

There are many chances in this storybook for your child to practice counting from 1-10. It also gives them a chance to work on number sense by pointing to a different pilgrim, Wampanoag, or turkey while counting.

Build your child’s vocabulary

There are a variety of animals, vegetables, and tools presented in the colorful illustrations by Lynne Cravath. Encourage your child to identify different items throughout the book by pointing to them or saying the words out loud. This allows your child an opportunity to build on their speech production as well as to build their vocabulary.

Answer questions

Don’t be afraid to ask your child questions about anything in the storybook: How many pilgrims do you see? What are the Wampanoag doing now? Will they come together to give thanks for all they have? Young children may not be able to answer abstract questions, but encourage them to think outside of the box.

One of our music therapists, Kayla Davitt, has performed and recorded this well-known tune. Feel free to play this recording for your child and sing along with the storybook.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims

We hope you enjoy using this storybook in your child’s schooling adventures, whether they be attending in-person, remotely, or both!

If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, click here.

Happy reading!

The post “Book: One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims” was originally published on Upstate Music Therapy Center,

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