As I read the account of how Morva Croxson came into music therapy (See Voices, Columnist of the week: May 14-20, 2001), I could not help but reflect on my own journey as well as identify with parts of hers. I am an older music therapy equivalency student who is completing studies after 20+ years of performing and teaching. I have always been grateful to be in such a rewarding field that can touch people in so many ways.
Like the author, music was a relatively important part of my family life as I was growing up. I remember weekends of hearing the Beethoven symphonies as my father did work for his courses. My parents bought a piano when I was five and my brother started lessons. They did eventually let me begin lessons after much begging and trying to imitate my brother's lesson music. That was just the beginning of my life's journey with music.
Over the years, I've turned to music for pleasure, creativity, expression, comfort, and strength. My college degrees were in piano performance and piano pedagogy. During the years of my teaching as a Suzuki Method specialist, I've witnessed the lessons' effect on the behavior of the children and interactions of the child with both the parent and myself, the teacher. One of my greatest joys has been working with a student with Down's syndrome for at least 14 years. Seeing this child blossom into a fine young man over the years proved to me how effective the combination of small tasks, repetition, creativity, encouragement and enthusiasm can be both in the music lesson and in carrying over to other areas of life.
I also discovered a "missing link" through a specialized music therapy technique - the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. I connected on several levels with GIM and was introduced to it at a time in my life when I needed it. The GIM process brought a healing and deeper understanding and awareness of life and its many mysteries. Working on my certification in GIM led to a desire to study music therapy more in depth.
As luck would have it, I began to hear rumors of the University of Louisville making preparations to start a music therapy program - a dream come true right in the city where I live! I was in contact with the dean of the school for several years keeping track of the status of the program and also taking a few needed classes to prepare myself.
In the spring of 2000, it was confirmed the program would start in the fall. I immediately enrolled and officially began my music therapy studies in the fall of 2000. Every class and clinical experience gave more depth to my understanding the processes at work in music therapy. As I write this, I am finishing my coursework and will be entering my internship next year. It has been a very rewarding and demanding educational process that has brought a richness and variety to my musical path in life.
It was heartwarming to read Morva's account of her journey of coming into music therapy. I felt a connection with similar parts of my path and yet it was also different. I would love to read accounts from others in our international community and hope that this request will bring some responses. Identifying with the connections will help us see our unity.
Reading Morva Croxson's article, "How Does a Person Come to Music Therapy" raised many questions in my mind about the roots and pathways for becoming a Music Therapist. As a student at University of Louisville, I am not a Board Certified Music Therapist, but have already decided that my future in this field will continuously reflect the reason I was drawn to it in the first place- my brother.
Growing up in my household, music was not a very common subject matter and did not receive much attention. My family listened to music, but no more than the next. No one in my family had musical training, thus I was not musically involved like many of my peers. Living in eastern Kentucky, long known for its rich heritage in bluegrass music, I found this very ironic. While enrolled in the county high school I joined choir because I thought it would be an easy class, requiring little of my time. However, music enthralled my senses and gave me a feeling of pleasure that I had not known. It sparked something inside of me that was beyond words. I had seen how music affected me, but it was the observations I made from my brother that became the catalyst for being interested in Music Therapy.
Growing up with a brother who has a mental retardation with traits of autism is interesting because I have always accepted his disability and evolved from it. Looking back, there was never a moment that I wish I had what others termed as "a normal brother." People always asked what was wrong with him and I told them exactly what I thought: NOTHING! He sleeps, breathes, and lives life like all of us, thus my answer was valid.
As I made a high school career in music, Brent was always present at recitals, competitions, and community performances clapping, giving me support and sometimes standing ovations! His enthusiasm and support in what I was doing was such a pleasure to my family and me. It seemed as though Brent was living his creative sided through me. He enjoyed listening to me as much as I loved seeing him support me in everything I did. The relationship that developed with my brother through music was one that I knew could develop with others that had disabilities as well.
The choir teacher at my high school asked me what I wanted to do with music after I graduated. I simply said, "I want to perform" as did everyone else going into music. I wanted to be famous singer like Pavarotti! However, she mentioned an unknown field to me - Music Therapy. She told me that I should look into it because it uses music to heal. I had never thought of myself as a healer and researched the field online and in books. I couldn't believe that music had the powers to change so many things about people! This field required helping others through music and psychology, two subjects that I thoroughly enjoyed. After researching and getting to know the field better I got what many say as "their calling!" I knew I could relate to Music Therapy on a level that would benefit others with disabilities like my brother's.
As for me, the one person that led me to Music Therapy was a person who couldn't sing an aria or play a Mozart concerto but a person who has always heard music, just on a different level- my brother Brent.