The CBMT Test

Yes if you are like me, when you hear those three words, you cringe a little inside.  I will admit here and now that I had a very hard time with this test!  For some people, it was probably totally fine and they were on the right track.  But for those of you like me that struggle with test taking, this blog is to help you if you haven't taken it yet!  Yes, I had major test anxiety.  I did the completely wrong thing and imagined it as the most important test I would ever take.  Of course in this time of my life, it was.  But unfortunately, I put way too much pressure on myself.  I seriously had anxiety for the entire test.  You know how you get really nervous for something and when you start it, it goes down or away?  That didn't happen to me.  I frankly felt sick for the whole three hours.  But in the end, everything was worth it because I finally received those coveted credentials, MT-BC!  I have to admit that I am extremely proud of myself for getting through it!  Below, I have gathered some advice and information that I think can help you with test anxiety and what to expect on the test.

Test Anxiety:

1.  Do not put too much pressure on yourself.  Just tell yourself, it's not the end of the world if I don't pass because I can just take it again.  Really, I needed to think this way to calm myself down.  Of course, you still want to try to pass the first time to spare some anxiety!

2.  Sleep, sleep, sleep!  I cannot tell you how much this helped me the night before!  I really thought that I wouldn't be able to do it but I slept beautifully for 7 hours.  I cleared my mind before bed and tried not to think about the next day.  Somehow it worked!

3.  Take deep breaths.  While I was taking the test, I kept feeling those butterflies slide back into my stomach.  I took several deep breaths to calm myself. (If you are a spiritual person, take a verse that helps you during tough times and repeat it to yourself in your mind when you start getting anxious.  Isaiah 41:10 is a really great one.)

4.  Eat a healthy breakfast!  Even if it is small, make sure you eat breakfast, especially if your test is in the morning.  This helped my stomach not to bother and distract me during those three hours.  I, also, brought a little granola bar with me and set outside on a table.  I didn't end up eating it but it was a good option for a snack in case I got hungry.  Breakfast also helps to recharge your mind!

Exam Tips:

1.  Read very carefully.  On the practice exam and the real test, questions have a way of tricking you.  They sometimes might bring in extra details that aren't significant and sway you the wrong direction.  Make sure you pinpoint exactly what the question is asking.  Here is a sample question:

A 52-year old woman hospitalized for ovarian cancer requests music therapy to help her relax and sleep.  During the initial session conducted at bedtime, the patient shares her fears and life story before the use of any music intervention.  After validating the patient's feelings, the BEST direction for the music therapist to take is to:

A. discuss favorite songs important to the patient's life
B. improvise soft guitar music to help the patient go to sleep
C. compose a song together reflecting the patient's dosclosure
D. close the session and bring the patient's favorite music to follow-up visits

Within this question, I made the mistake of focusing on the patient story and validation of feelings.  But like the question said, she validated her feelings.  There is nothing else to go into.  The client requested music therapy to help her sleep so that is what the music therapist needs to do, help her sleep.  If you got B, you are on the right track!

2.  Always put the client first.  Don't just answer the question that shows how the therapist looks the best, answer with the client's well-being in mind.

3.  Read the Scope of Practice, Code of Ethics, and Code of Professional Practice.  I noticed on the real test, there were a couple questions that matched answers exactly to a list that I had studied in the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics.  The Scope of Practice goes through each topic found on the test and lists current information about each category.

4.  Brush up on your music theory.  There were a few questions regarding theory on the exam that required some extra thought.  You will be provided with scratch paper so make sure you use it for these questions!  Some questions hit on the modes (Aeolian, Ionian, etc.), secondary dominants, and transposing instruments.

5.  If you are still looking for extra help on the exam, purchase music therapy flashcards.  You can find these flashcards at http://www.flashcardsecrets.com/musictherapy/.  These flashcards separate the categories on the test and have stacks that you can study.  The answers on the back are in paragraph form rather than single sentence answers.  I would have liked to have shorter explanations but I do think they helped in the long run.

I really hope that this helped!  Good luck!  Please leave comments in the comment section if you have any other advice you would like to share!

Music Therapy in the Media

Recently, music therapy has been getting much attention in the media through Gabrielle Gifford's recovery at TIRR in Houston.  She showed a courageous effort as she allowed America to see her improvements and recovery.  Gabby showed a determination that we all should have.  I am so thankful that she showed music therapy in such a positive light.  On February 27, 2012, there was another showcase of music therapy on PBS Newshour.  This story highlighted how music therapy is used in the medical setting.  Take a look at this incredible story which goes into detail about what a music therapist does in this setting.

There's an app for that.....ABA Flashcards - Alphabet

This app is one of the staple apps that I use almost everyday during sessions.  Kindergarten.com has made some incredible flashcards.  This is one of my favorites because it has a specific picture for every letter of the alphabet.  For example, the first flashcard is A for Apple.  It has audible voices that say the letter, the picture, and cute little animations for reinforcement.  You have the option to turn off the voices to allow your clients to identify the letters.  One of my favorite parts about the latest update is that it has a check mark and an X to keep a tally of what your client has answered correctly and incorrectly.  At the end of the alphabet, you can hit the info button at the top to email the results to yourself showing the percentage your client achieved.  I sing a little tune for each flashcard as we go through the alphabet.

My lyrics are as simple as can be with an easy melody attached:

A is for Apple, Apple, Apple
A is for Apple: A, A, A.

I continue this repetition for each letter and picture until we get to the end.  When they need help identifying the name of a letter, I sing the alphabet song with them and stop on the letter just before the correct answer, allowing them to fill it in.  This usually works really well to help refresh their memory about what letter comes next.

Check out this app for a great addition to your app collection!!!

There's an app for that...Garageband

Garageband for iPad is an amazing app that every music therapist should have.  It is great for creating your own songs, songs with clients, or playing some awesome virtual instruments.  Above I have taken a picture of a song that I covered.  I layered several recordings of my voice a capella to create "May It Be" from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.  There are so many options.  I could have created background music by playing guitar, drums, or piano.  There are also different loops to choose from.  For this recording I decided to just use my voice.  I created the melody line at the top, the high background underneath, and the lower background at the bottom.  The two small recording were just some additions I made to make the voices last longer at the end.  It was a lot of fun creating this!  Below I have a video montage that I created for my husband for Valentine's Day.  He kept asking me to sing this song because he liked the way my voice fit.  So I gave it to him as a gift!  Click play below to here what Garageband helped me create.

Taking Turns with a Client

      So sorry for the long wait for my next blog post!  I have been transitioning into working and haven't found much time to blog.  Now that I have established more of routine, I am able to fit some time in the mornings to devote my time to blogging.  As I have started working with my new private clients, I have learned so much.  Every client is different and there is no universal instrument or song that they will all take to.  I have learned to throw my plan out the window sometimes and find what they need within that moment.  The funny thing is that the same client might need to work on something every week but then show another need that is of greater importance at the time.  So I am learning to become versatile and flexible.  It will definitely take some time to get there, but I feel more experienced already after just one month of work.  I can't wait to see where I am 6 months from now!

     So today I would like to share a video with you.  My client, Gaby, is so much fun to work with.  She surprises me everyday with her talents.  One of her goals is to work on taking turns, especially when she wants to do something and I am trying to work on something else.  She absolutely LOVES the iPad.  I throw it into our sessions every week as a reward for her hard work.  The video below is of us working on taking turns and working together.  She really surprised me with her responses and has a great rhythm that I didn't realize she had until now!  This makes me look forward to trying more advanced drum and rhythm activities with her!  And yes I received permission to post this video...just FYI. :)