Contrary to what those of you who read this blog may think, I have actually not dropped off the face of the earth. Up to this point I’ve been updating once a week-ish. My best explanation as to why I’ve hesitated this time is because at the end of my last entry I wrote that I wanted to have something real to report in my next entry. Well, unfortunately nothing has really evolved since I last wrote. In truth, this is part of why Key of G exists. To hold me accountable, and put things in perspective. It has been over a month, and I haven’t really done anything to further my musical ambition. Nothing tangible, anyway.
Two things I need to get around to ASAP:
1. I have yet to find a vocal coach. It’s so important to me to find the right one, but I need to just find one soon. This needs to happen before any musical career of mine can.
2. I realize that I should also really learn how to play the guitar. I have my dad’s old guitar from the 70’s, but I need to fix the strings on it first.
In the meantime, besides going through the motions of the daily grind, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about My Future Career. I know I want it to involve music, at the very least. In my personal Utopia I’d be performing for a living, but as I’ve mentioned before, that is definitely risky business. It might never take off, and then where’s my career? Now, I’m not saying the solution is to not try at all, but I think it would be worthwhile and wise to invest some time pursuing some kind of degree that would insure a career involving music. Then I could still work on a business of my own, and go out for various auditions (I’m certainly not new to this), but if nothing ever comes of it, instead of having no profession, I’d at least have a music-related one.
Where am I going with this?
Music Therapy.
It’s a potential career that has recently peaked my interest. My research of this field is still in its early stages, but I can’t ignore how appropriate it seems for me. For those who may not be familiar with the field of music therapy, a brief description. I have put the following in quotes because they are not my words. They’re the words of Jodi Picoult, one of my favorite authors, as she describes the field in relation to her latest book, Sing You Home.
"Music Therapy is using music in a clinical setting in order to bring about a change in emotional, social, physical, or communicative health. It is like physical or occupational therapy – except music is the tool used to achieve the goal.
Every time you sing along to a happy song on a sunny day in the car, you’re using music therapy. After a breakup if you listen to the same sad song over and over, you’re using music therapy. During childbirth if you use music as a focal point – that’s music therapy.
Music can lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones and heart rate. Music has been proven to release the same chemicals in your brain that are released if have sex or use illegal drugs – namely, dopamine. Music shuts down the activity in the amygdala, the area of the brain and limbic system where negative emotions and anxiety reside.
Cochlear implant patients who don’t understand language use music to learn the patterns of speech – because music is easier to perceive than speech. Stroke patients who cannot speak sentences can sometimes access language through singing, since lyrics and music are stored in both sides of the brain. Listening to music helps the brain bypass the trauma or the part that isn’t working, and finds new connections between both sides of the brain – the left-side analytical part and the right-side emotional part.
So how IS music therapy done? Sometimes it means playing an instrument and singing to soothe a patient who is in hospice. Sometimes it means creating music with a client, to help them express their feelings. Sometimes it’s a way to connect with a client – like a kid with autism who won’t speak, but will complete a musical phrase.”
I don’t usually advertise this about myself, but at the beginning of my life there was about a 90% chance that I would not be able to walk, because of my pathologically low muscle tone. The first time it looked promising at all was when I was about 5 or 6 months old and I was apparently tapping my foot to the beat and rhythm of “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.” Somewhat unusual musical awareness for an infant, and thus began the next 5 years of physical therapy, incorporating music to improve my cognitive responses…and the rest is history. I like to think music is largely responsible for my ability to walk today.
So becoming a music therapist seems insanely appropriate given my history. However, although it’s a musical field, when I think about actually performing for a living, musical therapy kind of pales in comparison. It’s like being in the Ice Capades when what you really dream about is winning a gold medal in the Olympics. Sure, music therapy sounds like a fulfilling career, certainly much better than my current job, but I can’t help wondering if I’d be settling. It seems like a great avenue to explore, but I don’t want to sell out.
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I just being ridiculous? Jeez, I hope I don’t sound too whiny here. Like I said in my first entry, any and all comments, thoughts, criticisms, etc are more than welcome. I need all the insight I can get right now. Until next time, loyal readers:)
