I have the best job in the world. My day is spent making people feel good while working on skills that can help them be more independent.  I am often asked what I do for a living. After a few quizzical looks from answering “music therapist” I respond by stating that I am a therapist who uses music to help people to speak better, move better, think better and socialize more appropriately. Then I will give examples to help bring it to life. Below is something I might say.

My work day starts right about 9:00 a.m. at a Drop-In Center for adults with developmental disabilities just down the street from my house where I work with one individual confined to a wheelchair with only one functional arm and some difficulties with his speech. We are using music to help him speak clearer with longer phrases than he usually does. He loves all music, but especially songs from the movie “Shrek” and songs from the 1950s-1960s so we try to use as much of that music as possible. The bottom line is that he is having fun and improving his skills at the same time.

After that I drive to a nursing home just down the street where I sing for an individual in hospice. This person greets me with a smile each time. She is younger compared to the other individuals at the facility, her favorite music is James Taylor. So I make sure to brighten her morning with a heavy dose of “Fire and Rain” and “You’ve Got a Friend”.

Following some office time used to plan upcoming sessions and document what has happened thus far in my day I head off to my next client. This is an individual with early-onset dementia who has lost his sight as well as his ability to speak more than one to two words at a time. He was also a singer and was active in a local Barbershop Chorus.  I sing several songs for him with my guitar. He sings along trying to get as many words as possible. I am careful to structure the setting to insure that he is as successful as possible. He will also play a percussion instrument like a drum, maracas or tambourine along with me on some of the songs.  He is never short of smiles and always brightens my day.

My next session is with a nine-year-old boy with Down Syndrome with autism and a sensory disorder.  I have been seeing this boy for several years so I know that music is the way into this boy’s world.  We are using the music to help him sing (and therefore speak) with longer strings of words, identify colors and shapes and count more consistently.  He is truly the highlight of my week and his enthusiasm is contagious. Sometimes he almost bounces up and down with excitement because he loves the music therapy sessions so much as I love to work with him.

Finally, I make my way over to a group home with eight individuals with developmental disabilities. This is a great way for me to finish my day as they seem to enjoy just about everything I bring them (how often does that happen?). Each

group member has a unique set of needs and preferences that I keep in mind as I try to get them all interacting appropriately while working on important life skills like listening and following directions.  The group members, the staff who help with the group members, and I all have a great time playing instruments, moving to music and experiencing music through multiple senses.

This is just an example of a day of mine. By the end I am exhausted, but it is a good exhaustion and a happy feeling that I have made a difference. It is really the best job in the world.