I haven't written in my Blog for about 2 weeks....Summer Family events took precedence, but now I have a few extra minutes and thought I would update the latest Harp info....
Last weekend I got an email from Howard, the Director at Sunrise Senior Living. I had played my Harp there for Gommie several weeks before and then I followed up with an Email, asking if Sunrise would like to have me come once a week to play for the Residents...a Paid Position. I hadn't heard anything for weeks, despite my attempts to contact him. So it was a wonderful surprise to hear from him and even more surprising to hear he wanted me 3 Days a week! He thought my Fees were too low, but I am feeling we can always address a raise in fees down the road. To me, the important thing is to get that other foot in the door........
So if the "other" foot is in the door...what door is the first foot in you might ask? From everything I've read in the Therapeutic Music World, the most difficult part of the Certification is looking for employment afterwards. It is difficult to even find a Hospital or Facility willing to host you for your Internship Hours. I read about Certified Clinical Therapy Musicians pounding on doors of Hospitals, Hospice and Assisted Living Facilities, trying to educate the Staff on the benefits of Therapeutic Music. Not only is the Course Work a huge time commitment, but as in any Course the cost is big...so what a downer if you can't find a place to give your Service.
I am so fortunate to be volunteering at AAMC a couple days a week and for AAMC to already have a Therapeutic Music Program in place. Not only do I have a place to do my extensive Internship Hours, but an offer of Employment when I complete the Certification. There is the location of my first foot....
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