The Value in Mentorship

Thursday morning, August 1, 2013....cloudy and rainy...my flowers and trees are so happy!

Yesterday I had my first meeting via Skype with my Mentor from the Course I am taking, Certified Clinical Musician.  When I was researching different Courses offered, both on line and locally, this is one of the reasons I chose Harp for Healing.  My Mentor is from Wyoming!

So we had the WORST Skype connection.  We got dropped about 30x's in 2 hrs...yep!  I believe it was her wifi...then her router battery died.....we had some good laughs over it but we were determined to reconnect so we could finish our business.  I suppose we could have just used the phone, but this really was way better, she was able to go to her Harp and answer some music theory questions I had regarding transitioning into different keys.  I was doing it one way, she showed me another pattern....I like my way better, lol, but I am grateful to have a new tool to try out...I think I will use them both.

I had a list of questions and we got to all of them.  I have a much better idea of where I am at in the Course and I am happy to say, I am right on target!  The Level 1 is 6 mo to a year to complete...I am hoping to be done in September....that will be 4 months from start to finish...then starts my Internship and Level 2.

Some of the things I asked her about were situations in the Infusion Center, Assisted Living and Private Clients.  She was awesome!  She had so many great suggestions on how to cover a large area like the Infusion Center and not be intrusive or disruptive.  One of the challenges I face when I am playing in the Assisted Living is that there are rarely Private Rooms.  Which means that your Patient may need one type of Therapeutic Music , but the roommate may require something totally different.  If both Patients are bedridden, there is not much to be done, other than to adjust your Therapeutic Music to a happy medium.  There are times when you will decide which Patient's needs are greatest that day, and work with them.

So I suggested if one Patient is mobile, via wheelchair, I could take them to a quiet area in the Facility...HA!  there are not many areas like that.  But my Mentor suggested the Chapel....of course....the Chapel....I love it!  Another area we touched on was the length of time each Session should be.  I have been doing 1 hr Sessions.  I feel that is long enough....bordering on too long.  So she agreed with that and suggested 30-45 min for the average Patient, less time if they are restless and more time, up to an hour, for the Patient that is engaged with the Music.

I was anxious to ask her how I was to approach a situation when someone is disrupting the Session, by chatting or taking phone calls in the room.  She was really straight forward on this one...."tell them politely to take their conversation out in the hallway".   OK then!  For the one/one...she suggested that the quieter the environment, the more benefits the Patient receive.  This is totally different in the Hospital Room setting where Staff and Family come and go constantly.  I don't think I will be asking the Doc to leave the room... :))))

I am so thrilled to have this Mentor at my disposal, I would recommend this Program to anyone that is interested in Therapeutic Music......I already have more questions!