Creating Rhythm in the Smart Age

This is a fitting post (in many ways) to coincide with the 25th birthday of the World Wide Web.

The internet has given us the opportunity to easily connect with just about anyone in the world.

Kat Fulton is a music therapist who has led the way in integrating technology and marketing within the field. I had the idea for this article after seeing the great movie "Her." I took a shot and emailed Kat with the idea (I had nothing to lose). She thought it would resonate with her readers and just like that, it's published. Check it out at the link below!

Creating Rhythm in the Smart Age

I was rejected last week.

Credit: http://www.omghub.com/

I was rejected last week.

I am human. 

I was disappointed, disheartened, felt dismissed, and a few other words that start with "dis."

I think it's good to fully acknowledge and feel these natural feelings.

But after that, it becomes a choice in how to respond.

This is how I will respond—

I will realize that rejection is part of the bigger journey.

The amount of rejection and failure I experience is relative to the number of chances I take.

During my Beatwell Playshops, I encourage others to not only fail, but to FAIL BIG.

Without this vulnerability, we will rarely SUCCEED BIG. 

I am now even more motivated and committed to my mission.

Those who rejected me may one day come to regret it. 

And if they don't, that's okay too.

Creating New Worlds

When you create music, you create a new world.

Beatwell Playshop at Baltimore Lab School

I recently began joining a therapy group with two high schoolers. The "regular," weekly group therapy at school was not working out for the boys.

In this "Plan B" group, the school's therapist is expected to incorporate drumming, but has no prior experience.

This is where I come in.

Within minutes, I recognized a major dynamic between the two boys. They interact as bully and victim.

When engaged in a verbal context, one of the boys is downright cruel. 

However, the other has adapted by responding sarcastically, showing no chink in his armor.

The bully doesn't get the rise he's looking for, and the pursuit continues.

But when we all played music together for the first time, I felt a shift.

Credit: http://teacherscount.wordpress.com/tag/drumming/

Sure, their personality characteristics were still expressed—the bully took the driver's seat and we all went along for the ride.

But in this new world, the "bully" was now being supported.

We all worked as one team, expressing our individual voices while creating and continuously recreating one improvised world.

What a powerful metaphor!

Sometimes we get comfortable in our roles. Making music provides the space to explore new worlds, and thus a chance to explore new aspects of ourselves.

When I return to the group tomorrow, I plan to continue strengthening this more positive world of expression.

Where I'm Going—Update

Setting up the Intergenerational Beatwell Playshop

I'm excited and relieved to announce that I passed the National Counselor Exam last week! Once I pass a state law test I will become a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) in Maryland. This means I can provide supervised psychotherapy and counseling.

I'm eager to use these credentials and expanded opportunities to advocate for the healing properties of drumming and music-making!

Beatwell rolls on with 3 Playshops next Monday and Tuesday at the Owings Mills JCC. I look forward to sharing community building drum circles with over 60 kids from kindergarten through 5th grade!

I have also begun providing consultation work at Sheppard Pratt's Hannah More School in Reisterstown, MD. The school has a great supply of drums and percussion and a full time therapist who is passionate about incorporating music-making into her sessions, but lacks experience. I've been having a great time helping her and the students explore the therapeutic benefits of drumming.

Until next time, I hope you have a joyful and healthy holiday!

Where I am, where I'm going.

I haven't been fulfilling my goal of posting here weekly. Just as habits are hard to break, they too are hard to form—sometimes, I suppose.

I have been busy though. Studying this 600+ page book:

On Thursday, I will take the National Counselor Exam, one of the final two steps to becoming a licensed counselor in Maryland. A state law exam follows.

With this credential (LGPC), I will continue my path to eventually providing mental health counseling services independently (as an LCPC).

These credentials will also help legitimize the drumming work I do within the field and the community.

No one's path is completely clear.

Often times the destination changes, and even more so the roads we take have unexpected turns, detours and dead ends.

But I have my path to create.

I haven't posted a blog every week, but I have been working towards my larger goals and destinations.

And I'm okay with that.

Drumming is Universal (A Personal Photo Stream)

A suggestion for Congress...

I'm sitting in my brother's Hollywood apartment—a city bursting with diversity.

It's often easy to pay more attention to the differences between us.

Drumming helps me recognize the similarities.

When we connect through making music, we are connecting through our humanity.

Senior Home in Baltimore County

Community festival in South Baltimore

I shared a Beatwell Playshop a couple mornings ago with two very diverse populations:

16 seniors and 16 kindergarteners.

The seniors became kids again.

For this week's post, I want to share pictures from my drumming journey showing that music-making is truly universal. Enjoy!

Preschoolers in West Baltimore

HealthRHYTHMS training in Ft. Lauderdale

Adult Mental Health Program

Drum Festival in Greenbelt, MD

Autism Residency and E-Book Announcement!

I took this picture minutes before my 18th and final Beatwell Playshop at The Auburn School in Lutherville, MD.

For nine weeks, I created and shared two weekly programs for the 26 students—one for elementary and one for the middle schoolers.

Although an Autism Spectrum diagnosis is not necessary for admittance, most of the students would meet criteria and be considered "high functioning."

This residency has been a creative high-point in my career. I have already been contacted by similar schools for consultation services!

I'm excited to announce that I plan to summarize this residency in an e-book that I will put up for free download. I will share tips for lesson planning and facilitating for this unique population. I will also go into detail about each of the nine programs and offer suggestions to help therapists and educators integrate the lessons and activities into their own work.