Music Therapy Clinician: Supporting reflective clinical practice Volume 1 | Page 38
reputations or who drew a really big
crowd. Um…and it was a big thrill
for my singers to get beyond their
usual home crowd of 40 or 50
people coming to see them at
Kardon to then, kind of, take that
performance and do a combined
number with a community choir
that was, you know, like, a hundred
and twenty singing members for an
audience of a couple thousand.
Roia: Mm-hm.
Christine: So, I think, from
that perspective, that might have
been the most beneficial inclusive
experience that they may have
experienced.
Roia: Mm-hm.
Christine: But, I think on a…I
think a lot of what was meaningful
about the group happened at the
practices…in the rehearsals where
people developed relationships with
each other. Um, and I think they
enjoyed the break where we
actually had snacks and a chance to
talk with each other, and we would
often
sort
of
stop
for
announcements, and, you know,
the sort of housekeeping things
that have to happen when you’re
managing a group, you know, with
a lot of people in it. But also we
would always leave time for people
to talk about things that they were
excited about. You know…good
things that were happening or to
ask the group to sort of help them
with, you know, something they
may have been concerned about.
And, you know, it was a beautiful
moment, in each rehearsal, where
someone would share something
personal, and that’s where I really
felt like we were a real community.
Roia: Mm-hm. Wow. Just wow.
Angela, you want to throw anything
in there?
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Angela:
Oh goodness. That
was good. Um…[Laughter] Just in
my experience that…sometimes
you have to go above and beyond
to reach out to families who have
children with special needs, siblings
that they might care for who have
special needs, to say, you know, it’s
okay. Come on out. I can help you.
How can I help you? What can I do
to make this easier for you to get
out of your house and get to this
event? Um, we just have to go
above and beyond and remind
them and assist in any way that we
can, and then once they’re there,
it’s usually beneficial for everyone
involved. But…just recognizing the
stressors that are involved for
caring…that may be involved, I
should say, for caring for an
individual with special needs. And I
don’t think it brings any extra
attention. I think it’s just…sort of
levels the playing field. Giving extra
support can help to level the
playing field among everyone
attending.
Roia:
Mm-hm. Yeah, and for
us…um…we…I guess…I guess,
again, [laughter] as I’m listening to
you guys, I’m thinking, wow, our
place is…we really had a hard time
involving the community in the
process, and, um…I’m not sure how
we could do it differently, if we
were even allowed to do it these
days. I think we’ve had a lot of
changes at our facility, and so doing
something of this sort is not as
supported as it used to be, which is
really unfortunate, because I
think…um…well, I think it really
speaks to just how isolating it is to
live in an institution, and…and how
that kind of a venue so doesn’t lend
itself to most inclusive experiences.
Um…so, I don’t know. I guess I
have to do some more thinking
about that whole experience, but,
um, I would say this: it certainly
meant something to the folks who
live at the developmental center,
because I still have people asking
me, are we ever going to have the
coffeehouse again? If we do, can I
help with it? And stuff like that. So,
at least it definitely meant
something to the folks who live
there, and the idea, I think, was a
good one. I think it also opened the
eyes of a lot of the folks who came
to perform to the fact that, um,
your audience can include a lot of
people, can include everyone. It’s,
um…you know, the places exist, the
people with disabilities exist,
and…and here is a group of people
who can also perform and take part
in music in a way that you also do.
Um, I guess, just in wrapping this
up, are there any last things that, I
guess, I didn’t ask that you would
have liked to have commented on
or anything, just, further, that you
want to add as a last…last thing on
this? Um, Angela, do you want to
start, and then, Christine, you can
carry on?
Angela: I just…I think it just
starts with an idea, so just…just go
for it. If you need support you can
reach out to any of us or
colleagues. Um, just try to replicate
it in your community if that’s what
you want to do.
Roia: I would agree with that.
[laughter] Christine, do you want to
add anything?
Christine: Yeah. Sure! Um, I
think
that
there…sometimes
in…when you’re working as a music
therapist you…you may be the only
music therapist, or one of just a
few, um, at your facility, or even in
your area, and it can feel very much
like you sort of have to invent the
wheel. You…to take an idea, and,
um, and breathe life into it and
actually bring it to fruition. It takes
a lot. And, um, I think, knowing that
there is a precedent for these types
of community-based groups, um,
might help someone maybe figure
out the logistics, and maybe work
the details a little differently than if
they felt like they had to do it all on
their own. So, I’m really glad that
you were able to put together this
resource so that people might be
able to refer to it. So, I think it’s a