Dee is the Owner and Director of Harp for Healing and the Clinical Musician Certification Program. She presents workshops in a gentle and "easy to get" manner. We are thrilled to have her returning to Southeastern Harp Weekend in 2012.
Dee, many harpers are excited to discover a clinical musician program that is affordable and can be done at home. In what ways does this training benefit a harper most?
The Program is self-paced so that musicians can start where they are and create a study schedule to fit their own lifestyle. Some students want to complete the Program as quickly as possible or during a sabbatical; other students want to be ready for a career change as they near retirement and have a longer-range objective.
What is an example of pain reduction with therapeutic harping?
A practitioner named Sue was playing for a patient who ranked her pain at 12 on a 1-10 scale. When Sue entered the room, this patient was not due for more pain medication for at least an hour. Soon after Sue started playing, the patient relaxed her breathing and dozed off. The woman awoke as Sue left and remarked that she had no pain.
As far as learning to play therapeutic music, what's a common mistake beginning musicians make?
One of the therapeutic music styles requires a very steady relaxed tempo like a heartbeat. Beginning musicians often play without a steady beat and a smooth rhythm, especially if they are self-taught.
What can we do to develop that relaxed tempo?
Record yourself. Listen to the recording and try to tap your foot to the beat. Using a metronome is helpful, but you first need to learn to listen to yourself.
Why do you say "less is better"?
Complex music takes an enormous amount of mental processing by the listener. The listener should not have to expend any energy or attention keeping up with the music we provide.
What kind of live support is in your home study program?
One thing is conference calls. There is a 20-30 minute presentation or demonstration, followed by a question and answer period. The calls are recorded and available for later listening for those who have a schedule conflict. Students and graduates also connect with each other through Google discussion groups available through our website.
Yes. Each student has an assigned mentor for email and phone coaching. Our mentors are experienced therapeutic musicians and graduates of our Program, so they know the challenges and rewards that go with independent study.
Do you think harpists need to go through a training program prior to playing at bedside?
Absolutely! Training is important, whether it's through my program or another one. Before I started this journey, I had played at the bedside of some friends and their pain lines went away, their faces relaxed and they fell asleep. So I wondered what there was to all this training business. Little did I know the richness of the journey that lay ahead when I finally started my therapeutic music study!!
Tell us about that "richness."
I learned about the science behind therapeutic music and why simplicity is so important. I learned the basic music styles and how to match the music I play to the patient's condition. I learned to relax, slow down, breathe, let go of the page and improvise - all incredible gifts to me personally. Training gives us a new level of awareness and many tools to use so that we can be of optimum service to others.
Dee's website is HarpForHealing.com
For general information about therapeutic music and training programs:
therapeuticmusician.com. This is the website for the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians.
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