h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Wow. Interesting space. So...so... simple. I guess that's the word for it...

well ... I'm just a simple kinda guy.

I can tell.

I bet it's the glazed look on my face that gives it away

your funny too!

*you're

thanks! I'm sure you'd get tired of my sense of humour quick enough, but cheers anyway! you seem very pleasant.

thanks!

You might get sick of MY humor.

hmmm ... that's possible,but, luckily I'm quite easily entertained so it'll take a while for that to happen

so tell me, what is music therapy?

It's using music as a tool.... music affects a lot of different areas in the brain, so it can help stroke patients gain use of the side that was affected. It is a great motivator, so sometimes people don't know that they are even doing work! It can be used as a reward, it can be used as a teaching tool, it can be used to help someone physically (like to play an instrument), it can help pain management. It can be used to time things, like if someone needs to learn how to walk, we can put on a march, and they have to step every other beat or something. It can help someone express their feelings through improvisation. It can help people socialize with each other. The list goes on and on.... Music therapy can be used with any age, and practically anywhere. But, unfortunitly some do not benefit from it because they might not like music. Most people do benefit, though. And the great thing is it's not magic, it's been scientifically proven to help!! I'm now in a four-year college, and then before I can get my degree I have to go through a 6 month internship and then pass a certification test. But, it's an absolutely AMAZING profession!! Any specific questions?

it seems pretty cool, how widely practiced is it? and what year are you in?

I'm going to be a junior, and it's pretty well spread...even though it's a fairly new profession. There is a professional organization, American Music Therapy Association, and their website has lots of information.

I'm not sure the exact amount of jobs that are in the US, but I think it's a lot.

Is there any particular field that you're interested in? Like, when you're finished do you hope to be working with people with mental disabilities, or folk in rehab?

people with mental disorders...I wanted to work with kids until I realized.... most of the kids would be in a hospital for oppositional defiant behavior, and I'm not sure if I could deal with that. I'm also afraid of the violence that might come out of them...but, I could learn how to deal with that, and music would be very motivating to them.... I also think I would do well with teens... Either that or with pre-mature babies or pain relief. I've heard of the pre-mature babies thing, but I still need to look up more information about that, because they haven't said much at school. I want to work in a hospice, but at the same time I don't think I could handle it. I get very attached to people....I'm also not religious, so I'm not sure I'd be the best person to work there... But, the great thing with MT, is that there are very few people who get burnt out....unlike physical therapy where there are certain steps you ALWAYS have to take, music therapy can be used in different ways. hmmm...hope I'm not boring you....

not boring at all, you seem to be very excited about it, which is terrific!

cool.

So, what do you get excited about?

hmmmm ... I'm not sure how to answer that it's been so long since Ive been excited I don't remember anymore ... but I do like good music, films and reading, although I haven't read a decent book in ages.

what music do you like?