Music Moves

It’s hard to believe another year is almost over, taking with it my holiday break.  I woke up late this morning and spent the day baking, cleaning, and doing other laid-back, but necessary chores to keep myself from becoming too adjusted to all the free time off of work, all while doing a little bit of shimmying to some Middle Eastern Dance music I had playing in the background.  My brain needed the activity.  And yours does too!

How do you know when your brain needs a tune-up?

I notice my brain needing a little boost when I find myself unable to focus on the little things, like throwing a scarf on before I go outside, or packing a lunch for the day – when I’ve forgotten to do those most basic things for surviving 8 (or more) hours of work in a day, I know I need a tuneup!

Why is it important?

Your brain is like a computer.  It can get bogged down with information and emotions that will slow it down like a virus if you let it.  Sleeping is one of the most basic ways we recharge our brains – formerly thought to be a time when your brain shut down, sleep is actually one of your brain’s most active times, when it processes all the events of the day, puts away what it can, and tries to make room for the new stuff you’ll undoubtedly pack into it tomorrow. But enough about sleep (for now)…

There are two main things you (or your child) can do to tune your brain while you’re awake:

1. Exercise your body.  There’s a great quote from a Franklin Institute article on Exercising the Brain that I think really sums up the reason for this well: “a healthy human being is a human doing.“  The Brain is not a solitary device that learns in a bubble.  We learn through doing, through moving in our world.  Movement is essential to enhancing your brain’s functioning.

2. Challenge your mind. The Franklin page has great info on this as well.  If you think back to your childhood and all the wonder that came with discovering the world around you, that was a time when your brain was actively growing through learning.  You can create that time again with activities as simple as changing which hand moves the mouse on your computer, and other exercises the Franklin page suggests.  Here’s a great link to some Brain Gym moves for kids as well, though I like to do them too (“Hookups” are my favorite! I call them “Pretzels”)

So how can music help with all this?

Ah, here’s the fun part!  Music is a multi-sensory experience.  It naturally involves your ears as you hear it, but the more involved you or your child become in making music the more senses you activate, and therefore the more of your respective brains you “tune up.”  For instance, in attending a concert you involve your eyes as well as your ears, and maybe your body and tactile senses if you move along with the music.  If you play an instrument, you most definitely involve your tactile senses in addition to your eyes and ears.  Note I’m really stressing an active involvement in music here.  The Mozart Effect has been debunked: your child (or even you) aren’t going to get any smarter from listening alone (though here’s a fun link to a little Musical Brain Teaser that will engage your thinking machine a little more actively).  The more involved you can get in the music making process, the more of your brain you will exercise and the more energized (both physically and mentally!) you will feel.

Some practical tips and ideas for engaging your brain (or your child’s) in music:

1. Team up your senses.  Listen to music while you exercise (tactile and auditory) or while you cook (tactile, auditory, and olfactory – mmm!)

2. Go to a concert, and really engage yourself in the music – sing along if you can, or tap your foot to the beat.  Anything to avoid just sitting and letting your brain enter “auto-pilot” mode!  Again, active involvement is the key here.

3. Try learning a new instrument in private lessons, or take a dance class.  This again links back to the “team up your senses” business.  If you aren’t feeling like taking classes, get involved in your child’s classes if you can.  Ask them about their instrument, go to their concerts (move and groove with the performance!), spend some play time in having them demonstrate their skills while you attempt to follow along.  Laughter is good for your brain too!  For younger kids, check out these fun musical instruments geared towards Early Childhood development.  The Melody Snail is my favorite!

I encourage you to find some way to tune up your brain this week – check out the links on this post and the side bar for more information on any of the topics covered, and feel free to post comments or ideas for future posts.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Welcome to the maiden post of Music Moves, a blog for the musical child in all of us!  Here you’ll find insights from the world of Music Therapy in North Dakota with information on local happenings and resources to help you learn about the benefits of accenting your life through music.

A little bit about me (Natasha Thomas, MT-BC):

I am a graduate of the University of North Dakota (Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy) and Board Certified Music Therapist, serving the Grand Forks Public Schools through Music Therapy in Motion (owned by Emily Wangen), and individuals statewide through North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB), and ND School for the Deaf.  I work predominantly with children, though I do serve adults in a few locations, like LISTEN Day Services and the LISTEN Drop-In Center.

What I do as a Music Therapist:

Music Therapy is the prescribed use of music by a qualified professional to address non-musical goals.  More specifically, Board Certified Music Therapists (or “MT-BC”s) use singing, playing, listening, and moving to music to enhance individuals’ physical, cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioral well being.  A Music Therapy session for example might include activities for children to practice turn taking by participating in strumming the Therapists’ guitar one at a time, or strengthen their motor skills by playing a drum while marching in a circle.  Music Instruction can also be used as Therapy, but it is necessary to distinguish that Music Therapists are not necessarily Teachers (and vice versa!) though in my work at with NDVS/SB I do additionally teach and transcribe Braille Music.

The Purpose of this Blog:

This Blog is for any individual looking to learn how music can enhance their own life or the lives of their loved ones, co-workers, or friends.  Weekly posts will include such topics as “how music can aid academic learning”, “using music for stress relief”, and other perspectives on the many ways in which music can impact your life.  Take home ideas, information for connecting with Board Certified Music Therapists, and other resources will abound for you to learn from and share at home, in the workplace, and beyond!

So here’s a little preview!  Local Music Therapy happenings:

In addition to following this blog, there are several ways you can be a part of the Music Therapy scene in North Dakota:

1. Check out the links provided on this page for information and resources – The UND Music page and Emily Wangen’s website in particular are very useful if you’re looking to connect with MT-BC’s statewide!

2. Drop-In to the LISTEN Center on 624 N. Washington for my FREE Group Sessions for Children Wednesday nights!  PreK/Family group geared towards younger children, but open to older siblings and their parents starts at 5:30pm.

3. Stop by our Monthly Drum Circles at 12 Houses, usually on the last Saturday of every month at 7pm (8pm during the Summer months).  Instruments are provided and sessions are FREE and open to the public!  During the summer months, we drum downtown by the greenway – NO MUSIC EXPERIENCE REQUIRED and Kids are Welcome!

It is my hope that you’ll stop by this blog once in a while for updated info on more events and resources like those listed above in your community.  I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions for topics on this page, and hope you’ll find those areas I do cover useful for waking that inner music child and adding some accents to your life!