Matt Logan – Page 16 – Music Therapy Source

More Tips for an Intern

Caitlin, the author of yesterday's post (5 Things to Do Before the End of Internship) also sent along this little bonus section. I think everyone can benefit from this list of tips! BONUS Section! Staying centered during your final days of internship. For a yoga fanatic such as myself, I am constantly pursuing my center! The craziness of growing up can often be over whelming; here are some quick tips to keeping a healthy mind, body and spirit. Mind SLEEP. Sleep is essential for a sharp mind and happy intern.…

Matt Logan In Guest Work

5 Things To Do Before The End of Internship

It is my pleasure to share a guest post by my friend and fellow Iowa alum, Caitlin Krater. Caitlin recently finished her internship in Indianapolis, and will begin working on a research project with Sheri Robb, PhD, MT-BC, in February. We all remember the craziness that is internship, as well as the slightly terrifying question, "Well, what next?" In this guest post, Caitlin provides some great tips to those who are currently in the internship stage or who will be soon. Enjoy! You have worked hard to complete your coursework,…

Matt Logan In Lessons

3 Ways to Keep Your Guitar Happy This Winter

This is your annual reminder to take the necessary steps to keep your guitar happy this winter. You see, Jack Frost can be quite mean-spirited. He likes to make the air very dry, which can have a negative effect on your instruments. The dryness of the air will dry out the wood, which can lead to shrinking, warping, and cracking. If you happen to live in a part of the country that experiences significant humidity changes during the winter, this post is for you. There are a few simple things…

Matt Logan In Guitar, Lessons

How I Buy Guitars

UPDATE 10/23/14 I still use these strategies for selecting guitars. One model has consistently been my go-to guitar for the last four or five years now, and that is the Yamaha FG730S. This is the model I've routinely recommended to music therapists and music therapy programs buying several guitars at a time. They are accessibly priced, they are durable, and with a proper setup, they play very well. -------- Original post: In October, I did a guest post for Michelle Erfurt about choosing an acoustic guitar.

Matt Logan In Ideas

Benefits of Performance

It's a Sunday afternoon and I'm working on grad school stuff - statistics - and drinking decaf tea. I've been checking out some music therapy blogs and doing other music therapy-related things. But in a couple hours, I'll have to make a pretty substantial mental shift. I'll be on stage with my band, just like I was last night. It's an interesting shift, and there are many aspects of it that I could talk about here. But today I'm going to talk about what I get out of performing with…

Matt Logan In Ideas

Highlights from #AMTA11

Wow! What a conference! I am totally on a music therapy mountaintop, and I can't wait to see what unfolds this next year. Here are a few highlights from my conference experience in Atlanta. 1. Idea-sharing I was fortunate enough to get to talk with some real music therapy rock stars this year. Being a part of the panel facilitated by Kimberly Sena Moore was most definitely a highlight. It was so interesting to hear how people use social media to advocate for the field of music therapy, as well…

Matt Logan In Conference

Five Things I’m Going to Do at Conference 2011

Conference is a complete whirlwind! I've learned that you can't go in without a plan. So this year, I've made a top 5 list of the things I'm going to do. You should do the same! 1. Present I am honored to be part of a panel on social media and advocacy with a group of MT blogging rock stars. It's called "How Social Media Creates New Music Therapy Advocates". It was organized by Kimberly Sena Moore, and will also feature Meryl Brown, Michelle Erfurt, Kat Fulton, Bill Matney, Roia…

Matt Logan In Ideas

Lullaby Karaoke?

Shame on you, American Idol! "What?! I love that show!" This is not actually an attack on Mr. Seacrest and the gang, but rather an observance of some of the downsides of the commercialization (and professionalization) of music. In short, people are scared to sing. And specific to this post, moms are tentative about singing to their babies. Moms may believe, "If I don't sound like Kelly Clarkson, I shouldn't sing at all." But this is untrue! We know an infant prefers his mother's voice to any other. Period. And…

Matt Logan In Front Lines

Smile! The Importance of Affect

Affect in Music Therapy In preface to this post, I want to define the word "affect" as it is used here. In psychiatric or psychological terms, affect basically refers the emotions expressed non-verbally by a patient or client. For example, you might hear or see terms such as flat affect (showing no emotion at all), blunted affect (showing little emotion), labile (shifting between intense emotions) or full range (appropriate display of emotions). PC: Craig Toron In the music therapy world, you hear many of the previously mentioned affective descriptions,…

Matt Logan In Ideas

Imagine Early Childhood Online Magazine Release

This week, the 2nd edition of Imagine Early Childhood Online Magazine was released. It's sponsored by the American Music Therapy Association, and it is dedicated to early childhood music therapy. This is an exciting issue - check out the details! In this edition, I interviewed expert music therapist, Kim Hawkins. The podcast is entitled, "PracticingMusic Therapy in the NICU: An Interview with Kim Hawkins." Kim and I had a great conversation about the setup of a modern NICU, as well as applications of music therapy interventions within that environment. Check…