Core Values: What is the Power of Song?

Here's a reference to the power of song. The inexplicable part of music and song. Director Danny Clinch followed the artist Ben Harper around in the 90s and the result was a documentary released in 2002, called "Pleasure and Pain." In the opening scene Ben is talking about the theme of this blog: "I love melodies-melodies are one of the things...that excite me about LIFE the most...how...of all the states of emotion I've ever been in music takes me to the strongest state, the quickest." That is the heart of this blog in my idealistic mind's eye. It could be many other things, but that is at the core of my aim. To discuss the power of song. How music can flood the human mind with imagery, the closed eye with colors, how it can literally affect our physiology. It can increase the heart rate, raise the hair on the back of one's neck, deepen one's breathing, and release endorphins. Tonight, I am thinking about another scenario from the NICU with my son. In this case, the anecdote has more to do with my personal music therapy and/or processing of the situation then providing therapy for my boy. It also has to do with music connected to lyrics and not just pure melody. Quickly, I do want to make it clear that one of the very first things I realized upon entering the NICU that first day was that Benton was doing very well. I saw several other babies in much more serious condition and I counted my blessings and tried not to complain or show too much fear when their parents were present. The NICU is a serious and scary place and I felt very lucky to count my son among the ones who were thriving, mostly, all on their own. Ok, got that out of the way. So here is my musical example. I played songs for Benton on my ukulele and I sang a cappella lullabies, etc., but I also played music for him on my phone. I used tracks that I own as well as youtube videos. Most songs were chosen for their instrumentation and quality. Obviously, my taste played a much larger role than Benton's and my judgement as to what is appropriate and/or client centered was the only guiding factor other than what I just "wanted to hear." So, specifically, one track that I saw in my itunes and decided to play was "Papa Hobo," off of Paul Simon's self titled album from 1972. If you're not familiar with this record you most likely do know that track "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," which opens the second side. If you're not sure what I mean by "the second side," ask your dad what an LP is...or a cassette tape, for that matter. Anyhow, I chose this track because of the playful bass harmonica and the mellow qualities of the arrangement/tune. What I didn't foresee was that on top of the beautifully composed melodies, singing timbre (timbre- pronounced "tamber" refers to the quality of the sound/tone. For instance a flute and a piano could play the same note, but one would recognize the different quality provided by two totally different instruments), and guitar playing of Mr. Simon; was that one line could change the song and my reaction to it in literally microseconds. The song begins by poetically and comically discussing the heavy smog of Detroit among other things and introducing Papa Hobo, who seems to be possibly just a man that Simon is passing on the street (maybe this man is giving Paul some type of intriguing or piercing look. The type that makes you question yourself and then question how a homeless man down to his last bit of hard luck could possess the power to have you check yourself ;) who knows). Back to it...so the song is jaunting along and then all of a sudden: "I've been sweeping up the tips I've made. I've been living on Gatorade. Planning my getaway." I can't really explain how this meant something, but at that moment, in the middle of the night, with my 5 and a half pound son in my arms, with tubes in his nose and machines reading his vital signs...it meant everything. It was some sort of fantasy; that Benton was really pulling one over on these nice nurses and he had designs on how to bust out of the joint. It punched me in the face and I cried. I think I laughed and cried at the same time. "Planning my getaway," became Benton's theme line and "Papa Hobo," became his theme song. Hell, it was my theme song. It gave me power and hope. B-Boy was planning his getaway all the time and he was charming the nurses along the way to grease the wheels. Then, as I left each morning the final line began to echo in my head and was my little anthem:"Well it's just after breakfast, I'm in the road, and the weatherman lied," followed by that little scat-ish ending. That silly, beautiful little song is now stitched into my life and the bond between my son and I. We will talk about this story and the power of one note, one line, or even one word. With any luck he'll teach me about what this experience was really all about, but no matter what the song will always evoke the memory and the feelings it contains. Jeff Tweedy, the frontman and songwriter for the band Wilco once said that along with whatever other current music is out and about; an artist is also always going up against their own music from the past and that this is basically an impossible endeavor. I'm paraphrasing here, but the idea is that a song from ten years ago or one year, or twenty, has all of those years to go along with it. That song is embedded in your memories. The time it was playing when you kissed the girl, or celebrated the grade, or got engaged. OR, just the way your thoughts about the song or it's lyrics have evolved over time. Nowadays, people rarely seem to listen to a song or an album multiple times before making a judgement on it. In many cases it's instant gratification or nothing. Meanwhile, a new song can only connect with your memories through comparison. Through evoking a style or a feeling. That's obviously something that is very hard to do in a short amount of time, BUT IT CAN BE DONE. It can be done in a serious and meaningful way, too. Not just by catch pop tunes, alone. That's in the power of song, too. Thanks for reading if you did. Until next time...EAT MUSIC. IT'S ORGANIC.

Music as a Coping Skill

In my groups and sessions as a "lead" or solo therapist, I reference: "Music as a Coping Skill," fairly often. Now, to be more specific, I suppose it would be more correct to list the exact activity/experience being individually referenced in each instance (Instrumental music playing/practicing as a coping skill, writing music/lyrics as a coping skill, singing as a coping skill, etc.). I could even go a step further and describe more directly what is being practiced and/or promoted (Music listening as a leisure activity/distraction/for relaxation, group singing to promote increased socialization, group lyric writing to promote increased appropriate social behavior [through compromise, turn taking, etc.] Still, I like the blanket phrase "Music as a Coping Skill." It seems to explain what I am hoping to promote in one quick shot for my patients. Perhaps, because many of these patients have been in therapy for years (some in drug rehabs, some as part of their treatment for diagnoses like; bipolar disorder, schizophrenia - paranoid type, etc.) and due to this on going therapy they are familiar and comfortable with the phrase "Coping Skills." OR! Maybe, it's because music is my coping skill (number one anyway). I've always known this, but one way in which it became increasingly clear in the last year is when a co-worker pointed out to me:"I've noticed that when the unit is especially wacky/threatening/bordering on being out of control, or that the work load is massive, that you start humming or singing to yourself as you walk around the ward and complete tasks. That's how I know you're a music therapist." Now, she said it a bit more succinctly and much more poetically, if you will, but I tried to paraphrase her statement in a way that explained it clearly to someone who may be reading this without knowing much, if anything, about my work as a Music Therapist on the psychiatric rehabilitation team of a behavioral health unit here in southern California. We have 70 beds (and growing) of adult, acute psych patients and our office is located at the end of the hall, which houses the most actively threatening patients (either with an intent to harm others or themselves). It can be a very intense place BUT here's the kicker. Music has a big effect on these patients along with other arts/recreation therapy modalities. My music groups offer them many things that they feel are constantly being taken away from them. One example is CHOICE :) Many of these PEOPLE are in the middle of an event (or perhaps a series of events that has been continuing anywhere from days to years) of crisis in their lives. Acute, remember, means that these patients are in the hospital for about 5-7 days on average, so basically, just like ANYBODY else who has to go to the hospital, briefly. If you've ever had to go to the hospital you know it was probably a pretty big event in your life (Surgery, Birth of a Child, some type of traumatic event like a broken bone). I went to the hospital with stomach complications from antibiotics when I was in high school and I know I'll never forget those three days (Woken up all hours of the night, uncomfortable, on heavy meds). Anyhow, these patients are in the same situation except they may have a chemical imbalance in their brain or suffer from auditory hallucinations, which believe me ARE VERY REAL, which may make them more ill equipped to handle these extra stressors, not to mention the other types of stress in their lives, which may have led them into the ER/Behavioral Unit to begin with. Others, may be addicts who ended up on the behavioral unit due to making suicidal or bizarre statements (when high/drunk, to a cop, to their therapist, etc.). Regardless, of why they are in the hospital I do my best to let them know that a music therapy group is designed for their benefit and especially when doing big sing-a-long groups I let them know that I will do my very best to take their requests and/or play something as close to what they desire as I can. Being able to choose can be very empowering for someone who has been told what to do seemingly non-stop since their event began. A cop, a nurse, a doctor, a security guard, a relative, whoever, may have been telling the patient to sit here, calm down, be quiet, and for some of these people who don't work with psych patients or live with them everyday maybe some of the requests sounded more like orders. MAYBE some or all of these requests were for the patients benefit, but when you get all worked up and people try to tell you what you need to do you're not always in the best position to hear them, right? I know I don't take advice too well when I'm pissed off. I tend to get defensive and snap back responses in a reflexive manner. So something as simple as choosing a song and listening to that song can open some preliminary rapport with this patient. The song might help them relax (cope), smile (cope), forget about what's happening around them or where they are; both literally and figuratively (cope), and THEN, when the song is over an opportunity arises for me to try and engage the patients in conversation. What popped into your head that made you request that song? Why is that an important song for you? What are your connections/feelings toward the lyrics? How do you feel about the music itself...the tempo...the feel...the quality of the music (happy/sad/etc.)? Open ended questions like these can kick start an infinite variety of conversations relevant to what the patients are experiencing and how music can work as a coping skill in their everyday lives. Singing empowering lyrics like "I will survive," having a "Happy Place," song that you use like a mantra when feeling overwhelmed. There are many uses for music as a coping skill and I will continue to wax on this topic as long as I keep blogging and continue in this field, I'm sure. What's your "Happy Place," song? A song that always puts a smile on your face. If you were on "the couch," with Freud and he said he wanted you to close your eyes and go to your happy place...describe it....maybe you would describe a tropical beach and the sea salt air...maybe you would describe a cozy blanket next to a fire place in a Lake Tahoe cabin. What if he asked you what music was playing in your happy place? A Beethoven piano sonata? A Bob Marley song. Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy."? What is your "Happy Place," song? A song that you always sing in the car. A song that always makes you smile. A song that reminds you of your best friend, wedding, grandma, childhood, prom. It's a coping skill ;)

Update: Article Reference Back Checked for NICU-MT

In the last post I made reference to an interview with a NICU Music Therapist from the East Coast named Claire Westbrook Littlejohn. I reached out to Claire (via Facebook) before writing that post to ask her if she could shed some light on the article being referenced in her interview due to the fact that I had attempted to browse the Journal looking for relevant titles and/or well known NICU-MT names (such as, Jayne Standley or Joanne Loewy), but was unable to find the exact piece. Well, she got back to me a few days after the post was written and explained that:"The article is "Effects of Neurodevelopmental Stimulation on Premature Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care: Randomized Control Trial." It's from the journal of neonatal nursing, 2012. Author: Walworth, et al. The mean length of stay by gender is where you'll find the results if you subtract the experimental mean from the control mean." I was able to locate the article and read the abstract and an excerpt online, but as a non-subscriber, I would have to pay to "rent" the article for the day. If you happen to be the type of person who wants to dig deeper into this topic I hope this added info will help you do so. Thanks :)

Babies Exposed to Music Therapy in the NICU Discharge Home Earlier

Before my son was discharged home, one week after being admitted to the NICU (the day after he was born he was diagnosed with infant pneumonia-Doctors speculated that he ingested some amniotic fluid during birth) we had a final consult with the neonatologist, which was quite pleasing to us. Not only did the doctor state that Benton was doing well and that she had no reason to believe that he would do anything, but thrive post-discharge; BUT she also made very positive and complimentary statements regarding me coming in to the NICU every night to play music for my son, the other patients, and the staff and parents present (music therapy is holistic and designed for all). The Doctor stated that word had spread quickly among staff members regarding the music and that she is an advocate for music therapy being used in many medical settings. Most importantly, she stated that she had read research that babies exposed to music in the NICU on average discharged something like 5 to ten days sooner. In fact, studies show even higher numbers than that. A recent article posted by Trident Health states: "Premature girls are discharged an average of 9.4 days sooner when exposed to music therapy with singing, according to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Neonatal Nursing. Add guitar and girls go home an average of 21 days sooner than they would without music therapy. Boys, on the other hand, seem to prefer just singing, which leads them to leave the hospital an average of 16 days earlier." Now, this isn't a scholarly article I am quoting and I am still just beginning my personal neonatal music therapy research, but I offer this scholarly reference: "Music research began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) over 25 years ago. Initially, medical staff resisted the idea that music therapy could impact premature infant medical outcomes. Today Neonatal Intensive Care Unit-Music Therapy (NICU-MT) is well known in the U.S. with over 300 specially trained Board Certified Music Therapists (MT-BCs), and it is evolving in international settings. Over 50 research studies in refereed journals provide evidence-based methodology for NICU-MT and document important and unique infant benefits from music." - This quote comes from a scholarly article written by Jayne M. Standley, which can be read by following this link While, I value the importance of evidence-based research and scholarly work I will often stick to a more non-formal approach on this blog. Don't be surprised if it reads more like a journal then a textbook. Below, I have imbedded the first of what will likely be many videos posted to this blog. It is a video of me playing ukulele and singing "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (Thats An Irish Lullaby)," to my son, the other patients, and the staff/parents present in the middle of the night in the NICU.

As a board certified music therapist, professional drummer, and music educator, it was basically a no brainer that music was and is going to be a big part of my children's lives. I didn't realize, however, that a field of music therapy that I barely studied would come in to play almost instantly after they were born. My name Thomas Newbold. I grew up in Northern California in a town called Petaluma and was raised on The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rat Pack, and The Wall of Sound. I began playing music for my now five week old twins shortly after finding out they had been conceived. I am going to candidly share my thoughts, memories, and experiences as a professional musician and music therapist who uses music for many things including, a coping skill. I practice what I preach and I preach baby steps and back to the basics. Let's keep it simple, stupid ;)