 Have you ever heard of Podcasthon? This initiative was new to Piedmont Music Therapy, and we only learned about it through the generous invitation of Noah & Hannah hosts of "A Little Off The Top" through NarBar Studios!
Thanks to NarBar Studios for their willingness to support Piedmont Music Therapy's mission by interviewing Molli Smith, MT-BC. On the episode, they explored the history and evidence of music therapy treatment as well as insights from a new professional working with clients of all ages & abilities through a private practice. Thanks to Noah & Hannah for choosing PMT as their charity to spotlight in NC. Have a listen to Noah & Hannah's interview with Molli here and comment below of podcasts you heard during this week's Podcasthon!
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By: Lizzy Davis, MT Intern Life can throw us curve balls that require us to think on our feet to adapt to the situation. We often call that adaptation to present challenges “flexibility,” a term frequently used in the field of music therapy. This past month, I have been thinking about this term often, especially given the rapid changes of the holiday season. Flexibility is required of music therapists in the profession, as sessions don’t always go as planned, and many factors can impact the success of a music therapy session. Situations can change in an instant, but it is up to us to figure out how to move forward and adapt to best fit the current situation. Not only are music therapists constantly using that muscle of flexibility to best fit session needs, but it is a quality that we can encourage and work on with our clients. However, being flexible is easier said than done. Therefore, it can be useful to create a ‘toolbox’ of strategies that can help us to better adapt and use that muscle when difficult situations arise. Here are strategies to strengthen that ‘muscle’ of flexibility to help you and your clients feel better prepared when challenges arise. 1. Practicing mindfulness: Mindfulness requires one to be fully present in the current moment. Using mindfulness techniques such as guided breathing, meditation, or body scanning is a great practice for the brain to be aware of the present moment, which can help people feel more grounded in the current moment when difficult situations arise. Mindfulness strategies can also be used in the music therapy session with clients who are working on increasing their flexibility. An example of a mindfulness technique could be putting on relaxing instrumental music, and focusing on the rhythm of your breathing for 5 minutes. If the mind wanders, just release those thoughts and come back to the breath. 2. Mental Contrasting This technique involves thinking about a potential goal you would like to achieve, and then thinking of what it would look like to achieve that goal. Once that is done, then you think of potential barriers that might arise that make reaching that goal more difficult. Brainstorming those barriers can allow the brain to come up with potential solutions to those challenges, and can increase one’s confidence in achieving that goal. For example, if I took the goal of “Decreasing stress,” I would visualize or think about what it would feel or look like to decrease that stress, and ways to achieve that. Then I would think of potential challenges that might arise like increased responsibilities in the workplace, or unexpected financial obstacles. I can then brainstorm how I would respond to those obstacles to best address those problems while also reaching my goal of decreasing stress. 3. Problem-solving games or hypothetical scenarios Engaging in problem solving games strengthens the brain to come up with solutions to various problems in a fun way. Puzzles or problem solving games require adaptability and quick thinking, but are low-stake scenarios that make it more approachable to accomplish. Hypothetical scenarios games like “what would you do?” are fun ways to practice brainstorming, and can even be played with friends. Games and hypothetical scenarios can be used in the music therapy space as well to encourage flexible thinking within clients.  *This image shows a visual often used in the music therapy space to encourage young clients to practice flexible thinking when challenges arise. Being flexible can be easier said than done, but it is a skill that can be strengthened over time and practiced within the music therapy session. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or feedback about our blog related to flexibility! Written by: Gretchen Benner As this year winds down and PMT prepares for 2025, I am amazed to reflect upon the accomplishments and growth achieved this year. As a new nonprofit organization, themes of perseverance and commitment resonate. Piedmont Music Therapy (PMT) was awarded its first grants this year which assisted to provide programming to new community members, and provide modern equipment for staff, students and volunteers to access technology while maintaining confidentiality. The network developed through York County Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Leadership Certification Program has been wonderful support with mentorship in my new role as Executive Director. Reflecting on this infographic with metrics on individual music therapy clients, music students and groups provided throughout Mecklenburg and York Counties, causes much amazement. The clinical team has a strong reputation of providing high quality, person centered services while delivering appointments that uphold health and safety standards in the Carolinas.  With 2025 approaching, I look forward to PMT continuing to connect, play and grow with clientele with diverse diagnoses, conditions and backgrounds, yet meaningful connection through the arts. If you are interested in learning more about our work, consider visiting an upcoming Open House that will be available each quarter of 2025. More information and RSVP : https://www.piedmontmusictherapy.com/  By Lizzy Davis, MT Intern  As the holidays approach, gratitude becomes a central theme this time of year. It’s a time to reflect on the people, moments, and experiences that bring joy and meaning. In music therapy, gratitude can take on a powerful role for both the client and the music therapist. Gratitude has been shown to enhance mental health, improve relationships, and foster resilience. When people actively practice gratitude, they experience a shift in focus to what is present and meaningful. While it is important to validate one’s hardships and emotions, integrating gratitude into sessions and into one’s own life can create more coping strategies for those difficult experiences.
Music therapy provides a unique platform for expressing and exploring gratitude. Here are some ways it can be integrated into sessions: 1. Songwriting for Gratitude Clients can write original songs or adapt existing ones to express their appreciation for specific people, events, or experiences. For instance, a client might compose a song dedicated to a supportive family member, weaving in lyrics that reflect their thankfulness. 2. Listening Exercises Therapists can guide clients to create playlists of songs that evoke feelings of gratitude or remind them of meaningful moments. Reflecting on the music’s emotional impact helps deepen their sense of appreciation. 3. Improvisation and Reflection Improvised music-making offers a space for clients to express their emotions in real time. A simple theme, like “What I’m Thankful For Today,” can inspire spontaneous melodies and rhythms, fostering a moment of mindful gratitude. 4. Community-Based Music Therapy Group sessions can highlight gratitude through collaborative activities. Clients might share songs that represent thankfulness or participate in group drumming circles focused on collective appreciation for shared experiences. Gratitude isn’t just for clients. For therapists, maintaining a gratitude practice can reduce burnout and enhance personal well-being. Incorporating gratitude-focused interventions allows therapists to witness and celebrate their clients’ progress, creating a reciprocal cycle of thankfulness. I have found that the sessions that incorporate themes of gratitude tend to lead to building good rapport with clients and also creates more joy and comfortability with self-expression. While this season is a natural time to focus on gratitude, its practice doesn’t need to be confined to the holiday season. Integrating gratitude into music therapy sessions year-round can build stronger therapeutic relationships and support lasting emotional growth. By: Miriam Tart, MMT, MT-BC  The circle began when I (Miriam, current staff member at Piedmont Music Therapy) began my internship in 2018. Danae Merrick, MT-BC, was my internship supervisor at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital where I completed my 7-month music therapy internship. Danae helped shape the final months of my educational journey before becoming a board-certified music therapist and not only taught me the basics of pediatric medical music therapy, but also supported and provided resources for me to write my thesis (MUSIC THERAPY FOR INFANTS WITH NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME IN THE NICU: A QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS) as I completed my master’s degree in music therapy through Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.   The circle continued as she helped prep me to sit for the board exam and secure my first job as a music therapist here at Piedmont Music Therapy.
This past weekend, the circle was complete as Danae attended PMT’s studio recital! Danae now sits on the board of directors at Piedmont Music Therapy as the secretary. It was so fun to see her and reflect on the years of growth and change that have taken place over the last five years. Cheers to the next five years of making music with people in our community! By: Lizzy Davis, MT Intern I recently had the privilege of attending a continuing music therapy education credit in Columbia, SC, hosted by the Music Therapy Association of South Carolina. The topic of the presentation was discussing the impacts of music therapy on the Veteran population. I was excited to attend this presentation, as the PMT clinic has been running a music therapy group for Veterans this past month, and I wanted to know more about how we can utilize music-based experiences to best support this population. The first key takeaway that stood out to me was that music can be an intimidating medium for people who are less familiar with recreating music. As a musician and future music therapist, it can be easy for me to forget that music is not something that is always approachable to everyone. It helped me think of new ways to make music more inviting, such as using receptive music-based experiences to help Veterans ease into the music space, rather than being thrown into something that is potentially uncomfortable. Another piece of information that stood out to me was how veterans perceived music therapy and how they feel it impacts them. Dr. James Trazile presented a study he conducted where his goal was to find the main themes that Veterans reported after engaging in music therapy. According to his research and interviewing veterans, they reported that music therapy helped them create a “sense of belonging,” “reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety,” and “increased confidence and social interaction skills.” I think it’s extremely important to get feedback from participants or Veterans on what works well for them. This research helped me to gain perspective on what offering group music therapy sessions can do, and also this literature helps create more access to music therapy for this population.  *Image pulled from: https://happenings.lpu.in/neural-music/neural-music-affects-different-regions-of-brain/ One last great takeaway I got from this presentation was how music affects the brain and what happens when we engage in live music-making. I learned that when people engage in music improvisation, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making, takes a small pause. This implies that when engaging in improvisation, it allows our brains to take a break from unhelpful thinking and be fully present in the moment. Listening or engaging in preferred music also can help to regulate the amygdala, which is responsible for our emotions as well as our “fight or flight” response. Music also naturally releases dopamine, which is our “feel good” hormone in the brain. All of these influences of music on the brain reinforce the need for access to music therapy in the Veteran population, as it can potentially help symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
Overall, this presentation highlighted the importance of making music therapy more accessible to Veterans. In a world that can be dismissive of people’s struggles and needs, it’s important to validate what people have experienced and provide outlets for people to connect and express themselves. By: Lizzy Davis, MT Intern  Image description: Large white paper that says “Say it with me, I’m proud to be me. I am enough, I can work through all my problems, I will do my best, I’ll be kind to others” When becoming a new professional, it’s easy to get swept up by workday tasks and want to throw in the towel immediately after getting home. I have definitely been caught up in the “wake-up, eat, work, commute home, sit and scroll, then sleep” cycle. While there is no shame in needing to rest once the day is over, this cycle can often lead to burnout and can negatively affect mental health. Studies show that people who regularly engage in hobbies that they love decrease their chances of burnout within their professions. I previously found myself saying “I feel like I have no time to do the things I love,” but I discovered that finding even tiny pockets of time within your day (10-15 minutes) can have a large impact on work-life balance. Here are my best self-care strategies that have helped me find time for things I love and create a healthy work-life balance.
My first self-care strategy that I implemented was creating a morning routine that I love. There is a lot of information on the internet about what a “perfect” morning routine should look like, but I encourage people to analyze what routine makes them feel good and stick to that, rather than following what someone online says is good. That can look like sitting with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, maybe walking your pet, doing your favorite form of exercise for 15 minutes, journaling, or meditating. Choose 1-2 activities that make you feel good, and try to carve out even 10-15 minutes for those things in the morning. For example, going on walks and journaling always make me feel good, so I try to go on a 15 minute walk in the mornings, and then sit down for 5 minutes and journal. It’s a small commitment that has made the largest difference in my mental health. I found that making time for myself in the morning positively affected my mood for the day, and decreased symptoms of fatigue or anxiety. My next self care strategy is to create a “never been there, never done that” list. I got this idea from the Mel Robbins podcast, where the task is to look at all the places that are nearby that you have never explored, make a list of them, and then set times to go explore them. For instance, maybe there is a walking trail you’ve never been on, or a coffee shop or store that you drive by every day that you have never walked into. The goal is to find those places that are nearby that you have never explored or experienced, and set times to go to those places. The nice thing about this list is that it doesn’t have to be expensive, and I have found that scheduling times to go explore new places gives me something to look forward to in the week, and helps me create a good work-life balance. My last few tips for self-care and creating a healthy work-life balance are to make time for your hobbies and speak positively about yourself. In the weeks where I engage in hobbies that I love (singing, cooking, arts and crafts, etc.), I notice that my general mood is brighter, and I have more energy throughout the week for my tasks. I encourage the people reading this to engage in those hobbies that fill your cup. I can empathize with the feeling of not having enough time for those hobbies, so even finding 5-10 minutes a day to engage in those hobbies can have a positive impact on mental health. My last tip is to speak positively to yourself. In the past, I used to speak negatively about myself for making mistakes or my shortcomings. I never felt good about myself when I spoke negatively. When I started to reframe my mindset and speak positively about myself, I felt more confident and productive throughout the day. For instance, instead of saying “of course I messed up this task, I can never do this right,” I reframed it to say “I am human and it’s normal to make mistakes, I’ll just fix it and do better next time!” With this reframing, I still acknowledged that a mistake was made, but didn’t put myself down for it and instead used it as a learning opportunity. I try to apply this to all facets of my life, and it has made a huge impact on my mental health and helped to decrease burnout. Overall, it’s important to keep engaging in the things you love and carve out even tiny portions of time to do them. It can help to break that “work, eat, sleep” loop that leads to burnout, and keeps your cup full so you can be fully present in all facets of your life. Written by:Lizzy Davis, Music Therapy Intern  I distinctly remember the anticipation and anxiety I felt doing my interviews for PMT. The fears of “What if my skills aren’t up to par?” or “What if this doesn’t work out for me” swam in my brain, but I did what I could to ignore those fears and keep pushing towards my goal. I spent so much time in my undergrad practicing repertoire, studying music therapy textbooks, and doing my practicum work all to prepare for an internship: the final step before taking the CBMT exam and becoming board certified.
I was elated when I found out that I had been accepted to intern here. That was a huge relief for me to finally feel grounded in what my next steps would be. I said my goodbyes to SUNY Fredonia in NY and moved down to the warm and sunny Charlotte, NC. While moving away from my home state was difficult, I became excited to start something new and finally practice music therapy full-time. Everything I studied for in college all came to this, and I was ready for it. Before my first day interning here, I still had many self-doubts about my capabilities as a new intern. The new fears became “What if I don’t meet their expectations” or “What if I mess up profoundly or don’t make any connections?” However, my first day of interning extinguished those fears quickly. I observed many group and individual sessions, met many amazing people, and saw the business side of music therapy. The staff here at PMT are so kind and were willing to answer any question I had, and slowly but surely I have started to feel settled into this new routine. What I observed from the staff here is that the most important skill or quality one can have is the ability to connect with people and listen to their needs or wants. It became clear to me that I wasn’t expected to be “perfect” in any way shape or form, but it was expected of me that I show up with positive intentions and a willingness to be flexible. What I’ve learned from interning here thus far is that ultimately, showing up with kindness, compassion, and a willingness to learn and grow are what matter the most. While I don’t want to discredit the importance of having good music skills, professionalism, and therapeutic knowledge required by the AMTA Competencies, I now know that I probably was more prepared than I thought I was. For those of you reading this who may be starting an internship soon or even just starting something new, my only advice would be to be open to different experiences and be willing to listen and learn. This is the final post in a monthly series (that began September 2023) following Executive Director, Gretchen Benner’s learning in the York County Non-Profit Management Certificate Program - Rock Hill, SC.  Dr. Melissa K. Carsten, Associate Professor of Management at Appalachian State University, led the final workshop on leadership.This session helped participants set leadership goals for their local organization. It was reinvigorating to discuss management and governing concepts. We also explored our organization’s mission and how it is impacted by transformational versus transactional leadership. At PMT, I aspire to lead in the transformational approach as it involves empowerment, supporting individuals and encouraging personal development. Since we are a non-profit organization, my leadership style may impact staff and students, as well as volunteers and board members. A personal takeaway is to support goals that leverage individuals’ strengths in our daily operations. I appreciate board members donating their time and sharing their leadership styles. I’m grateful for this learning program through York County and feel equipped to continue implementing improvements at our non-profit organization!  Image Description: Katie Goodwin, Director of Weekday Ministries at St. John's United Methodist Church in downtown Rock Hill, SC who serves on PMT's Board of Directors stands beside Gretchen Benner, holding framed certificate.
 Image description: Portion of www.piedmontmusictherapy.com/about page that lists quarterly dates for board meetings, and an "Interested in Serving?" form to completing online. This is the eighth post in a series following Executive Director, Gretchen Benner's attendance of the York County Non-Profit Management Certificate Program - Rock Hill, SC.
Joanie Winters, Attorney at Law, led a second informative presentation and last week's was titled “Legal Basics for Non-Profit Organizations.” PMT received many practical suggestions for state rules and regulations. The workshop series continued to share helpful tips, such as Piedmont Music Therapy needing to apply for a Bulk Mailing Rate due to its eligibility as a NPO. PMT does not have an attorney on our board, so we will stay in touch with Attorney Winters. Interested in supporting our mission through sharing your work or personal experiences? Consider joining PMT’s Board of Directors or Committees. If you do not have time to spare, consider supporting PMT’s bulk mail initiatives here! |
PMTProviding music therapy services for early childhood to older adults, music instruction and enrichment plus continuing music therapy education in Greater Charlotte Area of the Carolinas. 
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