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We asked our team of board certified music therapists to take the quiz on page #19 to gauge their interest in being in the profession. The average score was 27.  How would you or a friend fair with the questions? Try not to worry, there's no perfect score with fitting the personal qualities! Feel free to share this resource from American Music Therapy Association (page 19) with a high school student or other individual curious about pursuing a career in music therapy!  Image description: "A Career in Music Therapy. An Allied Health Profession." A smiling professional sits beside a person with head phones, both looking downward. Variety of guitars barely visible in background of the room they sit within.
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 This is the fifth 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 of Winters Law Firm, LLC led a workshop on “Legal Basics & Operational Accountability.” Attorney Winters recommended contents for Employee Handbooks. PMT found the information helpful when reviewing criteria for task effectiveness at work. When organizations consider how policies and practices support mission work and operations, it can strengthen the mission. An additional take-away was that PMT learned that Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on March 1! PMT will annually recognize this occasion. PMT went an extra step and honored the presence and contributions of employees each Friday in March with treats at the staff entrance. If you would like to support staff acknowledgements, please choose an item from our Amazon Wish List! This is the fourth post in a series following Executive Director, Gretchen Benner's attendance of the York County Non-Profit Management Certificate Program - Rock Hill, SC.  Graphic of a person completing a clipboard with a music note on the backside. A spoken bubble appears with a "check mark" included. William Drinnon, CPA of Burkett, Burkett and Burkett shared valuable information in regards to Financial Management of a non-profit organization.
An underlying theme was the strong need of accountability and transparency. Adding internal controls in order to ensure minimal error was emphasized, such as intentional staff double-checking figures. It was intriguing to learn how to possibly adapt to a small organization, such as Piedmont Music Therapy. PMT is committed to integrity & ethical values. Last month's workshop emphasized the need to increase conscience controls for minimal risk with the organization's financial stability which has been a huge gift with the volunteers serving on the Board of Directors who have professional work experiences in finance. Learning about the intricacies of Form 990 through the Internal Revenue Service was interesting, too. PMT looks forward to publishing its first Form 990 in a few weeks. This informational tool will be a great way to share the numbers of our organization. I am grateful for Mr. Drinnon's presentation and will continue to apply strategies learned!  As we approach the end of 2024, staff took some time to reflect on some highlights from 2023. As music therapists in private practice, we work with people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds on a regular basis. We’re blessed to share space with so many people, and it’s humbling to witness the power of music in so many different forms. Below are a few of our staff’s most memorable moments from the last year of work: Rumbling Recovery I have been humbled to return bi-monthly for co-facilitating drum circles at Charlotte Rescue Mission Dove's Nest. The residents forge such resilience and perseverance amidst their treatment. Witnessing residents genuinely connect, laugh and share with one another in their sobriety is an honor. Their honesty reminds me to focus on the present. -Gretchen Benner, LMSW, MT-BC I Hear Your Heart I was so blessed to lead an 8-week music therapy program with survivors of SA/V through Brave Step. The women were passionate about regaining confidence and building community through songwriting, improvisation, and poetry. Each session held new and creative pathways to combatting grief and trauma, and I was honored to witness the resilience these women held. -Gabby Jones, MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapist  “It’s a Good Day for Singing a Song” We begin each session with this Peggy Lee hit at the Minds Matter Fort Mill location where I have thoroughly enjoyed leading music therapy groups for older adults. Each session I am able to witness participants engage in various activities and connect with one another through song. It’s so rewarding to see their bright personalities come together in a space where they can display their creativity and try new things! -Molli Smith, MT-BC  Music and Growth As a music therapist, I am honored to work with clients affected by stroke and how music can be used to facilitate growth as a person as well as a musician. -Melissa Reinhardt, MSEd, MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapist Third post in a series following ED, Gretchen Benner's attendance of the York County Non-Profit Management Certificate Program - Rock Hill, SC.  Tiffany and Dr. Scott Whaley presented “Board Governance” during this month’s series. One of the takeaways from this lecture discussed the importance for Piedmont Music Therapy (PMT) to diversify its Board of Directors - building a strong team! With enough support PMT will be able to open a digital application process for interested service members. The shared motto by the Whaleys was “always be building your board.”
The purpose of a Board of Directors is to act on behalf of the community while furthering the organization’s mission. PMT is grateful for its board members and their willingness to support our mission of providing music therapy treatment, music lessons and educational events in the greater Charlotte area. During our first year operating as an NPO (Non-Profit Organization), the extra level of accountability and support has been appreciated! The board also helps to dream into the future for capacity building. I look forward to attending the future lectures in next month and into 2024. Happy New Year and best wishes during your holidays! Second post in a series following Executive Director, Gretchen Benner's attendance of the York County Non-Profit Management Certificate Program. Collaboration, partnerships and alliances will help Piedmont Music Therapy to further its mission. Gratefully, we have leaned into community-based partnerships with area organizations and agencies over the past decade. Leaning more into managing those partnerships and sharing takeaways and metrics will assist to spotlight that work. As an Executive Director, my role is to manage the organization which includes the personnel and procedures to connect, play and grow with individuals of all ages and abilities through music therapy treatment, lessons and education within the community of greater Charlotte.  Blue light bulb pulsing with light beams streaming around. In exploring the stages of an organization's development from Mr. Charles Weathers of The Weathers Group, PMT aligns with the initial phase of forming. Learning how to improve sustainable service delivery was affirming. We explored how values, roles, expectations and responsibilities connect. PMT looks forward to the opportunity to work with more individuals and intentionally connect with them to improve their health & wellness in the Carolinas.  Thanks for participating this morning. Reminder to please fill out the course evaluation form during the conference. 
We hope this resource page will be helpful for your school year! Let us know if you have further questions or feedback! PMT's Executive Director joined the cohort for the Non-Profit Management Certificate Program. This blog post is the first of nine with reflections on attending the monthly training through the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The first class I attended was inspiring! There were over 40 individuals attending from local organizations across the Palmetto State. It was wonderful to learn more about offerings for community members of varying ages and needs! This picture on the grounds of the training site was meaningful.  Landscaped area with sign reading "foot traffic only" near yellow lantana. The evolution of PMT's 10 history is amazing. PMT started as a "pop-up" mobile service provider that was a "for-profit". Today, PMT is a team of 5 employees, one intern, and many volunteers. PMT is still conveniently mobile, but also has two stationary locations. Staff overcame much education and advocacy within greater Charlotte in order to methodically introduce ourselves as a private practice and inclusive studio. This leadership training is appealing as PMT is new to the non-for profit sector. One of PMT's main learning objectives is to improve communication. Specifically, we want to improve communication with stakeholders in order that we can best convey the impact of music therapy in our community. Though the nine-month course is not a brief journey, it is a necessary training that is conveniently located in our backyard. Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost It can feel daunting as PMT has shifted to a non-profit structure. However, this certificate program will inform PMT of resources and connections to smooth this transition. The countless clients, caregivers and organizations that we have served, fuels this long journey. Potential clients whom we could share services with in the future through donation or grant funded opportunities is also fueling our energies! Thank you for supporting PMT's growth and evolution. If you have questions or ideas on our new path, please share in the comment section below: Written by: Gretchen Benner
By: Nick Paredes, MT Intern Music is an intrinsic part of being a teenager. From discovering new music to singing along to familiar songs, listening to, singing, and playing music can help someone open up and express themselves. Especially when words might not be enough, music can help relate and connect.  Image description: three sets of hands resting on REMO Versa Drums. Music Therapy Music therapy with teenagers can look like all sorts of things; it all depends on the goals and interests of whoever is present, whether in a group or individually. Below are some examples of music therapy experiences a teen might participate in. Songwriting With songwriting, a person can have control over the words and sounds of a song while expressing their feelings or processing life experiences. They might choose to rewrite part or all of a song they already know, or start from scratch. The music therapist might help formulate the lyrics, give examples of melodies and harmonies, and be a sounding board for ideas. Music Listening Music listening can allow the opportunity to dive deeper into a song’s meaning and its relatability. When words are too difficult or feelings can’t be verbalized, a song can communicate what a person might be experiencing. Music listening could also include relaxation to music, such as progressive muscle relaxation or imagery-based relaxation experiences to help with anxiety and other stressors. Improvisation Improvisation in music therapy is when the teenager(s) and the therapist create music together in the moment to express and explore feelings musically; this could also look like one teen taking a turn expressing how they feel on one instrument, while the rest of the group listens and supports them with other instruments. Though the improvisation might be discussed afterwards, improvisation allows for a musical “conversation” to take place, and challenges everyone present to find different ways to communicate and connect. Improvisation could be instrumental (piano, drums, xylophone, body percussion etc.) or vocal, and often is a mix; it all depends on the teens’ preferences and the predetermined goal of the improvisation. Music Making Music making encompasses the rest of what might occur within a music therapy session with teens: singing, playing instruments, and even performing for an audience. This might be playing a song together in a group or singing a favorite song along to a recording. Learning to play new instruments within a therapeutic setting could also give a teen new ways to express themselves and connect with others. Singing itself requires deep breathing, and has been shown to help improve mental health and decrease chronic pain (Bradt et al., 2016). Creating music in the moment with a teenager is the purest way of working towards understanding, acceptance, and development. Katrin McFerran, 2010 The flexibility that music allows gives the opportunity to a music therapist and teenager to explore whatever they might be needing in the moment. The music therapist, teenager, and the music itself can foster understanding, acceptance, and development at a time when music is already so intuitively a core part of self-understanding. Sources Bradt, J., Norris, M., Shim., M., Gracely, E. J., & Gerrity, P. (2016). Vocal music therapy for chronic pain management in inner-city African Americans: A mixed methods feasibility study. Journal of Music Therapy, 53(2), 178-206. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thw004 McFerran, Katrina. (2010). Adolescents, music and music therapy. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Source linked 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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