Therapy by Alice 
Many kudos to Laurie Berkner
Posted on December 14, 2020 Leave a Comment
Though my target audience tends to be people older than myself I love children’s music as well. One of my favorite children’s musicians is Laurie Berkner.
I was introduced to her by a client in the past who loved her. Even though my own child has grown out of this stage, I would still love to go see one of her concerts. I have always joked that when I grow up I would like to be Laurie Berkner.
Here is one of her YouTube videos. Share it freely she is awesome
What is Music Therapy and How Does it Work? Part 3
Posted on December 13, 2020 Leave a Comment
reprinted from Medical News Today
How it helps with depression
Studies suggest that music therapy can improve symptoms of depression, with those undergoing music therapy along with standard treatments for depression — such as talking therapy — improving more than people who only received standard therapy.
Listening to music can also release dopamine, which is a hormone that makes people feel good, and endorphins, which are hormones that can induce happy moods and relieve pain.
Although music therapy is not a cure for depression, it can offer short-term benefits by improving mood and encouraging connection and self-expression.
In children
Some of the benefits of music therapy for children include:
- offering fun ways of expressing thoughts and feelings
- practicing social interaction and communication skills
- encouraging creative play
- improving concentration and coordination
- increasing self-awareness
- increasing awareness of other people, particularly in group music sessions
- building self-esteem and resilience
- building language and listening skills
- strengthening family relationships
Summary
Although music therapy is not a cure for any mental health condition, it can be an effective and enjoyable tool for reducing the symptoms of numerous conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Music therapy offers people a creative and accessible way of expressing their feelings and processing their experiences. People have used music for its powerful effects on mood and emotions for a long time.
Aside from helping with mental health conditions, music therapy also has numerous other benefits, such as providing a creative outlet, expanding knowledge and cultural awareness, and improving cognitive skills such as memory.
What Does Music Therapy Do and how does it work? Part 2
Posted on December 11, 2020 Leave a Comment
Reprinted from Medical News today
Music therapy vs. other forms of therapy
Music therapy does not rely on verbal communication, so it can be better for people who struggle to communicate verbally. This could be due to a disability, a neurodegenerative condition such as dementia, an acquired brain injury, or a mental health condition.
As CBT and counseling are both talking therapies, they may not be suitable for people who find verbal communication difficult. This is where music therapy can be beneficial.
Additionally, mental health practitioners can bring music therapy directly to a person, such as if they cannot get out of bed or are unable to get to a therapist’s office. Enjoying music therapy at home can also benefit children who want to be in a familiar environment during their sessions.
This is not specific to music therapy, though, as many other types of psychotherapy can take place in the home.
The skills a person learns in music therapy can be useful in their everyday life, too. They may even take up learning an instrument as a new hobby, which they can use as a tool for improving their mental health and coping with difficult situations throughout their life.
Benefits
There are extra benefits to listening or creating music that talking therapies may not be able to offer.
For instance, learning and practicing a piece of music can improve memory skills, coordination, reading, comprehension, and math skills, and it can also give lessons in responsibility and perseverance.
People can also enjoy a great sense of achievement from creating a piece of music, which can help improve their mood and self-esteem.
Music therapy can also introduce people to many different cultures, as clients can explore any type and genre of music during therapy. Understanding the history behind a piece of music can help people connect with the music they are hearing or playing.
Although self-expression is a part of talking therapy, music therapy allows people to express themselves in a creative way, which can be a more enjoyable way of exploring difficult emotions.
Lyric analysis is another accessible way for people to explore and process difficult emotions, experiences, or memories through music.
For example, a person can find themes and meanings within lyrics and offer alternative lyrics that apply to their life and experiences, which can help them find the words that represent how they are feeling if they are finding it hard to express this themselves.
Some of the documented benefits of music therapy include:
- improved self-esteem
- decreased anxiety
- increased motivation
- successful and safe emotional release
- increased verbalization
- stronger connections with other people
How it helps with anxiety
Many studies suggest that music therapy can reduce feelings of anxiety, including in people with cancer, those undergoing surgery, and individuals going into intensive care units. Some studies also suggest that music can reduce blood pressure and the heartbeat, which can have a direct impact on how stressed a person feels.
There is also evidence to suggest that those undergoing music therapy experience reduced anxiety immediately after the session, which indicates that music therapy could be a convenient way to reduce symptoms quickly.
Music affects the amount of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, that the body releases, and reducing these hormones can help relieve symptoms of anxiety.
What is Music Therapy and How Does It Work? (part 1)
Posted on December 10, 2020 Leave a Comment
Reprinted from Medical News Today
Music therapy involves using a person’s responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall well-being. Music therapy can include creating music with instruments of all types, singing, moving to music, or just listening to it.
Music has powerful effects on the mind. Different styles of music can have a significant effect on a person’s mood very quickly, and it can help them experience and process a wide range of emotions, from happiness to excitement, as well as sadness, calmness, and thoughtfulness.
Making music can also be as beneficial as listening to music, and music therapy encourages people to actively create the music they find helpful to them.
This article explains what music therapy is, how it can help improve mental health, and its effects on different mental health conditions.
What is music therapy?
Music therapy uses the powerful abilities of music to improve a person’s well-being. It is an alternative to other types of therapy, such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Music therapists use a person’s responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall mental mindset. Music therapy can include listening to music or creating music with instruments of all types. It may also involve singing or moving to music.
It can help improve confidence, communication skills, independence, self-awareness and awareness of others, and concentration and attention skills.
Live musical interaction between a person and their therapist is important during music therapy.
Improvisation can also be a key part of music therapy. This involves making music up on the spot in response to a mood or a theme, such as making the sound of a storm using drums and a rainstick.
How does music therapy work?
The way that music affects the brain is very complex. All aspects of music — including pitch, tempo, and melody — are processed by different areas of the brain.
For instance, the cerebellum processes rhythm, the frontal lobes decode the emotional signals created by the music, and a small portion of the right temporal lobe helps understand pitch.
The reward center of the brain, called the nucleus accumbens, can even produce strong physical signs of pleasure, such as goosebumps, when it hears powerful music.
Music therapy can use these deep physical reactions the body has to music to help people with mental health conditions.
History and origins
Music has been a part of human life for thousands of years. Specifically, experts have found instruments dating back to over 40,000 years ago, suggesting that humans’ desire to express themselves or communicate through music is deep rooted.
The use of music for therapy and healing dates back to Ancient Greece, but its therapeutic use today began in the 20th century, after World War II had ended. The earliest reference to music therapy comes from a 1789 article called “Music physically considered.”
The 1800s saw medical research into the therapeutic nature of music grow, and by the 1940s, universities were offering music therapy programs. E. Thayer Gaston, one of three men who pioneered the use of music as a therapeutic tool, had organized and promoted the practice so that it would become an accepted type of therapy.
Now, there are many music therapy associations around the world, and music therapists work in private care, education, and social care.
Gift Cards Available
Posted on December 9, 2020 Leave a Comment
This Christmas we are offering gift cards to anyone who wants to prepay for future massage, both Human and Equine, as well as Music Therapy Services. Click the photo below to go to the website.
Many Music therapy services are available virtually so we can work via zoom, google meet or Doxy.me
Doula’s and the power of touch
Posted on October 21, 2020 Leave a Comment
reprinted from Massage and Bodywork.
http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1299745-november-december-2020/74?
What Happened to Best Friends Forever
Posted on October 2, 2020 Leave a Comment
This is a reprint from an article from a website called What’s your grief. It is something that has happened over the last few months to many people, losing friends they thought were theirs forever. Grief comes in all packages and expresses itself in many different ways. Music Therapy sessions can help with grief processing of all kinds and can be done virtually to stay safe during the period of corona virus. Please contact me for more information.
Crossroads
Posted on October 1, 2020 Leave a Comment
Crossroads by carbon leaf
Crossroads”
While at a crossroads
Headed A to B
I fell for a woman
Prone to run
But I couldn’t make her follow me
So I offered up my heart
Before I left, final plea
And I would’ve taken her off
The hands of a man
If it were up to me
Standing at the crossroads
Just when everything meant to be
Faded out and disappeared
As far as the eye could see
We were standing at the crossroads
We were standing at the crossroads
Here we stood to assess the dirt
Where thunderclouds brushed the land
Here we stood, confessed to her
Heads bowed, hand in hand
Standing at the crossroads
Looking at these fields of dream
I stood and watched them come unsewn
Right at the patchwork seams
We were standing at the crossroads
We were standing at the crossroads
Standing at the crossroads
Just when everything meant to be
Faded out and disappeared
As far as the eye could see
Standing at the crossroads
Looking on these fields of dreams
I stood and watched them come unsewn
Right at the patchwork seams
We were standing at the crossroads
We were standing at the crossroads
We were standing at the crossroads
We were standing at the crossroads
The title of this song gives you a pretty good idea of what is being discussed. It seems like in our country right now we are always at some sort of crossroad. I have been working as a music and massage therapist with multi handicapped children and adults for over 15 years now. I have been wanting to do something different yet I keep clinging to what I know. Plus I enjoy what I do, I just feel like I could be doing more and be so much more.
Michael and I also have our septic business which is called. Perryman septic services (PS2). We often joke that we should get magnet signs for our trucks that says Adagio massage and Perryman septic: we will massage the crap out of you. People always laugh and it has occurred to me that maybe we should cross market for one another. When he goes to check over someone’s system I could be giving massages in the house to keep people from being stressed out about what might be wrong with their septic system (and usually it’s nothing stressful)
All kidding aside I have been taking some music therapy continuing Ed classes about developing an online presence and hope to be doing more of that in the future with my music. It would be very difficult to have an online presence as a massage therapist LOL. Except Robert Gardner who is a massage therapist and teaches classes in Thai Yoga Massage, has been very successful in his online business and I am also studying his business model.
I have several services I can offer online as well as in person. If you have any questions about music and massage therapy please contact me at alice@adagiomassage.net
Ruby Ribbon
Posted on September 30, 2020 Leave a Comment
Mostly because I love these products I have decided to become a rep for Ruby Ribbon. I figured it didn’t hurt to have some other streams of income. I’m not going to build a team or go nuts trying to make sales goals but this way I can share a product I really like with people I love. My personal link is ruby ribbon.com/AlicePerryman
I am going to be having online parties and trunk shows. Send me a message!
Most People Don’t know I exist
Posted on July 17, 2020 Leave a Comment
Reprinted story from WFAA
Little known fact–before I got to be any good at the guitar (and the debate is still out whether or not I am any good) I played the autoharp and loved it. This lady takes it to a whole new level.
Author: Matt HowertonPublished: 10:33 PM CDT July 16, 2020 Updated: 10:33 PM CDT July 16, 2020
DALLAS, Texas — There are lots of reasons to be stressed right now. It feels like 2020 is undefeated at the present moment.
Navigating a pandemic and turning America’s eyes inside to strongly address racial inequality is something no one expected to shoulder this year.
And sometimes, we just need a break from our ever-evolving days.
That’s where Betty Scott’s front yard comes into the mix.
Scott is a retired Dallas ISD educator and world champion musician, winning first in the International Autoharp Championship in both 2009 and 2016.
Incredibly, she’s self-taught and learned the instrument following her final days with Dallas ISD.
RELATED: Fort Worth family entertains neighbors with social distancing street concerts
Twice a week, she shows off her skills on her porch in her east Dallas neighborhood.
And many either attend or just stop on their walks to listen.
Oh, and did I mention? Scott plays happily, with a beer in her hand.
“Learning the autoharp,” Scott said. “It was like the heavens opening and music just landing in my lap.”
‘Most people don’t know I exist. I play in front of my fireplace and that’s about it.’
Scott is a member of the Dallas Folk Music Society.
She’s usually joined by fellow members Drake Rogers, on the guitar, and Eleanor Wheat on the autoharp.
Before the pandemic, the trio usually played a show once a month. Scott got the idea to do frequent yard concerts when she saw videos of people in Europe playing music together from the balconies of their homes early on in the pandemic.
The group starts their set with the National Anthem and other patriotic songs to honor medical professionals and other essential employees.
“I know they probably don’t know we’re playing for them, but deep in my heart I hope they do,” Scott said.
The rest of the songs that follow are usually popular folk tunes. Sometimes requests come from the crowd.
Scott is older, which makes her part of the more vulnerable population in the pandemic. She said she’s barely left her house since late February, adding that the impromptu concerts keep her balanced.
“For those of us in our 70s and 80s, this is very stressful,” Scott said. “I don’t really think anyone can be sure of anything right now.”
“This keeps me sane. I was extremely stressed today and then I realized that we were playing tonight,” Scott continued with a laugh.
What Scott doesn’t know is that she provides an escape for others with her music.
Those who take a seat in her front yard get to relax and zone out for the price of free.
Scott notices too.
“It’s like five or ten minutes and then all the worries are gone,” Scott said. “You can deal with those later.”
Who would have thought?
Finding a world-renowned musician tucked inside a Dallas neighborhood?
If you see it, it’s sort of like missing a train in NYC’s subway because someone playing an instrument in the depths of those tunnels is just too good to not stop and listen to.
If Scott lives on your street, consider yourself lucky — you have an escape twice a week.
“I just play for the joying of playing because I can,” Scott said. “Same reason somebody climbs a mountain right? Because they can.”
Therapy by Alice 
