Hello blogging world!

Well.... It really has been forever since I last posted. I've just been too busy with piano practicing I guess. ;)

Brennan and I are doing well. Loving life and all it has to offer. I love being married to my best friend. :)

I am starting to REALLY understand music. I thought I was before, but now I am really starting to see how it all works. It's so complex, yet so simple. I LOVE IT. My piano teacher has really brought me to a whole new level and I couldn't thank him enough.

Random time. It's snowing!!! :D And I'm happy happy happy. I love the snow. I love the warm feelings that come with being around family during the Winter holidays. Yay for snow. And yay for family!! *sigh* I have the best family to ever exist. Including my in-laws. I am just one blessed girl.

Composing

So... I started my own arrangement of a hymn!! It's very exciting. And it MAKES SENSE. It's so crazy how knowing music theory is the key to writing music... I guess that's not crazy. Quite the opposite actually. ;) Haha. I love theory. I love knowing not only how to read music, but how music works! Why it does what it does. Knowing the rules of music is key in following/breaking the rules. So that it's done properly. WOO! I am just way too excited. Just one step closer to fulfilling my music dreams.

Music has actually helped me in more ways then I ever imagined. Every time I walk away from listening to uplifting music or playing the piano/violin/cello, I have so much motivation and determination to be better. To be better at reading scriptures daily or being more humble. Usually when I think of those things and how I need to improve, I just get discouraged. But when uplifting music is a part of my day, I have such a positive outlook on life! And I know it's because that uplifting music brings the spirit into my home and heart.

The main thing music has done for me is made me feel so much gratitude for every single thing I have. I am so blessed! I have an amazing husband who loves and treasures me. My family is just awesome. ;) They are my support and I love them so much. I am eternally grateful for all they did and do for me. My in-laws rock this world. I'm so grateful to have the relationships with them that I do. :) My piano mentor. He is.... I don't even know the word. Every time I walk away from a lesson with him the words "mind=blown" come to mind. Haha he is incredible! His talent is out of this world. Literally. He is so in-tune with the spirit and focused on the Savior that every lesson I have with him is always exactly what I need. And I walk away feeling a little more spiritually fed.. through music. :)

There are so many more things I am grateful for. The list could go on forever. I am so blessed to have the family I have, the relationships and friendships that I have, the talents that I have and the love that I have. :D

PS In case you were wondering, the hymn I chose to arrange is 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives'. I bare my testimony best through music. This song testifies of Christ. It's the best way I know how to convey this truth; that He lives.

More Music, More Gratitude

Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude!! That is all I am feeling today. My piano teacher is just... amazing. That's the only word I can think of! A-maz-ing. True story. And today, when I was driving home from my piano lesson, the Spirit overcame me and I was so full of gratitude for the time my teacher is taking to teach me. He is limited in his time to only be able to teach a few students. I feel so blessed to be one of those students! He is such a devoted teacher and I know he is the key to helping me accomplish my goals. I LOVE IT! :D Hopefully I will be able to blow everyone's brains with my awesome music talents ;) Teh heh... Not really. But I am getting better! And more confident. I know I have a gift, and I know I need to share it, and use it to help share the Gospel. What better way to share the Gospel then through the Spirit? (Is there any other way? O.o) I'm excited to work towards composing music through the Spirit and strengthening my talents. :)

Trials and Gratitude

Trials come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. And they can hurt.. All I know is I have amazing people in my life who love and care for me enough to help me in those hard times.

#1 is my Heavenly Father and my Savior. They are always there, knowing what pain i'm in. I know I can turn to them for love, comfort and guidance, always.

 #2 is my Mother. :) Who doesn't love their mother? She is so amazing and I couldn't ask for a better Mom. I want to be like her when I grow up. She cares and I know it. THANK YOU, MOM!

#3 is my Mother. Hehe My second mom. My mother-in-law, Deb. She always knows exactly what to say to feed my squishy, blue heart, especially when it's aching. She is always there for me. THANK YOU, DEB!

#4 is my friend from work, Hollie. She is just awesome. She always knows how to make me laugh and I know I can confide in her. THANK YOU, HOLLIE!

I can breathe

All better. :) Talking with some people and going to the temple helped immensely. Not quite sure what route I want to take right now, but I know what route I DON'T want to take. And that's what was worrying me. I want to thank my amazing mother in law for helping me ^_^ And for my husband who listens to the spirit! Mmmm.

Now, on a completely separate note, my family is in town!! And I get to see them today *big grin*. Can life get better right now? Haha well probably... But it doesn't feel like it can. 'Cause I feel great! Yay for the gospel. :)

HELP.

*Sigh* I think I need to vent a little bit. Well... not necessarily vent, but just spill some things out. I am VERY overwhelmed at this moment in my life. I have an AMAZING mentor who is helping me get myself out there with Music Therapy. He is SO successful and smart! Yes, I do feel like a little child sitting at his feet. But half the things he talks about goes completely over my head. I have to ask him to clarify many things just because I am no where near his level. Maybe i'm just feeling...stupid. I don't know really.

I'm starting to wonder where I really want to go in life. I want to impact peoples lives and make a difference with music, but I want to be a good mother and wife as well. And to do both really well is going to kill me. So where do I really want to go with my music? Maybe Music Therapy isn't quite the right path for me? I feel so confused and scattered right now. I think a Temple trip is in order. That always helps things. I'm so thankful for my Heavenly Father to help me and direct me in these times. I know when i'm unsure or confused about decisions in my life, I can turn to him for guidance and direction. It's crazy to think that there are people out there who don't believe in a higher power at all. My question for them is HOW??? How do they survive this life without prayer? Without involving Christ and our Heavenly Father? I could not do it. How blessed we are to have that guidance in our life!

Well this post took a complete turn. ;) Hopefully you enjoy the ride. It's a bit bumpy. ;) Haha...

Music Therapy

My "assignment" on Music Therapy :)

Therapeutic healing through music has been used for centuries to help those struggling with their health. Whether it's physical, mental, emotional, social, aesthetic or spiritual, music therapy has shown it can benefit anyone.

Music therapy is performed in many different places and in different ways. But what is it? Ronna Kaplan, President of the American Music Therapy Association, describes music therapy as such:

"What is music therapy? George, a young boy with autism, lumbered down the hall, whining and crying as he approached the music therapy studio. He entered the room, removed his jacket, shoes and socks and threw them on the floor. From past experience I knew that it was pointless to try to immediately engage him in a structured interactive instrument-playing or turn-taking music experience. If I got too close, he attempted to pinch and scratch me. I succeeded in encouraging him to sit down on the floor, and then I moved toward the piano.

George continued crying and hitting his head with the palm of his hand. I listened carefully and realized that he was crying in the key of C minor. I began to improvise on the piano slowly and quietly, matching the pitches and tempo of his crying. When he stopped vocalizing, I stopped playing. When he resumed vocalizing, I resumed playing. I used the "iso-principle" to "entrain" to his responses and meet him where he was.

After several minutes George gradually quieted down and stopped crying. I moved to a chair and invited him to sit across from me. Then, and only then, was he able to interact more actively with me and the music. We continued the session taking turns passing a mallet to play the drum; striking pitched plastic tubes called "boomwhackers" on our shoulders, hands and knees; hiding a beanbag up our sleeves, retrieving it and tossing it into a tambourine; and strumming the autoharp. All the while I sang short, repetitive melodies with lyrics describing our actions. A change had occurred: George's aggression and frustration had yielded to participation and socialization. That is music therapy."

Music therapy is not limited to disabilities. It can also be used to relieve stress and pain, enhance memory, express feelings and improve communication. In my opinion, music therapy can benefit anyone.

How? As you read in the story, George was able to turn away from his anger and participate in the music being played. No words were said, only music was shared.

Studies have shown that music affects your brain waves, heart beat, breathing, and state of mind. Music affects us more than we realize. Depending on the music you listen to, you can become more positive or completely depressed. That is why the music we listen to is so important to our well-being. It can rise us up to be better and do better. To be happier! Or it can take us down.

We can see how Music Therapy benefits the recipient, but what about the therapist? I'll answer that question with why I want to become a music therapist.

The minute I first felt the spirit through music, I knew I wanted to write music that did the same for others. I have never been good expressing myself with words. Music is my escape. It's how I can express myself. And when bearing my testimony, I would much rather do it through music. It has been said that what words can't say, music can. When words can't explain any further or deeper, music can. I feel that music is more powerful than words. And what better way to reach out to others with music than music therapy? To help those struggling and in need of relief to improve and progress through music and through the spirit would be an amazing experience. It would help both the recipient and I grow and progress together. And what better way to grow then through the spirit? Through music.

Music Therapy is more than a science. It's an art. I only hope to be able to reach out to others through music therapy some day.