A New Update: Coursework has begun!

Well, I am now in the thick of my clinical musician training! The more I know...the more I realize I don't know about most things harp! That's ok though...I see this as a great adventure...a journey...and I am determined to enjoy this new trip as much as I can! Some parts of this journey are joyful...some are frustrating...some are scary...some are a bit nerve-racking...and of course...personal connections to my life and beliefs are being revealed, tested, discussed and bathed in prayer...

There are so many things that have been revealed to me already. The first is...that while I know where I am going after I die...and who I will be with...I've thought very little about the how of how my transition into the arms of the Lord will happen. There is a reason the "when and how" of our last journey is shielded from us. I am deeply grateful that my Savior doesn't reveal that information to me until He feels it is right...but...my desire to become a Certified Clinical Musician has made me learn about, and face several end of Earthly life issues...not just of others...but of myself...and those I deeply love. I have come up against death and dying in every book, journal article and conference call. Playing at bedside for patients in Palliative care and Hospice care settings is a sacred responsibility that will be entrusted me. I will be there to bring peace and comfort at possibly the most sacred moments of a person's life. This is an amazing gift to bring to another soul...and a very real and deep responsibility.

As I read Hospice manuals, read patient and bedside musician re-tellings, read policy documents and learn how to serve...I am also being asked to stare straight on into my own death and how I want my death and the events preceding my homegoing to unfold. It's impossible to separate my own feelings about death and dying from my desire to support another soul as they head to their Eternal Home. I know that my friends and family members who practice medicine or are members of the Clergy have come to this same place on their journey as they prepared for their calling...I rejoice that I have no conflict within my soul about my faith and Eternity...I really can't imagine trying to walk this new path without the Holy Spirit and my Lord Jesus. But, gosh...thinking about the physical process of dying is hard.

Now, about all that stuff I don't know re: bedside harp playing....I am working every day to improve and expand my harp playing skills. While bedside music is never to be a musical performance, showing up adequately prepared as a musician and a member of a patient's care team is essential. Just like when I prepare music for church orchestra, choir, Bible school, Sunday School and Bible study, I am to prepare myself with the skills necessary as a musician for bedside music ministry.

So... I am working on developing an extensive catalog of song genres, and pieces that consider stage of life and medical necessity. I am learning how to play in a manner that can positively impact a patient's blood pressure, pulse rate, alertness and respiration. I am learning how to use music to reach memory centers of the brain, how to relax a writhing body...how to encourage..how to bring peace...
I am learning to focus on preparedness...but most importantly...on personal connections, emotion, empathy.

Now, I'd like to give deep thanks to my mentors through my journey as a musician...there are many...but I will mention just a few today.

First and Foremost: My beloved grandparents Hap and Ruth Hoeppner. These loving and stedfast souls saw a little girl worth saving...and knew instinctively that a relationship with Jesus, a good education, their love and music would heal and feed my Soul. They indulged my need to hear music...to sing...to dance...to play flute, guitar, recorders, percussion...to write music...perform music and love via music. They made sure I was steeped in a true friendship with Jesus Christ..and they never missed an opportunity to encourage me to use my gifts for the Glory of God and the benefit of my family and friends.

Mr. Don Burman: my High School Band Director... an amazing encourager that taught me how to play music with skill and passion...but more importantly...to believe in my musical gifts and continue to reach higher...to take risks...to be adventurous...to say yes...to try a new instrument...to play a new type of music...to compose..to improvise to make that emotional connection to others through music.

Dr. Ray Shuster: the most spiritually led, and deeply accomplished musician and person I've ever known. He has taught me the why and how of the gift of music in worship. That our reason for existence is to praise and worship our Risen Savior...he has lifted me and so many others up and given us the skills, the place and the time to use our Gifts for the Kingdom of God...can there be any better, deeper purpose in life..then to help others know and praise their Savior...the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?!!!  My musicianship has grown under the baton of my beloved Dr. Ray...but even more importantly...my faith and ability to worship has become deep, wide and BRAVE!

So...I am taking baby steps in the harp world...but huge leaps of faith on my spiritual walk. I will leave you with a sound bite...a required assignment that targets total improvisation based on chord structure, dynamics, passing tones and snippets of melody on the harp...this improvisation must be spontaneous and an unknown melody...this is a very scary thing to do. I am so grateful that I have been taught by my mentors to understand music theory...the Circle of 5ths..the use of chord structure..chord inversions, harmony, melody, and musical modes...
Love to my mentors....here and in Heaven!

To hear the improvisation, go to iTunes...find my name Lee Timer...and select Therapy Harp Music.

A New Journey

Welcome to Harp and Song in the Mitten!

Why become a Certified Therapeutic Musician?

Sometimes it feels like my life and circumstances have very deliberately brought me to this place. As a child, I sang before I could talk. Of all the possible modalities that have touched my heart, music and language held the key to my happiness. Luckily, the Lord has blessed me with some musical ability and a huge desire to learn about all things music. I remember being fascinated by the musicians on the Lawrence Welk Show. My oldest cousin began playing saxophone and guitar...and I was entranced! Every Sunday I sang my heart out in Sunday school...learned my favorite hymns from the red Lutheran hymnals, memorized songs at vacation Bible School  and loved the Liturgy.  I listened to my record player obsessively. I memorized melodies and lyrics...I began to have musical preferences....and I began to beg for a musical instrument. 

At church I was exposed to the piano, organ, choir, flute and...yep...harp. Harp was my deep longing, but finances and practicality dictated my second choice (but first love: the flute).

Then came the Beatles...and my first guitar. To say this was the beginning of a wonderful obsession is an understatement...my Band Directors in Jr. High (David Bonamicci) and High School (Don Burman) blew open the musical doors for me....wanna try playing stand up bass? You Betcha!

How about some Christmas music in a Baroque quartet...soprano recorder...sure! Wanna play oboe for concert season...? Absolutely!

Well...now I own upwards of 40 instruments...fretted, stringed, wind, percussion, keyboarded, strummed, plucked...I've got it! Singing in choirs and select vocal ensembles...? Yes! Wanna write your own music? Heck Yeah!

I have sung in school and church choirs, and select vocal ensembles. I've played in bands and orchestras and Solo and Ensemble competitions. I've marched in marching bands, played in pep bands and jazz groups. I've performed in folk music trios, and did my time singing  in bars in Ann Arbor. I've written special music, shepherded the music for a weekly women's Bible study and literally have sung at hundreds of weddings, funerals, baby and bridal  showers and private parties. I was once represented by the Gail and Rice Talent Agency in Detroit, and I have been a card carrying Detroit Federation of Musicians member....

So here I am....

I am attempting to document my journey to becoming a properly credentialed Therapeutic Musician. As such, I should talk a bit about the difference between a fully credentialed Music Therapist vs. a Certified Therapeutic Musician.

Similarities in the course of study include scholarly readings, specific coursework, understanding the medical environment, understanding confidentiality, using physiological signs within the patient to choose and provide music. Additional similarities include a total focus on the patient and their family, focus on helping to mitigate pain responses, memory loss and stress, as well as participation in palliative care and hospice care. Both disciplines provide support for individuals across the age/life continuum.

The differences in these similar disciplines reside in the amount of education required (a certified music therapist has a minimum of 4 years of University study, and their scope of practice is much broader, deeper and often prescriptive in nature).

A Certified Therapeutic Musician is employed to play for the patient and family. We are not empowered to prescribe treatment or advise patients or their families on medical or personal issues. Our focus is on providing peace, contentment and enjoyment to individuals experiencing difficulties. By providing music we hope to encourage and possibly contribute to healing and relaxation.

Both disciplines require internships and standards of conduct that respect individuals, families and medical teams.

The curriculum I am beginning is very rigorous and will most likely take 1-2 years.

Here I go!