As a new music therapist, it may feel daunting to choose what to buy as you begin developing your caseload and toolkit. Here are some items I have found incredibly useful over the years, which will make your work a little bit easier.
Every music therapist must have a guitar, as it is one of the most portable and versatile instruments. I highly recommend the Gretsch Jim Dandy flat top acoustic guitar or the Little Martin LX1. Both are parlour guitars that fit smaller bodies, or prevent neck and shoulder pain from extended use. They both produce a resonant sound that can really project if you are facilitating bigger groups. And if you are looking for an electric acoustic, the Little Martin also has that option, the LX1RE.
Enya Soprano Ukulele Nova is made of carbon fiber, making it easy to clean and resistant to damage from sanitizing wipes. Additionally, you won't need to be concerned about weather changes impacting the wood, and the strings will generally remain in tune.
Visuals, visuals, visuals... I think every music therapist would recommend a Scotch Laminator. It has been my go-to machine to create long-lasting pictures and visuals, along with the Amazon Basics pack of 100 clear thermal laminating pouches. I've also created templates of worksheets and song-writing guidelines that you can write on with a dry-erase marker and reuse over and over again.
I have been using the iPad mini for years in my sessions. It is compact enough to sit on your knee (anyone else?) without falling as you're reading off your lead sheets (I love OnSong), and you can store your digital materials and do your documentation on it with various apps. With all your images, videos, and files, the more space, the better, I think.
Listening to music and sharing songs are an important part of our work. And as musicians, we also value great sound quality and Bluetooth connectivity. Has anyone had their speaker not connect or turn on during a session when they really needed it?! The Bose SoundLink Flex might be a good choice. Want something more budget-friendly? Consider the JBL Go 4 which is also waterproof and dustproof.
If you're looking for an inconspicuous camera or recording device, the Zoom Q2n 4K is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand or remain discrete in a corner (still always use informed consent!). It is very tech-friendly and records audio and/or video in various resolutions. It comes with a headphone jack, and it is powered by a USB cable or with 2x AA batteries (rechargeable ones might be a good idea). Just insert a micro SD card to save your recordings.. You can't go wrong with the sound quality of a Zoom recorder.
With so many digital devices, you'll definitely need a charger on-the-go. USB? USB-C? Micro-USB? Lightning? Never forget your wires again with this Multi-Charging Cable that includes Type-C USB (for most devices nowadays), Micro-USB (for Androids), and two Lightning heads. Charge one or charge everything at once.
We all had to figure out how to use Original Sound/Musician Mode on Zoom in 2020 as many of us transitioned to virtual sessions. If you are seeing clients online, it is recommended to get a USB plug-and-play microphone, especially if you are involving music in your sessions. I have been using the Blue Yeti USB Microphone for the last four years, it's still going strong - mute your microphone, adjust the gain, change the pick-up direction, and you can even plug in your earphones directly into the mic. You can also use this as a recording device as well. There is also a smaller version, the Blue Yeti Nano.
And of course, the client needs to be able to see you as well. If you don't already have a webcam, any thing from Logitech is reliable and durable - pick one that fits your budget. From lowest to highest price, they offer the Logitech C270, Logitech C920x, or the Logitech C922x.
Finally, how do I keep track of all my sessions, meetings, continuing education opportunities, and everything else? As a private practice owner who primarily provides individual sessions, I love using the Jane App for maintaining my caseload. They provide a practice management software for health and wellness practitioners - there are flexible plans that cater to your specific needs and are very responsive to issues and questions. They are always listening and responding to customer feedback by constantly adding new features. They offer a free demo upon signing up and the best part is that they are based in Canada! If you are a member of the CCPA, you also get a free month before you decide to commit.
I combine that with a subscription to Google Workspace, which provides greater security and encryption than a regular Gmail account, and I have access to all the Google related apps, like Calendar, Documents, Sheets, Presentations, Drive, Photos, Meet, etc. Get a free 14 days to start. Interested in a 10% discount for your first year of a Business Starter or Business Standard plan? Send me a message through the contact me form below with the Subject: Google Workspace Discount to receive a discount code.
Having a collection of instruments is also crucial to this work. This may vary with the types of clients you work with. Once you've established the basics though, it's easier to go from there. Leave a comment to let me know if it would be helpful to create a list of must-have instruments for clients. Experienced music therapists, have I left anything out?
Hope you found something useful in this and perhaps, even something you haven't considered before.
If you are a music therapist and would like additional support in the form of clinical supervision, please feel free to book a consultation with me.
*All recommended product are tried and true. As an Amazon Associate, the links included in this post provide me a commission upon purchase of the product. Thanks for your support!
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