Musical Therapy Life

Creative group participation. Musical keyboard activity for neurological, psychological, physical, sensory and cognitive recovery. The round-table community (FB) is a forum for sharing, improving experiences , results and advancing adoption. Links to stories, musical testimony, adaptive tools, supporting studies, and resources.

• What We Do

• We provide instruments and guidance for group therapy activities in Puget Sound Washington

  Instantly play along on piano with only a brief orientation and curated song library (Youtube). The system is designed to play along intuitively and not worry about the “wrong notes”.

  Our method facilitates creative group participation:

  1.We set up 3-5 keyboards with willing participants.

  2. We pick a song from the curated library that appeals to the group.

  3. The group plays along on keyboard.

Origin of JS Method

Steve is Hemiplegic (right side capable). He forced into early retirement from a stroke. Steve found renewed meaning, purpose and joy by engaging in the creation of music with others who are disabled. Fun fact Steve was a creative force in the 80's music scene in Los Angeles. Josh, a long time friend, heard there was a secret chord that King David played while composing “Hallelujah”. Josh studied the keyboard and discovered that he could play three notes at a time with a single finger tip. Could that be the secret chord? Serendipitously, musical secrets of greater significance were discovered.

Previously music therapy in clinical settings was listening to music and sing alongs. Formal music lessons tax the brain with language, theory and mechanical transcribing. It can interfere with our goal of achieving a relaxed parasympathetic state. Pre-selected music will harmonize with all the white keys. Clients can explore dynamics of sound without fear of making a mistake. Piano eliminates complexity of tone generation such as with a voice, wind or stringed instrument. Playing chords and distinctly different melodies with 2 hands is something different the piano is capable of ,but unnecessary for casual play. In guiding musical sessions, tips about dynamics and playing with others can be introduced. Currently, the scope of method goes only as far as “accidentals” and “the secret scale code ”. While playing only the white notes (C/Am); all the black notes are “accidentals”. Quickly tapping an “accidental” note in passing and resolving back to a white note actually sounds kewl not wrong. The “secret scale code” enables a keen individual to quickly recognize and play along to songs in any key. Formal scale diagrams make it difficult to see pattern across entire keyboard and furthermore complicate patterns with exact duplicates for many more reasons than just major or minor. The secret is to find and remember only the harmonious black notes and use them as a landmark across keyboard. Mozarts first compositions were all the white notes. His next composition in F/Dm replaced one white note with one black note. .0.0..0.0.I.

Song Library

Equipment

We recommend keyboards that fit in available playing space, with full width keys, built in speakers and simple features without unnecessary distractions;accompaniment,drums, recording. Velocity sensitive keys convey expression, but are not so good for a person has motor control impairment. Transpose is an advanced feature. The key of song to be played must be known, as well as the key desired to be played in. Input jack can enable music to be streamed through board and heard through headphone jack. Open-ear headphones that plug into keyboard can make it possible to hear open air sounds or music that cannot stream through keyboard. Bone conduction headphones (shokz openrun 2 pro) rest on cheek bones. They turn audio into physical vibrations that travel through youe bones directly into inner ear.

Please be aware that in the current keyboard market, there there is an absolute “product void” for space saving keyboards (less than 40”) with built in speakers and full size 1”wide keys . Major manufacturers have split the market into two categories. Midi controllers that require speakers and computer to make sounds or budget toys that have 5/8” wide keys and mediocre sound quality. Short midi controllers with full size 37/49 keys save space on crowded desks of music producers and hobbyists. Students and casual players want speakers and longer keyboards (61/73 or 88 keys) so they dont run out of notes while playing with two hands. Good sound needs a bigger acoustic chamber to let soundwaves reverberate ,especially low end bass frequencies.