Virtual team assemble! As is everyday practice now, music therapy services at MTCCA and other practices across the country are being provided virtually as well as in person. The ability to go virtual with sessions is such a special gift, especially for our music therapy groups who may not otherwise be able to meet in person due to social distancing and safety guidelines. I will say, when I first started seeing groups virtually, I was a little intimidated because of the barrier between the screen and clients. One of my biggest areas of growth was making the experience as personable as possible for these clients. For those who may feel this way now leading group sessions virtually, fear not! I have some tips that I’ve learned from my experiences that can hopefully help you out, because leading groups virtually can still be so much fun!!
- Ask for the clients’ names! This may seem like a simple and obvious one, but it was something I wasn’t even considering when first leading the sessions, specifically for our senior retirement centers and adult group homes where the clients all live in the same facility. Simply asking the clients their names or having on site staff members assisting with names can really make the experience more personable for everyone involved. For example, it can assist with calling on specific people for leadership opportunities in the group and asking/answering questions. Furthermore, it helps build the rapport between clients and therapist which can aid in participation overall.
- Use the staff members as models! For our clients who live in facilities, there may be multiple staff members nearby to help set up Zoom, pass out instruments, or aid clients in participating. What I didn’t consider was, what better way to encourage clients to participate than having the staff members act as models for the group?! At the beginning of the session, it can be helpful to encourage the staff members to participate through the session and then reminding them during certain interventions (such as movement or instrument playing interventions) of what to do. This gives the clients an in person model to imitate and can even help foster positive relationships with the staff members. The staff at these facilities may act as the biggest encouragement for why music therapy services should be offered, so it is important to build these relationships and show why music therapy is a crucial service for the clients!
- Keep business as usual! Yes, while virtual services are not quite the same as in person (for me, the laptop screen was a barrier that challenged me at first) it does not mean music therapy services have to change or that you as the music therapist need to act any differently! With groups, there are still so many opportunities to achieve relevant goals through virtual drum circles, songwriting, improvisation, and many more interventions. Keeping a positive attitude, picking appropriate music for the group and encouraging participation through these sessions can provide a source of community and group cohesion just like any other session.
Maybe you learned something new today, or maybe these tips act as reminders for how to approach virtual music therapy group sessions. Either way, I hope these tips were helpful, happy virtual session leading!
-Katherine
MTCCA Music Therapy Blog 