the Middle

Hello Friends! Now I am on my third rotation, yes third, and I am working with a lot of little ones and babies. "Hi, friend!" is how I start a lot of my sessions.

As of over a week ago, I am halfway through with my internship! It is absolutely crazy to think that I have been living and working in Kansas City for over 3 months. In honor of reaching my midway point, I thought it would be fun to come up with a list of things all future interns should do or have BEFORE they start. Some of these I had, some I didn't. Here it goes:

1.  Practice guitar regularly, and for more than 15 minutes at a time: I feel like everyone says that, but it's true. Especially when doing procedural support, I play a ton of guitar. It's important to build up those callouses on your fingers so they don't feel like they are going to fall off by lunchtime!
2. Have lots of layers: Super important when you are working anywhere that has multiple units, different classrooms, etc.
3. Have comfortable, sturdy, washable work pants: So far I have been drooled on (a lot) and had IV fluid leak onto me, so washable and not super expensive/nice pants are ideal! Having to get those suckers dry cleaned would have been no fun.
4. Comfortable shoes or insoles.
5. An open mind about everything, especially music. No matter where you are in your internship, you are going to have to know a number of different genres! I have had kids request everything from Justin Bieber to Johnny Cash. And Patsy Cline.
6. A big, fat notebook: You need a place to write down songs, tasks, interventions, ideas, etc that you might come up with off the top of your head, and things you will learn from your supervisors or other interns.
7. A journal or some way to record the awesome moments you are going to have in your internship
8. A way to de-stress. Sometimes your day is not going to be perfect and bright and shiny, and being a music therapist full time is way different than only having one or two practicums a week. It is important to have something to do to unwind that is positive. Or make a book of things that make you happy, like positive quotes, memories, and Music Therapy moments!

I know, they are pretty much what you hear from everyone, but they are important things to have. I wonder if my other intern friends have any tips they would like to add...

Happy preparing!!