Dear all，

Just wanted to share with you all about some of my works. As a music therapist at the hills clinic （people with mental health needs ），we write articles for our patients for readers. I wrote one for mindfulness in music，one about the magic of music. Have a look ：）

Best regards,
Hanna
hannatsoi213@hotmail.com

Music makes a lot of Sense - Facebook Page

Dear friends,

How's it all going? It's getting busy here and June is approaching - End of school term soon!

Just wanted to share a page that my music therapist friends and I have set up-
Music Makes a lot of Sense
https://www.facebook.com/musicmakesalotofsense

It's a link full of fun of music - What can music do? Some really funny links and videos of animals/ people playing music... and some touching videos at weddings :)

Feel free to browse around!


Best regards,
Hanna
hannatsoi213@hotmail.com

Connections with the clients

Dear all,

How does music change your life?

Music is a connection - it all starts with music.  In music, no matter how hard it is to talk verbally with someone, with the sound or a touch of an instruments, music speaks. A lot of times, I feel like the clients just needs someone to listen to. They have a voice need to be heard and someone to listen to them. Often clients that were mouth-shut start opening up themselves with their microphones. They speak up as they know they'll be heard.

Sometimes we can use music to record  their lives. They mark their changes and significances in life through their trials and difficulties. It can be a gift for them to look back and be grateful of what they are now.

For a bit of my own story, music has always been in my life. I sing songs I like, and sometimes write songs that I hum from my shower or on the road. I love going to concerts (Very much) - at lounges, concert halls to community ones. Music sits with me when I'm sad or stressed. Music is my only friend when I want to be alone, or when I feel lonely.

Music sings my life, and accompanies my life.

What about you?
Please feel free to share your thoughts :)


Best regards,
Hanna
hannatsoi213@hotmail.com

Self- Care for a music therapist

Dear all,

Being a music therapist can be a tiring job - Getting to places yourself (Unless you have a private driver, or you work full time :P) , Organising your schedules with clients and organisations by yourself (Emails, Phone Calls...), Working irregular times (Most don't work 9-5pm), and not getting a lot of colleagues (As we all run around to do the things we needed to)... and you might easily burnt out , even if you have a great heart. 

However, it is a very rewarding job. You get to use your own skills (Eg Music) to help and improve other people's quality of life , and maxmise their life potentials... You see clients and patients change over time as you build a clinical relationship with them. All of their lives are together wonderfully amazing.

Nonetheless, it's important to embrace self-care. "Self -Care"is a term for health professionals to maintain their own health to prevent burnt out. A good quote below explains it well -
 "Think of it like this: Imagine our energy is like a bank account. We choose to deposit or withdraw energy when we like. We are only born with a certain amount of energy, and if we withdraw it all in small amounts over time without making any deposits, we will end up impoverished very quickly. Self care rituals are deposits into our energy bank account. When we look after ourselves by taking a bath, cooking and eating a healthy meal, laughing with friends, getting into nature, or reading a good book, we top-up our energy account for when we need to draw on it again. Too many of us are in debt. We constantly draw on the account and spend too little time topping it up."

So, to care for my job so I am not burnt out, I found an online self-care community group! It's exciting and refreshing to have a self-care community group online , where you are privileged to share your burdens whenever and wherever you want to. They suggested a "30 Day Self-care challenge" - which includes questions like this :

What are you thankful for today?
What is your self-care practise this weekend?
What are some great things that happened at work?
What brings you joy and affirmation?
What are the things that keeps you going at work?

More about self-care:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/05/how-self-care-can-change-the-world/

Also, I found this great resource online that's called "Manage your stress through music"
http://www.amazon.com/Manage-Your-Stress-Through-Music/dp/0876391013

I've heard a famous quote that says "Love others as you love others".
If you burn out and not love yourself, how can you keep loving others?

Hope everyone is caring for yourself well before you care for others- Try practise a 30-day Self care challenge!!


Best regards,
Hanna
hannatsoi213@hotmail.com

What kind of music do you like?

Dear all,

Just a simple question - What kind of music do you like?

Recently at the hospital that we work with young adults with mental health needs, we've been introducing ourselves by the songs we listen to.

We all started to share the music of their picks. Interestingly,  most of the patients picked music that was NOT mainstream!  Most of them picked heavy metal or rap music. Some picked some ethnic or Indie music. They say that they like to be different, and the lyrics touches their hearts.

We usually share how this song relates to their lives, or how did they like it. From there, discussion stirs up! It's great to feel there's company when someone favors the same kind of music with you! Music- so simple to touch a person's heart.

What's yout type of song?
What's your top 5 picks?

Feel free to share it with us! 

Best regards,
Hanna

Mother's day

Dear all,

How are you all? I want to share with you about our mini project for mothers' day.
Most of my students/ clients spent time preparing a song in the previous weeks to play/sing for their moms as an unique present.

With every performance they did in front of their parents, all the moms' were all so easily touched, with the same facial expression on their face (no matter how well they played :p).
...

There's so little that we can do for you, mom...
Thanks for all the moms out there , and of course,
my mom Esther, one of the best moms that gives me all the support along the way,
when I feel like I'm lost, I'm not doing alright ... and you find me back

 -THANK YOU-

I want to share with you one of the songs my client chose for his mothers

"You Raise Me Up" - Selah
(This is a great version I found with my great friend Rebecca Yip's recommedation!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2sZuJbxi8Y

When I am down and, oh, my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up to more than I can be.