In Harmony Music Therapy of Middle Tennessee

Category: In Harmony Blog

  • Songwriting 102: My Favorite Things

    I’m just that “age” aka Gen-X, that I remember watching the Sound of Music every December on TV.  I looked forward to it every year.  A somewhat tragic story of German Occupied Austria in the 1930s that centered on one young women trying to find her path in life and the lives of a family she changed along the way.  The music was so rich and lovely it left me feeling good and hopeful the von Trapp Family was going to make it out of war torn Europe and go on to lead beautiful lives as the von Trapp Family Singers.  Rodgers and Hammerstein were at their peek with this musical and it is a classic to this day.  In college, a friend gifted me her cassette (yes, a cassette!) of the soundtrack to the movie.  Later, after I received my music therapy board certification, during my first work driving to Kentucky to see children in schools I would play this soundtrack and “warm-up” my voice! 
    My vocal range is Mezzo Soprano so I enjoy singing both low and high notes along with Julie Andrews.  The Sing-A-Long nature of the movie includes so many opportunities for the audience to participate with the voices of the cast, such as So Long, Farewell and Do, Re, Mi.  The song, My Favorite Things is one I use most often in my music therapy work.

    It is healthy to talk about the things that give us pleasure and feel safe in life.  With children and youth, often this song is used for basic communication and self expression.  Asking, “What are your favorite things?” Is a way to open up communication and increase cognition by thinking through an answer.  I also have used this song for engagement and reminiscing with my group members who have Parkinson’s.  I have seen their moods lift as they think and talk excitedly about their favorite things.  This song is also good for folks with dementia diagnosis as it helps support memory care by utilizing memories that are still present.  


    Recently,  the Peterson’s Choir for Parkinson’s have been singing this song, My Favorite Things.  Since we are meeting each week on the Zoom platform, through the Fall season we have done several lyric rewrites.  Here is what they came up with: 


    Dark Chocolate Candies and Honey Wheat Bread, Butter on Popcorn and a warm cozy bed, Singing with friends on Zoom every week, These are a few of the things that I seek!

    Sweet Carrot Cake and Sunshine in Blue Skies, Walks in the Park where green trees sway! Seeing friends, dogs, and birds makes me happy today! These are a few of my favorite ways! 


    Bacon and eggs to fill out our morning, Grandma’s Beans in the evening with fresh buttered corn bread, Steaks on the grill with friends playing music, These are a few of my favorite things!


    When the Arms Shake!When The Feet Freeze! When I’m feeling off! I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad! 


    What are some of your favorite things in life?  What have been hardships or challenges that you or a loved needs encouragement for? I would encourage you to write a list of your favorite things and perhaps sing about them too!  Need a refresher of the song? Check out my Feel Good Friday Video on Facebook from July 24, 2020. The song starts at minute 1:14.


    One of my favorite things in life is my music therapy work.  I’m passionate about it. 

    Did this post inspire you? Take the next step and sign up for a FREE Consultation Session to find out more how Music Therapy can benefit you and/or your loved one!


    I wish you good health and wellness for the New Year to come! 
    Happy Holidays!

    Schedule Today!

     Ms. Carrie 

    Happy Holidays!

  • Lyric Writing 101: Expressing your hopes

    First written in December 2020, this blog has been updated to be used with any year end reflection!

    I hope you and your family are doing well.  I know, in typical years past, the holidays sometimes come with a mixed bag of emotions for folks.  Children can feel anxious when off schedule.  People with Parkinson’s can have feelings of apathy due to isolation and little social stimulation.  People with cognitive impairment can become more confused.  Caregivers can feel very fatigued.  Finding ways where we, or our loved ones, can have good moments of respite, relaxation, and engagement in enjoyable but relaxing activities is key. What are some ways that help you or the one you care for rest from the stress of life and the holidays? 

    Here’s an idea: If you were to write one verse of song to reflect your hopes for the new year what would you write? 

    Have you caught any of the “Feel Good Friday” videos on the In Harmony Music Facebook or Instagram pages?  This past week, to start off December, I sang the traditional carol, Deck the Halls.  While I was practicing, it struck me that the last verse talks about looking forward to the new year ahead!  

    Fast away the old year passes…Fa…La…Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, Fa…La…Sing we joyous all together, Fa…La…Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa…La…

    Back in December of 2020 when this blog was first written I was glad to see the year move on! It was not an easy year!.  So I wrote this verse: 

    Finally 2020 passes! Fa…La…Hail soon vaccines are coming in masses! Fa..La..,Sing we now all social distanced ..Fa…La..Mindful of wearing our masks in this instance …Fa..La!

    Rewriting song lyrics and “piggybacking” on familiar tunes is a way to creatively express what one is feeling at the time.  The familiar melody and the sentiment of the song brings structure to the activity, but the lyrics are our own to figure out. As a music therapist, this is one of the activities I often use to bring out creativity, support communication, and encourage self-expression in individuals. All non-musical, individual goals of making music for therapy.

    Again, if you were to write a verse about your past year how would it go?  You could use this song tune and structure, or find another that fits your feelings and thoughts at the moment.  

    Click Here to watch me singing my version of Deck the Halls!

    In my practice I have worked with individuals and groups of all ages and various needs to promote wellness and support.  If you’d like to know more about music therapy services as the new year approaches, feel free to reach out to me at carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com

    Did this post inspire you? Take the next step and sign up for a FREE Consultation Session to find out more how Music Therapy can benefit you and/or your loved one!

    Schedule Today!

    Bell well. Sing a song!

    –Ms. Carrie

    Be inspired this season!

  • Seven Ideas to Make the Thanksgiving Holiday Special: Quarantine Edition

    Seven Ideas to Make the Thanksgiving Holiday Special: Quarantine Edition

    Make new family traditions this Thanksgiving!

    Hello!  Hello!  How Are You?  


    In years past, during the start of the holidays, I would be involved with choir performances for my music therapy groups. Last year, I recall I was very busy leading performances from the Rising Star Choir, The Metro Parks disAbilities Group, and the Peterson’s Choir for Parkinsons.   I recall feeling so proud of my groups for all their progress and accomplishments!   However, this year, 2020, has proven so very different.  I miss the smiles on all my choir members’ faces as they sing and perform!  I’m glad I have videos on the In Harmony YouTube Channel to go back to watch, remember, and hope for more great concerts to come. 


    This year, many of us are staying home and away from family as measures to social distance and reduce COVID spread. This feels very different too.   Even in my own small family unit I’ve been thinking of ways to connect with friends and family. I also want to make Thanksgiving Day special and festive for my kids an husband.  Here are seven ideas I want to share with you: 

    1. What food does you or immediate family members really love but do not have all the time?  Make an abundance of these.  Fo me it’s dinner rolls and deviled eggs, which only get served on holidays.  My kids go crazy for both!  
    2. Make that special dessert that you or your family crave, not matter if it is pumpkin pie or just good old fashioned brownies!  Involve the kids if they are keen to help out. 
    3. Spend a few hours watching a favorite movie or a binge of shows together.  Pop some popcorn or have that bag of potato chips you don’t often buy.  
    4. Go ahead and start decorating the house for Christmas!  
    5. Play your favorite music and have a dance party, even break out the Christmas music if you are so inclined.  
    6. Take a walk in the neighborhood at mid-day. Hopefully, the sun will be shining high in the sky! 
    7. Zoom or FaceTime with family and/or friends during dinner time and have dinner virtually “together”! 

    What are some of your family traditions? What are you doing new and different this year to keep Thanksgiving festive and fun? Drop a comment below and let me know what you are up to and to share more ideas! 

    As always, be sure to follow In Harmony Music Therapy of Middle Tennessee on Instagram and Facebook. If you have any questions about music therapy services, feel free to reach out at carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com. I’ll be announcing my January schedule soon, so keep on the look out for more updates in the weeks to come! 

    Did this post inspire you? Take the next step and sign up for a FREE Consultation Session to find out more how Music Therapy can benefit you and/or your loved one!

    Schedule Today


    I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! 
    All the best, 

    Ms. Carrie

  • Music Therapy Parent Ed Moment: “One Little Owl”

    Hello Parents!  I have a song to share with you today! I use this song in my work as a Board Certified Music Therapist.  Check out this 2 minute video which teaches you the song so you can sing it at your home and lets you know how I use this song in my clinical practice with children with special needs.

    Want to know more about how music therapy can benefit your child?  Sign up for your FREE 30 minute teletherapy consultation to speak directly with me, Carrie Friddell, MT-BC, on how music can target your child’s specific needs.

    Schedule Appointment

    You can also reach me at carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com or call at 615-390-3207. 

    Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon!  

  • How to sing to your infant 0-9 months

    How to sing to your infant 0-9 months

    Parenthood.   The virtues of parenting one another with unconditional support and care are to be celebrated! Caring for infants involves leading by example and providing the necessary care to provide a good life for them.
         I learned from my own mother one of the best lessons about bonding with my children musically.  She doesn’t have a music degree.  In fact, I already had the music degree and the certification to practice music therapy before I had children.  Yet, just a few short days after having my first child, I learned something they don’t teach in a classroom.  I knew that music is an important factor in bonding so, at her birth,  I sang “Jesus Loves Me” to my new infant while he was laid on my chest for the first time.  I’ll never forget how wide-eyed he was in that moment.  But, after we took my sweet infant home, I was a bit overwhelmed.  I had held babies before but not 24/7.  I didn’t know how to fill the time between feedings, sleeping, and diaper changes. Then, one morning a few days after my child was born, my mother sat down on the couch with her grandchild, propped him on her knees to get face to face with him, and began to sing “The Wheels on the Bus” while stretching his arms back and forth to do the motions. My mom said to him, “You need to do your exercises” and proceeded to sing other songs while continuing to gently play out the motions with my son’s arms and legs.  After all my education, I was being taught how to musically play with my own baby by the wise mother in my life.
         Music Together, LLC, curriculum has a great explanation of why the lap/dyad is important:
    Infants learn with their whole bodies and with all of their senses; developmental psychologist Jean Piaget characterized this as “sensorimotor” learning.  Infants are also thought to not yet fully differentiate themselves from their caregivers (Winnicott, 1986); they likely consider their grownups as an extension of themselves.  Thus, nestled in the lap of an adult who is moving rhythmically, the baby is in an optimal position to take in beat information through both her senses and her body, as well as to experience what it’s like to move to the beat.  In addition, an adult who is the role of “baby mover” may be more comfortable moving to the beat, because she is doing so for her child.  As the baby grows out of infancy, an adult who began as an “uncomfortable mover” may become more at ease with moving and dancing without needing to be holding a child. (Guilmartin and Levinowitz, 2012).
         After my mother’s lesson, I sang many other songs with my child on my lap.  It also encouraged his eye contact with me.  Sometimes, I incorporated a rattle or bright baby toy and moved it slowly back and forth just above his face to help develop eye tracking.  I sang or read simple board books and turned them to face him so he could look at the pictures and strengthen his sight and focus his attention.  I came to cherish those first few months of musical play time with my baby.  The truth is, he was colicky and cried a lot the first three months.  Yet, when I sang to him in this fashion he was calm and engaged.  This was an important technique to have in my “mommy” bag of tricks!
         What musical techniques are in your bag of tricks for supporting children musically?  Feel free to leave a comment on the In Harmony Music of Middle Tennessee Facebook Page!

  • 10 Therapeutic Characteristics of Music

    1)      Music captivates and maintains attention – it stimulates & utilizes many parts of the brain

    2)      Music is easily adapted to, and can be reflective of, a person’s abilities

    3)      Music structures time in a way that we can’t understand (“that’s the last verse – my exercise session is almost over!”) 

    4)      Music provides a meaningful, enjoyable context for repetition

    5)      Music provides a social context – it sets up a safe, structured setting for verbal and nonverbal communication

    6)      Music is and effective memory aid

    7)      Music supports and encourages movement

    8)      Music taps into memories and emotions

    9)      Music – and the related silence – provide nonverbal, immediate feedback

    10)  Music is success oriented – people of all ability levels can participate. 

    This was a list given to me during my training as a music therapist. If you want to know more about Board Certified Music Therapy or to schedule a private consultation, contact carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com

    Schedule Today

    Did this post inspire you? Take the next step and sign up for a FREE Consultation Session to find out more how Music Therapy can benefit you and/or your loved one!