Citizen Patriot Article
IN
THIS CORNER – JAIME MERRITT
Jackson
Citizen Patriot – Sunday, October 5th, 2008
Name: Jaime Merritt,
MT-BC
Occupation: Music
therapist and owner of Harmony Garden Music Therapy Services
Age: 27
Education: Graduated from
Jackson High School in 2000; completed music therapy degree from Michigan State
University in 2005
Fun
fact:
Jaime is a country music fan and she plays the flute
When
Jaime Merritt graduated from Jackson High School, she knew she wanted to spend
her life surrounded by music. After earning a degree in music therapy
from Michigan State University, Merritt opened Harmony Garden Music Therapy
Services two years ago. She now uses music to help her clients in a
variety of ways. Freelance writer Shannon Maynard recently sat down with
Merritt to discuss her profession and business.
Question: What initially
interested you in music therapy?
JM: I went into
music education and decided that I did not want to be a band director.
MSU had a music therapy program, so I gave it a try and met my first music
therapy client. He was a little boy named Eric, diagnosed with cerebral
palsy. He was 12. He ended up passing away about seven months after
I started. We started a camp in his memory and I’ve been active in doing
music therapy ever since.
Question: What type of
clients do you typically work with?
JM: I work with
individuals with multiple or various disabilities (autism, down’s syndrome,
mental illness, Alzheimer’s, mental or physical impairments, etc). I like
to try to see them as people with abilities and to use music to bring out their
own unique personality.
Question: How does music
therapy work?
JM: There are
different options. There are individual sessions where a client is
one-on-one with me. I do an assessment where I write up a treatment plan
with goals that we work on. Another option is group music therapy.
Groups work more on the social aspects in addition to some of the individual
goals that can be worked into group… To me, music therapy does not mean
just one thing; it means a ton of things. People say that music is a
universal language, and it’s true because you can always find something that
someone understands or is attracted to musically.
Question: What is the
main purpose of music therapy?
JM: To make
progress towards goals that are non-musical, such as self-expression, speech,
communication, socialization, motor skills, etc. I provide clients with a
space and a place where they can be free to express themselves and to explore
musically, but in a way that allows them to be themselves. There are no
expectations put on them. They can come in at whatever level they’re at,
whatever kind of day they’re having, and my hope is that when they leave their
day has been made better.
Question: What
advantages and disadvantages have you found in being one of the only places in
Jackson that offers music therapy?
JM: I’m really
passionate about what I do. I believe in music therapy. I have the
knowledge and desire to get the word out that I’m here. (Music therapy)
is up and coming so a lot of people don’t understand what it is, I want to help
people understand. Music therapy works on goals that aren’t musical… but
I use music to get there.
Question: What do you
enjoy most about your job?
JM: I get to do
music every single day, and I get to see and witness how other people express
themselves with music.
Question: What is the
most challenging aspect of what you do?
JM: Everyone has
off days, and sometimes you want to see more progress than you’re seeing.
We’re working on goals, and sometimes an individual might not meet his or her
goal… I never want someone to leave here feeling like it wasn’t successful.
I want it to be a positive experience.
Question: If you could
change one thing about your life, what would it be?
JM: I would have
taken piano lessons from the time I was born! I wish that I was more
fluent in playing the piano.
Question: What do you do
in your free time?
JM: I scuba
dive. I love to do anything outside. I’m trying to get up enough
nerve to sing in public!
Question: What are your
future goals, personally and professionally?
JM: I would
eventually like to have to hire a second music therapist to help with various
contracts or individuals. I would like to run a music therapy
internship. I want to be the place for music therapy in this area.
Personally, I’m just taking each day as it comes and enjoying life.
1001 Laurence Ave, Suite H
Jackson, MI 49202
Phone: (517) 416-1088
Email: jme.mtbc@gmail.com
