Premises for…

320. Premises for…..

I wrote them for my thesis at New York University. They were based on the model of music therapy that I had set up for the nursing home where I worked.  The page is titled: Twelve Premises of the Model. They are written in spaces created out of a circle—a mandala—so none is more important than any other.

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See each person whole—also yourself—also the setting.

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Make contact with each person, musical if possible.

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Be alert for change within the person.

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Be aware of the long-term nature of the work.

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Use large groups to accomplish goals, gather information, do individual work within.

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Use small groups to target problems and populations.

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Work on your attitude about aging and death.

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Use individual work to end isolation and to work with persons who appear to be dying.

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Build a music history with each person.

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Maintain two balances—your time and energy; the kinds of work you do.

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Stay aware of the reality of deterioration.

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Find a song of connection.

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It’s a little bit interesting to read that list now, thinking not of working in a nursing home but of living my life at age 79. A lot of them still work.