Don't be discouraged by ignorance. We all have the same problem. I was supervising a new MT Student one year who was just starting on guitar, learning songs and getting used to this whole idea. After about 6 weeks of first watching me, then sharing sessions with me, I had her do some on her own. One of the areas we worked in was the Palliative Care department of the Hospital I work in. There I do room visit and just 'waste' time with the patients talking and singing about their favorite music. I shoot for as much involvement as possible through song requests, singing and clapping. This one week I sent the student off on her own do visit some rooms. She went in one 4 bed room feeling totally unprepared and inadaquate, but she went in anyway. She told me after that after about 3-4 songs, she was singing 'You are my Sunshine' making a total mess of the guitar (still learning how to co-ordinate playing and singing), trying to sing the words and sort of lead the patients. Needless to say, she was feeling overwhelmed! She happen to look up from her guitar and over to one of the patients.....this person was singing along and had a wonderful smile on her face! Truly enjoying the music - FOR THE MUSIC ITSELF, NOT THE PERFORMANCE! She made a great discovery that day, The music we play and the music they hear are sometimes two very different things! It gave her a whole new perspective on what we do and are able to do as music therapists. I love those moments. We don't always need to be masterful musicians to get the 'point' across! And, I think I;ve said this before, we never know at what point we will reach someone with the music that we share. Whenever i leave a room here, I always thank them for allowing me to share some time and music with them.