A few thoughts.....I have been receiving a few "personal messages" through the mudcat in response to this thread...I want you to know that receiving the messages, encouraging this thread to continue, are VERY welcome and... thank-you for the comments. I was beginning to feel that this thread should end, and that maybe I was talking to myself at this point, until I started receiving messages. Because of the nature of the thread, it is NOT easy to post in the main forum. So, given that some of us are talking to ourselves in the chat rooms also, I've decided to plunge ahead and blither on.

I learned another lesson with K. this week. She has had a difficult week and tonight was utterly exhausted. I have mentioned before, that I can (so far) guarantee that when K. withdraws, she will come back out if I play Bill Staines' version of "Home On The Range". Sometimes it takes until the last chorus of the song, but she simply cannot resist singing "cloudy all day"-or just "day". We received a call yesterday from K.'s day program informing us that she had become violent and aggressive and could not come home in the center's van as she was endangering other 'clients'. I am either very stupid, very committed, or very RIGHT about the music...as I found myself volunteering to go pick her up. I overheard the supervisor trying to find an additional staff to go with me, interrupted her by saying that it wasn't necessary..."I have my tapes..we'll be fine" (thinking "Home On The Range".) On my way to pick her up, I realized that "Home.." is a song to bring her out....she was obviously already OUT! and the song, given her mood, could increase her agitation. Keeping my eyes on the road..TIC..(tongue in cheek)..I sorted through my bag of tapes and picked one that to my knowledge, she had not listened to. Another Staines tape with some simple, clear guitar. By the time I got to the Center, I had 'cued' the tape for her-AND it worked! She was loud, agitated, (but not violent) getting into my truck. Within the first few measures of the music she became quiet...good news in this situation. The third song was "Crossing the Water" and I watched.... this woman who came within seconds of being restrained and overmedicated....transform and sing along.

Reflecting tonight on Wednesday"s events, I feel there MUST be a way to do this more purposefully, and not just on a "best guess" that (fortunately) worked. I'm still thinking that there must be a way for those who perform in Nursing Homes, Mental Health facilities etc. to document or somehow jot a note about what they see. Researchers and scientists are NOT in those rooms watching and feeling. Musicians ARE. I"m wondering if jotting down in a notebook things like..."walked into room with .... patients; atmosphere was .....; played.......; upon leaving atmosphere was......; was told that.....; song that received best reaction was.....; instruments used were.....etc.

Does the thought have any merit?????or would it take too much away from sharing the music and the spontaneity that can occur??? Would it destroy the "magic" between the musicians and "audience"? If so, I think it's a bad idea, but if not, I would think that after a few weeks some kind of pattern may begin to show???....and sharing notes here may show more specific patterns. Well, 'nuff said.

Some of you have offered to post more information on resources etc...(nudge....hint.....nudge...hint....gentle elbow to the ribcage....hint)