Hello everyone! My name is Zoe Levine, and I’m Annapolis Music Therapy’s new intern. It’s my turn to tackle the #MTAdvocacy challenge and decide what my music therapy advocacy anthem is. I honestly had a hard time picking, because there are so many things that go into advocacy. You could pick a song like “I’ve Got the Music In Me” by The Kiki Dee Band that’s upbeat and about how wonderful music is and its potential to completely affect a person, which is what I’m always trying to communicate when I advocate. Every time I excitedly start telling someone in a related health profession about cool new MT research or I talk to the person stuck next to me on the plane about all the amazing clients success stories I’ve seen, it always comes back to music’s power to create change.
However, I don’t think that encompasses the entire advocacy experience. Songs like “Fight Song” by Rachel Platton are also relevant. There are times when advocates are turned away and it can feel like you’re just a “tiny boat in an ocean.” The song talks about being in too deep and not caring if anyone else believes in you. It’s the semi-combative anthem a tired advocate sometimes needs.
I went through quite a few options for my #MTAdvocacy song, but I finally settled on “Conqueror” by Estelle. The song’s verses are subdued and sober and feature lyrics about making mistakes, having a vision that no one else sees, and people cutting you out of conversations. The verses are then balanced by a big, powerful chorus about standing up, being a conqueror, and not accepting defeat. Estelle’s song is all about accepting challenges and rallying to pursue your vision, which for me includes a world where everyone has access to music therapy.
Yours,
Zoe Levine
January is Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month.
AMT is participating by selecting and sharing songs that serve as advocacy anthems for our profession.
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