Not Your Average Music Therapist

Kim Best
  • 5.0 (18)
  • CAREERS

Not Your Average Music Therapist is a space for music therapists who feel out of place or out of sorts to come together. Music therapy is a small field that faces lots of challenges. Why not go through these things together?! Kim Best is your host and will share stories, thoughts, and ideas around being the not very average music therapist herself. We’ll talk about wanting to leave the field, feeling like a phony, exploring new avenues, and other things on Kim’s mind. Guests will be invited on the podcast to share their stories and experiences within and outside the music therapy field. Listen in if you’re feeling kinda alone, and hopefully you’ll feel less alone through these episodes. Connect with us on Instagram here: @musictherapistpod

  1. FEB 23

    Two Things Can Coexist with music therapist, Amanda Bower

    I recently chatted with @amandabmusictherapy, and I wish we could have met up in real life on the beach near where she lives and done some shelling together. I imagine smiles and laughter, warmth and a cool breeze, sunshine and the best conversations. If that’s something you’d like to have with a music therapy buddy, I invite you to listen to this recent episode! Here are some points we covered: 3rd spaces, education in child life, college through COVID, after college realities, burnout, self care, adulting, sustainability in music therapy, resilience and changes, identity crisis, finding balance, fulfilling passions and needs in other ways, peace and making it work for you, REST, systems, gray areas in music therapy, community, social media marketing, and guitar tips. Phew! It was quite the loaded episode and we probably could have gone into even more! Enjoy this episode and its sweet reminders about staying afloat through the waves of life and work.   Connect with Amanda!  @amandabmusictherapy   Of note from the episode is Lizzie Digiovanni @musictherapyaugmented with her new course on music therapy and social media marketing. Check it out! As always, follow along on Instagram with the podcast @musictherapistpod and Kim @hellokimbest. Also, there’s a big concert, state association launch, and CMTE coming up in May! Stay tuned @musiccanhelp.

    1h 18m

  2. 11/26/2025

    Max Capacity with music therapist, Tara Jenkins

    Enjoy this episode with music therapist, dementia practitioner, and business owner, Tara Jenkins. Hear what it’s like working with older adults, being a seasoned music therapist, and having resilience through challenges. This conversation also gets really specific on music therapy group sessions, Thanksgiving song ideas, and rates for music therapy group and individual sessions. We’d love to hear your thoughts - send a message on Instagram (@hellokimbest or @musictherapistpod) or send an email to hello@kimbest.com.   Connect with Tara online! @HarmonyInDementia www.harmonyindementia.com

    1h 30m

  3. 08/04/2025

    Gardening and Business

    Lessons learned and Encouragement shared What do gardening and business have in common? In this episode, Kim shares her experience with both and drops insight into the process of starting something new. Enjoy!   kimbest.com/musiccanhelp

    47 min

  4. 07/28/2025

    Career Thoughts (on the road)

    This is a short conversation about holding on until things get better, because they just might.   Items mentioned in the episode: Subscription to receive letters of encouragement in the mail: pattern.com/kimbest Student to professional flow chart, Taking time off reference, and more resources: kimbest.com/resources End of the day review pad and Music can help T-shirts: kimbest.com/shop

    11 min

  5. 01/30/2025

    Transitions into new seasons

    New seasons are a good opportunity to reset, check in with yourself, and look expectantly ahead. In this episode I talk about Personal, Work, and Fun things to do at the start of a new year, new month, or new season. If you’d rather read this episode, check out the blog here: kimbest.com/blog   Some links from the episode:  Free “Take Time Off” Reference and CMTE-entering guide, kimbest.com/resources  Basic Business Spreadsheets, kimbest.com/shop/p/spreadsheets-for-taxes  Vision Board Making, kimbest.com/blog/visionboard

    25 min

  6. 10/28/2024

    Beekeeping with music therapist, Nick Lord

    BEES! Listen to some top-tips, to steer clear of bee stings, from a music therapist/beekeeper.   A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with my husband on a church roof with Nick Lord and the bees. Nick taught us all about bees and the process of beekeeping and harvesting honey. It was fascinating, and we found the queen on the first frame we looked at! This was definitely an experience to remember, and thankfully we can savor it a little longer with the hyper-local honey Nick gifted us.   Nick is a music therapist who has ventured into his other hobbies and passions in a big way, such as starting beekeeping on roofs around Rochester.     WHERE TO FIND THE HONEY: Find Flower City Bee Works honey locally in Rochester, NY at Stacy K Floral or one of Nick’s pop-ups around town (or you can enter our giveaway! Ends Nov 4).  Strangebird Brewing in Rochester has honey brown on tap/in cans, called Do Up, using honey from their rooftop hives that Nick manages.   WHERE TO FIND NICK’S MUSIC: Cover group: Spring Drive, www.springdriveband.com Folk group: Chaz & the Dazzlers, Intelligence Is Rising on Spotify   CONNECT WITH NICK: Instagram: @flowercitybeeworks   #rochesterny #beekeeping #hyperlocalhoney #musictherapist #musictherapylife #musictherapists

    48 min

  7. 09/23/2024

    Surviving as a New Professional with Dannielle Caldwell from MTPT podcast

    Welcome to this joint podcast episode! This is part 1 (of 2) of my conversation with Dannielle Caldwell, content creator extraordinaire, co-host of MTPT (Music Till Proven Therapy) podcast, and the creator of the all-new NEW PROFESSIONAL RETREAT! The retreat is happening THIS Saturday, September 28th, and you can still register up until Friday. There are limited spaces, so make sure you register now! In part 2, Dannielle shares all about the retreat and I share a special discount for all of you! Check out the second half of this episode here: www.musictherapynow.net/podcast and register for the retreat here: www.musictherapynow.net/newprofessionals These episodes are great for all music therapists, not just new professionals, as we share our stories and glean wisdom from the steps we’ve taken. Hope you enjoy! Connect with Dannielle here! @mtptpod @danniellemtbc @musictherapynow_ @musictherapyednow www.musictherapynow.net

    1h 5m

  8. 09/09/2024

    Reflections on Humanness with Hayley and Kim from Able Voice Podcast

    Welcome to this joint podcast episode! You'll hear part 1 on the Able Voice Podcast with Hayley and Kim of Synergy Wellness.   Some topics from the episode:  Behind Not Your Average Music Therapist podcast Competency and Experience What would you tell your younger self? Life advice Reminders on how to be human And the book I referenced, which I could not remember the name of, is Defining Music Therapy by Kenneth Bruscia. Enjoy the episode!   Connect with the guests Instagram: @synergymusictherapy, @ablevoicepodcast, @mtahayley, @mta.kimberly Email: contactsynergymt@gmail.com Website: synergymusictherapy.com Facebook: facebook.com/synergymusictherapy You're always welcome to send me a message at hello@kimbest.com OR connect on Instagram: @kimberlyjanebest, @musiccanhelp, @nymusictherapy, @musictherapistpod P.S. it's beanie season!!! You can find them here: kimbest.com/shop   About the guests:  Hayley (she/her) is a certified music therapist, speaker, and author living in Bermuda! She is passionate about lots of things including accessibility, anti-oppressive practice, and finds her clinical passion in working with older adults (e.g. dementia care and end-of-life care) and in neurologic rehabilitation. Kim (she/her) is a certified music therapist and singer-songwriter based in Kingston, Ontario. She works with many people, but her main area of focus is within the realm of mental health care, supporting people of all ages in living a fulfilled and healthy life. Together, Kim and Hayley, are the co-founders of Synergy Music Therapy & Wellness services which is the umbrella hub for a number of passion projects including the Able Voice Podcast. Under the Synergy MT brand, Hayley and Kim offer music therapy sessions with a team spanning across Canada and Bermuda, have released sticker collections, and most recently introducing their new Synergy Soirée series of events.

    43 min
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Not Your Average Music Therapist is a space for music therapists who feel out of place or out of sorts to come together. Music therapy is a small field that faces lots of challenges. Why not go through these things together?! Kim Best is your host and will share stories, thoughts, and ideas around being the not very average music therapist herself. We’ll talk about wanting to leave the field, feeling like a phony, exploring new avenues, and other things on Kim’s mind. Guests will be invited on the podcast to share their stories and experiences within and outside the music therapy field. Listen in if you’re feeling kinda alone, and hopefully you’ll feel less alone through these episodes. Connect with us on Instagram here: @musictherapistpod

Information

  • Creator
    Kim Best
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 Kim Best. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Not Your Average Music Therapist

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