Since Becoming a Professional...

Opps. I forgot I had a blog. Since finishing my internship at the end of February I feel like I've been so busy. I passed my music therapy board certification test in March, and then promptly was hired on as a subcontractor. I have been working as a professional music therapist now for 2 1/2 months. I haven't yet found my dream position. I have been applying, and reaching out to different sites, but nothing yet. None of the jobs I currently work are permanent positions. Or at least not positions I want to be permanent.

My subcontract MT position requires me to drive into North KC for every client I see. While it is fine for now I don't want to take any more clients than the 3 I currently have because I know I don't want to stick with the position. It was something I took on because I wanted to start working as soon as possible. On top of this I have a part time job as a BT/CT for one client on saturdays, and Nanny 8 hours on sunday for one family. I also took on a Substitute position in a school district while one of their music therapists is on maternity leave. Im secretly hoping she might decide to not come back and that I can just take over her position. Now that I've had the experience of working in the schools I really like it. However securring a position in a school district is proving more difficult than I'd like. One district never reached out for an interview, another interviewed me a week after I applied, but didn't offer me the job. And this last district hinges on whether or not a position will be opening or not. A couple of the teachers have asked if I was going to continue to be the music therapist next school year, and that if a position became available they would definitely request to have me return.

I'm also reaching out to some different early childhood centers that don't appear to have a music therapist on their team, because I love working with littles so much. But who knows if those will reach out or not. It's hard to know or find the contact information for those who have to power to hire in companies. If I could just make my own company I would, but I'm already stressed out trying to figure out how to file my taxes for my subcontract work. I think there are still places that expect things like music based enrichment to be offered more on a volunteer basis rather than as a paid position. If I didn't need money to live I would offer more music on a volunteer basis, but I don't want people to assume my services are a free thing all the time, or at all.

I wish I could just already be working in a dream position that pays well, doesn't burn me out, doesn't require much travel and has a hefty budget for instruments. Is it really too much to ask for? Well, maybe, But I still want it. I'm hoping my days of working 4 part time jobs will be coming to an end sometime soon. There is also the ever looming possibility of going back to school... but that is an expensive deliberation for another time.

Till then,

Riley Beveridge-Calvin, MT-BT (OOOO look at me with my extra letters so fancy!!)