Narrative:
Ray-Ray’s music therapist set a midi-keyboard on his lap and he began to play a long, upward scale, trying different digital instruments as he played. He eventually chose “endless ocean” to be the foundation of the piece. “I want to make a song about my mother… she is healing me, and healing you,” he stated. His voice seemed to overflow with joy as his music therapist joined in, adding vocal improvisation and drizzling lines of grand piano on top of his endless ocean scales, he sang: “Ay yay yay.” 
Months later, listening to this song together is still a special event. Although challenged with a variety of medical conditions, and with no prior music experience, Ray-Ray acknowledges that he is a musician too. During weekly music therapy sessions, his pain perception reports never fail to improve, perhaps because for Ray-Ray, music is Healing.

Healing

By Arthur Lyman Bray, written collaboratively during music therapy sessions at the SFVA Community Living Center. 

Narrative:
Arthur likes to be called Mr. Mouse on occasion and has a basket of “children” he likes to carry around the unit (what look like stuffed animals to most folks). He had a stroke many years ago and lives the reality of mental illness and institutionalization every single day. When writing a song in music therapy, the goals were self-expression, coping through music, and to promote meaningful, appropriate social interaction. As it turned out, writing Flying Pie Suite also capitalized on Arthur’s intrinsic strengths of humor, love for a fun time, and creativity. Throughout the process, Arthur remembered his strengths and motivations, experiencing respite from the day-to-day frustrations he normally experiences.  “It’s usually so boring here, I’m happy you’re here.” 

Lyrics:
…pt 1…
(C) I’ve been searching high and low
(F) Doin my best, takin it slow
(am) But I still can’t reach that (G) pie up in the sky. (F G am)

(C) Caught myself in a mouse trap
(F) Can’t go forward, can’t go back
(am) How long do I gotta wait to (G) eat that slice of pie? (F G am)

(C) Then I caught a whiff from my nose
(F) The scent of pie brought me to my window
(am) And there it was, the slice of (G)  pie just floated by (F G am)

…pt 2…
(am) Flying high in the sky with apple pie
Flying high in the sky, oh me oh my
(E) It so fun, why don’t YOU give it a (am) try (repeat x2 then again to end)

…pt 3… rumble! 
Driving down the same old highway in our car
Each car is different, which one is ours
Can you give it a try oh me oh my

Flying Pie Suite

Hava Nagila

These SongJams are a result of Veteran's engagement in the Music Therapy program here at the SFVA's Community Living Center. Songwriting in music therapy is the process of creating, notating, performing, and/or recording lyrics and music by the Veteran(s) and therapist to address goals like: increase creative self-expression, promote meaningful social interaction, engage in reminiscence/life review, improve cognition, create/validate successful experiences, externalize thoughts, fantasies and emotions, practice choice and decision-making, as well as enhance communication and coping skills to name just a few. Sessions may follow a structured, stepwise order such as: choose a topic, brainstorm towards lyric creation, explore and select melodic, rhythmic, emotive, and/or stylistic components. Sessions may also follow a non-directive songwriting process via spontaneous improvisation and/or musical play, depending on Veterans unique ability levels, identities, musical preferences, etc.

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