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MY METHODOLOGY FOR SURVIVING ADHD WITH MUSIC THERAPY

by Ian Walker, ADHD Author, Musician and Vocal Artist

As I have discovered from the success of my book Stirring My Soul to Sing, Overcoming ADHD Through Song, (published by Word Alive Press, 2018) that during the writing process and in just getting my story out there; I forgot to include my music therapy methods and in going deeper with my techniques as an alternative instead of taking prescription drugs for one’s ADHD..

During my teen-age years, I was often exhausted, frustrated and bullied. I needed some therapy to bring my emotions back to square one. Peace came with an activity when I knew that I did well and in playing the piano or singing.

One tangible result was a strength to fight off negative feelings of depression and to build up self-esteem. When I went to this music therapy session at least three times per week I could function and survive another day.

I would suggest that for the person looking for help to listen to classical music, instrumental music (meditative in nature), folk music or selected positive pop music. DO NOT USE ROCK MUSIC…

FOCUS ON THE BRAIN AND BODY WORKING TOGETHER (Half an Hour to forty-minute exercise)

  1. Being a budding pianist and wanting to improve on my technique, I would start with practising my scales and arpeggios. When studying voice, I would use these same techniques with lots of “warming up vocal exercises.”.
  2. Techniques I developed were playing the piano piece and then dissecting it. These same applications were applied when developing a vocal piece or aria.

TAKE A BREAK, STRETCH AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER (NOT POP)

PERFORM OR PRACTISE MUSIC THAT IS ENJOYABLE…

  1. I would practise songs or piano pieces that I enjoyed in order to have them in my repertoire so that I could have them ready to perform publicly.
  2. If you were interested in composition or just getting to know your chosen instrument, I would start to “fool around with” some new pieces and new sounds,. Challenge yourself. Follow your interests in various styles.

TAKE ANOTHER BREAK. STRETCH (PREFERABLY 10 MINUTES) AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER! 

EXPLORING DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC AND SOUNDS AND LITERATURE!

  1. Educate yourself on all types and expressions of music, theory, history and composition You will develop your passion for a specific composer, artist or instrument.
  2. ADHD folk are generally very intelligent people, I wanted to learn about different forms of music, popular song, jazz, classical, opera and folk. I also researched or in listened to other tonalities of other countries and their composers. With the aid of the internet, listening to varied sounds and styles of music is accessible.
  3. Personally, I am constantly reading and learning from biographies or autobiographies about varied creators, composers or artists. They have challenged me. A quiet confidence in myself has enhanced my self esteem.
  4. At the end of your daily exercise you need a “cool down period.”” Journal your progress. What new things did you do in your own musical therapy? What pieces or songs did you work on? Rate your performance. Are they ready for the public?
  5. Keeping track of your own progress is a good way to have a documented record. Showing this information to your doctor or medical professional is wisdom-letting them see your daily activity. This journal would be used to invite their suggestions and comments.

I invite your feedback at encounters@emliancommunications.org

 

December 13, 2018 By blog 0 Comments Read more...

W. Ian Walker & his book “Stirring My Soul to Sing” coming to Cambridge, Waterloo, & Dundas ON Canada-Updates for book signings for the fall months!

Come and meet W. Ian Walker, author of “Stirring My Soul to Sing, Overcoming ADHD Through Song” he will be at two of the Gospel Lighthouse Bookstores on October 20th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. (Cambridge) 580 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge ON N1R 6J8  and on October 27th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. (Waterloo)110 King St S, Waterloo ON N2J 1P5

On November 10th at Dundas Baptist Church 201 Governors Rd, Dundas ON L9H 3J7(Please RSVP for the Dundas event, before Nov 2nd and it will be on November 10th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. )

On November 22nd from 9:30 a.m. until noon, at Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church at 245 Lexington Road, Waterloo, ON N2K 2E1 I will be sharing segments from my book, singing some pieces and interacting with some amazing seniors for a pre-advent fun-filled meeting.

Mr. Walker is looking forward to meeting many people, signing copies of his book at these events and wanting to hear from folks who have ADD/ADHD and how they have survived this disorder? Please forward to friends and family whom you know live in the Cambridge, Waterloo and Dundas, ON areas or who have ADD/ADHD. All welcome! Thank you for networking for me!

October 11, 2018 By blog 0 Comments Read more...

My Take on How Husbands and Wives Communicate

Canadian author and good friend Laura Davis received this email. I guess this humourous piece of prose for “women only” had been circling around the internet galaxy for some time and finally made its way to her mailbox. Laura wanted to get some feedback from her “mostly” female audience and jest to her team on its copy.

“Nine Words that Men Need to Know”

Tablet and phone
When she posted list of do’s and do not’s on her blog, she caught my interest. What are the nine words that women need to know about their men? Or can the tables be reversed, especially when it comes time for a man to have some down time, read a good book, listen to fine music or watch the beginnings of a good movie. This humourous email started a spark in me that continued into a flame. By the time I finished reading this email, and made my comments, the flame developed in a real barn burner. This is how the email began, men, and I am sure that you’ll be able hear the voice of your spouse giving you that cold evil eye!
  1. “Fine” — This is the word women use to end an argument. Do not say anything further. This is the time when you keep your mouth shut.
  2. “Five Minutes” — If she is getting dressed, this means a half hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game, before you have to help around the house.
  3. “Nothing” — This is the calm before the storm. This means something and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end with fine. (See #1).
  4. “Go Ahead” — This is a dare, not permission. DON’T DO IT!!
  5. “Loud Sigh” — This is not really a word, but you need to be aware of its meaning just the same. This is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (See #3).
  6. “That’s Okay” — This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That’s okay, means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
  7. “Thanks” — A woman is thanking you, do not question it or faint. Just say “You’re welcome.” (I want to add in a clause here. This is true UNLESS she says “Thanks a lot”. This is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say “You’re welcome” as that will bring on the next word which is ‘Whatever’).
  8. “Whatever!” — This is a woman’s way of saying TALK TO THE HAND.
  9. “Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it” — Another dangerous statement meaning this is something a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now something she is doing herself. This will later result in a man asking, “What’s wrong?” (For the woman’s response, refer to #3).
I’ve known Laura Davis for close to twenty years, and she and I have had the pleasure of singing and performing for many Christian events and concerts. I know her personality and her passion for life, plus her infectious laughter. My comments to her blog made her “laugh her head off”, as she could relate to some of the annoying things wives do, intentionally when men are not focused or are not paying attention to their wives or to their conversation. My pet peeve and the flame that I told you about really started to break out into a fire storm. Keep reading!
I will explain, as I wrote back to Laura’s membership on her site, about my personal pet peeves regarding respecting my “man time”.
“As one of the male members in your “mostly female group”, when these nine words or tone of action like this come up in my dialogue between my wife Elaine and me, it usually means that she is talking to me from the kitchen and I’m in my office either writing, creating or working on a project for a client. We now use an intercom, via our phone, which definitely helps with communications, one room to the next. I am also “guilty” of the term “five minutes” when I hear her speaking those words to me, which could mean “dinner’s ready, get your butt out here…the food’s’ hot and I hate eating cold food.”
My wife is usually very patient with me, as she doesn’t like to eat our “main meal” together without me. So, if I hear the “five minute warning” then I know I’ll be in trouble if I don’t respond! Being male and also engrossed in whatever I’m writing or creating, I don’t always hear these “nine words”, unless I’m not responding to her questions, and she’ll come and talk to me at the entrance of my office. That usually means something is important and we need to talk about it!
However, ladies, I’m a movie buff, who has partial BA degree in Film (and I have over 300 DVD’s and VHS tapes in my collection), and I hate it when Elaine wants to talk to me “using some of these nine words plus sign language” when the movie is just beginning. Ladies, why do you talk to your husbands when something important is either on TV or video (excluding sports) and you need to let us know “right there and then” what’s on your mind?
Could you not give us warning as the DVD is starting to engage that you need to chat about something? Great, we’ll stop the DVD and then we can chat? NOT IN THE BEGINNING OR THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE! When my parents were alive, I’d see my father married to my mother for 57 years, not respond at all when my mother chatted throughout a movie or sports program. I think part of the problem was that “dad was deaf” or that he would choose to block out my mother’s dialogue.
When my mother’s would use these “nine words” on him, it didn’t do much good. I would rather be progressive and tell my spouse that there is a season for everything, “a time to live and a time to die”, and a time to chat before the beginning of an important TV show or DVD!! That’s how I would take using these “nine words” in our relationship.
Now Ladies, don’t hate me, I think when you are dealing with an artistic male, who’s so consumed with the acting and direction of the film, as well as the written dialogue – that is where my focus is on, especially if I haven’t seen the movie before. In other words, ladies, if you have husbands like me, don’t bug us when the movie starts with idle conversation, or ask us “what’s happening now?”
January 24, 2017 By blog 0 Comments Read more...