We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kirby Gilliam. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kirby below.

Kirby, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I went to school to be a music educator, and after landing my first job as a highschool choral director, I quickly realized I was grossly underprared for the social/emotional needs of our public school students. I needed more training and researched what it would take to become a social worker or counselor or something to help these people only a few years younger than me. I learned about the field of music therapy and pursued the degree. What I didn’t think about was finding a job in a field that is quite new to the medical world and is just beginning to establish itself. I had this idea of providing music as therapy, but nowhere to do it to get paid. I just remember finishing my internship and thinking “I’m going to do whatever it takes to bring this service to my community”. I don’t think I ever had the idea of being an entrepreneur…it just happened.

My idea was as simple as that – bring music therapy to. my community. Never would I realize the amount of work that would be involved to make this a reality, but it’s been fun and rewarding as much as it has been terrifying and hard.

I figured out how to jump through no. less than 1000 hoops to become a medicaid provider. I spoke to so many groups and advocated for my skill set. I drove to houses with a guitar on my back and many bags on my shoulders to bring this service to people. It started to catch on and I decided to rent a small space in a local office building. I was worried about being able to afford $300 in rent so I sublet half of the space to a local organization to keep my costs low. Having an office space gave me the ability to use instruments that I couldn’t take to houses. The space was a hit, and suddenly I had a waitlist.

I took a risk and decided to hire employees and have spent the last few years growing my company into something special for my community. We just expanded again and employ 10 music therapist a team of admin and music teachers and are serving close to 1,000 community members weekly.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

PlainSong Music Services, LLC is east central Indiana’s largest brick and mortar sole music therapy provider specializing in humanistic approaches always keeping highest quality care number one!

PlainSong employees board certified music therapists who work with many populations including intellectual and developmental disabilities, geriatric and memory care, hospice and palliative care, substance use, public education, and more!

PlainSong follows the American Music Therapy Association’s (AMTA) code of ethics as well as the Certification Board of Music Therapist’s (CBMT) scope of practice using music as a catalyst for increased health and quality of life amongst various populations.

PlainSong is unique with our community approach. While music therapy is our primary service, PlainSong strives to make music accessible for our community through music experiences like our Babies and Beats and Toddler and Tunes classes as well as a variety of individual and group lessons. Our lessons are approached with a mindset of making music is an experience as well as a skill and while technique is important, the relationship with music is the most important.

PlainSong believes that all humans are musical and that making music can feel vulnerable and exposing. Because of this, we only offer experiences free of judgement and with the focus of personal growth.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Growing clientele has been a strength of mine, and I think it’s because I try to enter ever situation with openess and curiuosty. Who am I talking with? What are their needs? How does music fill these needs? I also truly believe there are very few situations where music can’t be helpful so I approach situations thinking creatively.

Music therapy is beneficial for so much more than what many believe it to only be good for – emotional and social connection. I’ve heard people say they can’t get their loved one out of bed. Music therapy can help with that! I’ve heard people say their loved ones are combative during bath time. Music therapy can help with that! I’ve heard parents say their kids just won’t follow directions. Music therapy can help with that!

The best part of growing clientele (for me) is that their success stories are incredibly rewarding and I know our product is actually making a difference in their quality of lives.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A huge lesson I’m still learning is “no” doesn’t necessarily mean no. It means, “let’s find another way”. I used to feel so discouraged because, as we know, in business we get a lot of no’s. In my case I got a myriad of “no’s”, “what the hell is music therapy”, or my favorite – “you’re not a viable business”. These comments used to get me down, but I’ve learned that these answers are typically from people that do not understand the product or the business model. I’ve learned that, now, when I get a no there is no more walking about with my tail between my legs. Now, I get a no and I get excited. I get to advocate more, educate more, and find outlets that are open and excited to learn about my INCREDIBLE service. Rejection can still sting from time to time, but I’ve learned to believe in my product, my company, and myself. That makes the no’s turn into yes’s more times than not!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.plainsongmusicservices.com
• Instagram: plainsongmusicservice
• Facebook: plainsongmusicservices
• Youtube: @plainsongmusicservices9688