center for early childhood music therapy, children's music therapy, music programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, music classes for young children, music therapists
Join Elizabeth Schwartz, MA, LCAT, MT-BC for the online event Together With The Beat: Expanding Your Early Childhood Music Toolbox. The event will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 from 8-9pm ET.
I was totally thrown off during a short trip to a local store during the height of the pandemic. As I approached the counter to pay, the woman at the register looked me directly in the eye and cried out ‘Miss Beth!’ Since I was fully masked, I couldn’t imagine how someone could recognize me, especially someone who was not at all familiar to me. She quickly came around the counter and again called out, ‘Miss Beth.’
My confusion must have been clear as she continued to explain that she remembered me from our time together when I led music groups for young children at the local library. As a music therapist, I had the privilege to facilitate integrated parent-child groups that focused on building community and a place for all within developmental music making. This woman and her son, a young one with many developmental challenges, were part of that program.
She burst into singing one of ‘our’ songs, and then emotionally shared that the music group was one of the things that kept her going through those early years of her child’s growth.
This story might not be so unusual except for the next thing this mom shared. Her son had gone on to thrive with this early support and was now attending a local community college.
The integrated, community-based music program was the foundation for Sprouting Melodies and for the Sprouting Melodies training. The training focuses not only on musical development, but on how developmental grownup/child music-making can create a community that supports children and grownups. It’s not just about the kids, but about those who care for them and the communities in which we all live.
If you are like me and want to use your music therapy education and training to make a long-lasting difference for all people, we invite you to join the next Sprouting Melodies training. The ten-week, completely on-line course is designed to give you the knowledge and experiences to make this kind of impact in your community. Our next training begins soon, and we welcome you to be a part.
Beth
Who’s More Stressed? The screaming toddler being strapped into their car seat? Or the parent trying to strap the toddler in?
I say, both. At this time of year which is supposed to be so magical, it sure seems as if there is a lot of stress out there.
What can I, a music therapist, do about it? A lot!
In my decades of running early childhood music groups, I was always amazed at the transformation from the beginning to the end – usually stress to smiles. In developmentally focused music making, we can help parents to better understand their child and give them both a safe and supportive space just to ‘be.’
This is one reason we started the Sprouting Melodies Training. The course makes use of your expertise as a music therapist, and gives you the knowledge, experiences, and music you need to serve the children and families of your community.
What’s unique about the Sprouting Melodies Training? We focus on both the child and the parent as people. Me and Me…Meaningful expectations. Music for engagement.
The Sprouting Melodies® program offers music therapists a chance to use your education, skills and experience to bring the best possible early childhood music experience to families in your community.
23 CMTEs available for you to complete in your own space, in your own time.
Registration is now open for January 2023!
What exactly do you get in the course?
Ready to register for the Sprouting Melodies Training?
We can wait to see you inside the Sprouting Melodies training!
~ Elizabeth & Meredith
Great news from Raising Harmony! We always ask for your feedback and we really do listen! Integrating all of the requests from our community, this fall we are:
Chances are, if you’re reading this post, you fall into one of three categories –
If you’ve already taken the Sprouting Melodies Training, and you want a refresher, or if you know someone who would benefit from taking the course for the first time, please share this with them! If you haven’t taken our Sprouting Melodies Training yet, join us for this updated and revised course including:
Earn 23 CMTE hours fully on-line, in your own space, in your own timePlease join us for the Fall ’22 launch. Click here for registration information. https://raisingharmony.com/training/sprouting-melodies-training-info/Prices will go up in 2023 to reflect the updated content and professional video recordings, so please take advantage of this first round of the updated training.
If you’ve already taken the course and this is a retake for you, please use the coupon code 2022SMTRefresher to get your special offer! If you’ve already taken the course, encourage your friends to take the training! If you refer someone to take the Sprouting Melodies Training Course will us, email Meredith directly and she will set you up with a free 3 Credit Short Course from Raising Harmony!
Want to learn more about our new courses and details for the Songbook Launch Party? Keep watching our Facebook page and watch your emails for more details to come!! We look forward to seeing you this Fall!
Meredith and Elizabeth
When Meredith and I started Raising Harmony, we were determined to provide solid, effective information on music, young children, and families. After hearing from the 100s of music therapists who have taken the Sprouting Melodies Training, we’ve learned that the training provides so much more. Through taking the training, people have:
What more can you do? Come join us for the next Sprouting Melodies Training and find out.
Click the link below to register for our next course beginning March 30, 2022.
https://raisingharmony.com/training/sprouting-melodies-training-info/
Hope to see you!
Elizabeth
Not ready for this round of training? Visit www.RaisingHarmony.com to download 5 free songs composed specifically for music therapists to learn and use.
Wow! What a year this has been. I have been thinking that 2021 is a little bit like the two-year-old’s I know – tantrums, tears, testing limits; but also times of incredible tenderness and tremendous growth.
Understanding development of little children is so helpful in understanding people in general. Want to know more? We’ve got a great course that gives you comprehensive information on development as well as music development. How to get that two-year-old to tune in? Covered. Getting parents, staff, and administrators to tune in? Covered. All this covered in our 23 CMTE credit, totally virtual Sprouting Melodies training course. Here is the link to register for our January 2022 course.
https://raisingharmony.com/training/sprouting-melodies-training-info/
Bonus! As part of the course, Meredith Pizzi, Erika Svolos, and I will meet with you virtually to answer questions or to brainstorm ideas and solutions. This would be a great time to learn more about successful ways to run Virtual Early Childhood groups. Yes, it can be done. And yes, you can get a two-year-old (and their grownups) to tune in!
Hope you will join us. Register by January 1st and receive an early-bird discount. Contact me directly with any questions Elizabeth@RaisingHarmony.com.
Here’s to 2022!
Elizabeth Schwartz
Beth
Additional Fall Opportunities
Music Therapy Job Opportunities
Many of you are familiar with Sprouting Melodies & Raising Harmony, but you may not be familiar with Raising Harmony’s sister company, Roman Music Therapy Services. Raising Harmony’s Co-Founder and Roman Music Therapy Services Executive Director, Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC invites you to explore the potential for your next career opportunity with Roman Music Therapy Services. We are hiring qualified, people-driven professionals to join a small, dynamic team that provides music therapy to communities across eastern Massachusetts. Open positions include Board Certified Music Therapists as well as a Customer Service Coordinator. Click here for the job postings, or reach out to jobs@romanmusictherapy.com with any questions.
Have you ever wondered how music begins? How does a tiny infant learn music that helps them grow into a Grammy Award winner, or a basement band fan, or a music therapist? It’s not a secret. We know how music develops and how it becomes woven into a person’s identity. But we also know that many college programs don’t spend much time on music development. It’s only when you get out in the field that you realize that it would be something good to know.
In our Sprouting Melodies Training course, we lay it all out for you in a clear and practical framework. Each small music detail leads into the music making and then leads into a persuasive understanding of music in overall development. Right from the very start. In every session we give you new songs, music, and strategies that can be used in your work the very next day.
It’s not a secret. We’ve had well over 200 music therapists take the training, and we hear all the time how helpful the information is, no matter where you work.
It’s not a secret that this is really great training. Come and join us.
Beth and Meredith
Dear Raising Harmony Friends,
Let’s be honest. This is a really challenging time on so many levels. And it is also a really challenging time to be a music therapist. I’ve seen so many music therapists who are feeling confused, overwhelmed, and lost.
When I’m feeling this way, I know I need to get back to the basics – to the things that really matter. I think this is one reason I love early childhood music so much. Young children bring me back to what’s real and honest. I’d like to share that feeling with you, especially if you are finding that you’ve lost your way in music therapy.
For those of you who have taken the Sprouting Melodies course over the last seven years, thank you for your support and suggestions. Earlier this year, we refreshed and revamped the training and we’ve had wonderful comments for the recent group of participants. The one thing we haven’t changed though is our basic commitment to provide quality content and a vibrant community of support for music therapists.
Hope you’ll consider joining us.
Beth
Elizabeth K. Schwartz, MA, LCAT, MT-BC
Co-Founder; Education and Training Director
Raising Harmony: Music Therapy for Young Children
www.RaisingHarmony.com www.SproutingMelodies.com
