Introductions

[Anonymous]

Share your professional experience with the group and what your hopes and expectations are for this course.

Be sure to come back and respond to others as well.

[Meghan Hanley]

Hello! My name is Meghan Hanley. I work with all ages as a music therapist with a private practice. I have a special interest in early childhood and would like to further my education in this area. For the class, I’m hoping to learn songs with new melodies and styles that I can integrate into my sessions. I would also like to meet and learn from other professionals.

[Erika Svolos]

Hello everyone. My name is Erika Svolos. I am the online moderator for this training. I live in New Jersey with my husband, my 8.5 yo daughter, and our cat Moose. It is a joy to be a part of this fantastic program and to join in your Sprouting Melodies journey. I am a graduate of Marywood University, currently, a graduate student at Montclair State University, and have been a music therapist in New Jersey for over 22 years. Over that time, I have worked in a variety of settings including in-patient child/adolescent psychiatry, a private clinic for autism, a large urban public school system, private practice, a private special education high school for individuals with emotional and behavioral disorders, and a private Orthodox Jewish special education school. In August 2013 I started my own business/private practice; Music Therapy Services of New Jersey, LLC. I completed the April 2013 Sprouting Melodies online training and it was a wonderful addition to my practice. I began offering Sprouting Melodies classes in February of 2014 and I’ve truly enjoyed working with my SM families. I have been moderating the Sprouting Melodies Online Training for the past 8.5 years.

I will be assisting with any questions and/or technical difficulties.
You will be receiving an email with information about the online forum technology and my contact information. If you do not receive the email, please contact me at erika.svolosmtbc@gmail.com.

I am looking forward to getting to know each of you over the next ten weeks!

[Diandra Doble]

Hello all! My name is Diandra Doble. I currently work through Roman Music Therapy Services and provide music therapy to a variety of ages and populations. I am very much looking forward to gaining more knowledge about music and how it plays into a child’s development. I wish to gain more songs and interventions to add to my repertoire and trial in my sessions with my kiddos. I also am very excited to be able to go along through this training with a group of professionals who have different experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, etc. Overall I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and growing as a professional through this training!

[Elizabeth Bentz]

Hi everyone. My name is Liz, and I’m in Albuquerque, NM. I primarily work within the ID/DD population through a private practice. Until recently, I contracted with the local school district to provide services through IEPs (they did not renew my contract). I also have a handful of private clients ranging from TBI to intellectual disability to ASD. Prior to moving to New Mexico, I spent 5 years in Indiana providing services through the Indiana Medicaid Waiver. I hope to learn new techniques I can carry over into my practice, as young clients are coming my way.

Additionally, and on a more personal note, my son is currently in early intervention, so I feel that I have a unique perspective. He gets music therapy (which was the first therapy I asked for), physical therapy, and speech therapy all for his gross motor and communication delay.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Welcome! It’s great to meet all of you, and read about your unique expertise and interests. You will get to know Meredith and I quite well over the course, so here is a little more personal background. I am a grandmother now, with 4 year old Max and 9 month old Shani.It is such a wonderful opportunity to revisit all of the songs and music up close and personal with my own family. Shani’s favorite is a song called ‘Ten Little Fingers’ from my new song book.
Although I’m retired from clinical work, I still am quite busy teaching at both Molloy and Shenandoah Universities. My latest passion is assessment in music therapy.
I’ll be checking in on the forum, but you are in good hands with Erika. Feel free to reach out to any of us through email at any time.
Elizabeth

[Elizabeth Bentz]

Max is a great name (we named our son Max)!
I’m excited you are working on assessment in music therapy; in my graduate coursework, Dr. LaGasse had us discuss assessments and why there are so many yet so few that are tested for validity and reliability. I’d be interested in hearing where your focus is.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

I’d love to talk more about assessment, Liz. It is great that you are learning from Dr. LaGasse. I, too, get frustrated that people are not aware of, nor are using, the new assessment tools that are out there. I have two published early childhood assessment tools (RH has a course on them) and I would be thrilled if you would be interested in using and/or researching them!
Do you know about the International Music Therapy Assessment Consortium? They have been working hard to address the use and study of assessments. https://www.musictherapy.aau.dk/imtac

[Holly Jurca]

Hi all, my name is Holly Jurca. Apologies for the delay on posting – I just got back from a vacation. About me: I just finished my music therapy internship at Care Dimensions and recently started as a Programmatic Specialist at Roman Music Therapy Services. I am very excited for this course, as I have primarily worked with older adults. I hope to gain tools to be able to remain flexible and spontaneous in the moment in music, as well as gain some more key knowledge on early childhood development. Looking forward to getting to know you all during this course!

[Meghan Hanley]

Congratulations on finishing your internship and joining the profession! I also am looking to gain more knowledge on early child development and am glad to be in the class with you all.

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