What value do music therapists bring to families of young children?

[Meredith Pizzi]

What value do music therapists bring to families of young children? Post your thoughts and comments to the board. Reply to the contributions of the group.

[Lauren Roberts]

Music therapists bring great value to families of young children! We provide a way for the families to connect and interact with one another, whether it is parents learning how to interact with their first child, or parents wanting to develop and/or strengthen a bond between siblings. We can reassure parents when they are concerned. We can educate parents when they lack particular knowledge, or may have been misinformed in the past. We can even help parents see this value – the “why” of what we do – so they will be more likely to continue using music in the home, thereby increasing the value even further!

[Kristen Crouch]

Music therapists have extensive education and training in working with a variety of abilities and types of people. MTs have the education and knowledge as well as the clinical experience to work with children of varying needs and abilities. MTs also have the ability to educate parents and model for them how to interact with and encourage development of their child. I’m sure that parents attending a SM class will find that that one hour is the most valuable time spend with their child all week.

[Barb Blackburn]

Music Therapists bring so many great qualities and opportunities to families of young children. It’s interesting that the video mentioned parents “not wanting therapy for their babies and toddlers”. I never would have thought about it that way. I think it’s important for parents to know that going to “therapy” doesn’t have to have a negative connotation. We as music therapists are simply promoting and encouraging healthy development, social skills, communication, and learning (among many other skills!). I think it is important for young children to be introduced to music at a young age, especially musical “activities” that are functional and help promote success. This also gives parents an opportunity that they might not have had otherwise due to working a full time job. They get to watch, and be involved, as their children grow and learn appropriate social skills. Parents and children alike can gain new knowledge and friendships through these classes.

[Lauren Caso]

We, as music therapists, offer a variety of expertise to children and families. We have extensive clinical training and experience among a wide range of populations and abilities, creating a solid skill set as both clinicians and researchers in the field. Our knowledge and awareness of the developmental levels of clients, and appropriate musical responses, allows us to provide educational moments in a session to caregivers. Using the open source model or framework of a SM session allows us to customize and adapt our sessions to meet the needs of the children and caregivers individually, within their family, and as a community group. The format we typically use to structure a session allows us to use our own song repertoire, or adaptations of songs, in order to engage the children and caregivers, allowing them an opportunity to adjust to their surroundings, offering a solid foundation in which to learn and grow. We as leaders strive to engage those in the group, create a safe and fun environment, and encourage caregivers to take the songs with them as “tools” in their child’s upbringing. Once parents/caregivers experience positive (and/or therapeutic) moments in a session, they will be able to recognize the value we can offer as music therapists leading the SM group!

[Bernadette Skodack]

I have to agree with everything that was said so far! We have quite the extensive training that allows us to work with all kinds of ages (children and parents included!) as well as all kinds of challenges. Our training also gives us the tools to engage groups but to also diffuse challenging situations while still being inclusive. Also, as music therapists, we have to have a TON of patience! Sometimes progress is slow…sometimes our clients need more time to process or respond…and we can allow for that needed time in our own practices and in our SM practice.

[Sarah Gagnon]

Strategies for Success
Ok- I paused the video…
Here’s what I’m bringing to the table:
I have over ten years of music therapy experience with children and adults in at home and educational settings with developmental and physical disabilities. Incorporating parents has always seemed like the most natural and important part of the work with the kids and with the adults (whenever possible). It has also felt like the most over-looked part to me by the parents. I’ve worked hard at respecting and being sensitive to the multiple dynamics and roles each family member brings to music therapy. This is hard for me as parents always want to see “results” that aren’t always immediately visible but that may occur over a period of time.

I do feel somewhat nervous working with ‘typical’ kids and their families but this training is helping to build some strength and courage in foundations and approach.

Parents will come to my program because I will help them build or discover the building blocks to bring music into their lives in even a small amount. Hopefully help them have a “take home” for their time sacrifice and money.

[Kristina Rio]

It’s so refreshing to hear all of your spiels on how we do what we do and why it works. Your answers were all so articulate and so true. It is important for us to educate parents about what we do as music therapist and why those skills apply to our Sprouting Melodies training, so keep these spiels in mind when introducing yourself to groups if you start a program!

[Meredith Pizzi]

This is probably one of my favorite forum questions in the whole course!!! Remember that you are valuable!! Your experience, training and perspective bring a great deal of value to young children, their parents, grandparents and caregivers! Thanks for all of your comments and contributions. And for all of those folks still contributing, take this opportunity to brag! We have a unique skill set and contribution to offer as music therapists!

[Caitlin Kauffman]

I loved SO MANY things said above! This particularly struck me – “Our training also gives us the tools to engage groups but to also diffuse challenging situations while still being inclusive.” While watching the video last week, I wrote down a number of things that I (and other music therapists) bring to the table when it comes to offering the Sprouting Melodies program or other services. With SM, our knowledge and training in MT is key, as there are other similar groups but without the required training that we have. We offer a high quality of music, enthusiasm, and a love for children and people in general. If we did not love people, we would definitely not be in this field! We have the ability to connect with people and to connect people with other people. Our ability to build therapeutic relationships promotes an environment of safety and support. While in school (and beyond) we gain experience in group leading and encouraging participation from all who are present.
Currently, I bring three years of hospice experience to the table, during which I was working closely with patients and families and encouraging connection and mutual experiences. I see this carrying over, though in a much different forum. I bring a love for, and a comfort level in being with, children. I bring counseling skills that might be very helpful when encouraging and supporting parents who are feeling overwhelmed and afraid. Above all, I think I bring a genuine heart that is open to learning and serving others.

(Is it weird that it feels a bit uncomfortable to write all of that for others to read? This feels like a journal entry I wrote a long time ago when I needed to remind myself of my own worth. I wonder if anyone else thought the same!)

[Ann Dardis]

I feel that parent’s value the educational aspect – when I share with them why I am doing something in a particular way. Also, it is encouraging to them to know that their child’s response to music is typical. For instance, putting maracas in their mouths or running around and seemingly not paying attention.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

It is hard sometimes to take the time to write down or talk about our value as music therapists. But I think having a deeper understanding of how and why our interventions allow for growth will help all of us become more articulate about how important we are!

[Meredith Pizzi]

Caitlin, This is why we challenge you to do this and write down what you bring! We know all of you have a lot to offer. We just want to make sure that you know it too!

[Amy Dunlap]

I agree with Sarah that the prospect of working with typically developing children is a little intimidating. Luckily, I feel that the developmental levels in SM training read almost like a handbook for figuring little ones out. I know that once I begin to see children on a regular basis (rather than one hour/month as is my current situation), thinking in terms of the developmental levels will become second nature and my skills will come to match the level of skill I have in other areas. I have great confidence in the SM model and in my own potential, which is crucial, I think.

In the video, Meredith says that some of the parents may even be older than we are, which really resonated with me, as I only graduated last year. In the communities where I want to build Sprouting Melodies programs, I know most of the parents will be much older than I am. I also know I can’t let that get in the way of my confidence as myself as a provider. Like Meredith said in the video, however old our adults may be in groups, they expect us to be in charge and want us to be in charge – all in all this leads to a better experience.

Now translate that thought into “value”: I believe that as the MT-BC, I am the specialist when it comes to both music AND development and have the unique ability to combine the two in creative, fun, accessible ways. The result of this effort is an extremely desirable product, especially in our culture, where parents seem to seek wholesome ways to support the child’s holistic development (mind, body, spirit). As is stressed in the materials, both the adult and the child experience joy while engaging in music together. Not only does the child bond with an adult who loves him, but he also develops crucial social, emotional, and cognitive skills that easily transfer to life outside of SM classes. Through SM classes, we are providing a service that parents are hard pressed to find anywhere else and from anyone else.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

It has been so interesting to read everyone’s comments on this topic. I’ve always had difficulty with the idea of “selling myself”(for lack of a better term) and/or my services; but I find it easier to focus on the value of music therapists as a whole vs. just myself and this course has greatly helped me to feel more confident. There have been no many great points made here. The first thing that comes to my mind is, when I started my group sessions, parents were constantly apologizing for their children. It is so valuable for the families to be able to come into a group setting, and just let their children be themselves! In whatever stage of development they are in, it is so important for us as the professional to ensure the parents that their child is not doing anything “wrong”. Music therapists enrich the lives of our families in so many ways: in creating bonds between caretaker and child, in creating support systems between families, and by facilitating child development in such a unique and effective way through music.

[Brandy Jenkins]

**Late Entry as I am Catching Up on Posting**

Music therapists bring the therapeutic focus and training to the families of young children. We are trained to look at the child individually even in a group setting. We can provide the validation and knowledge to the parents. Parents want to “get something” for the money they spend and it may make them feel more at ease having a music therapist facilitate based on that alone. They may feel more comfortable to have, what they may see as an “expert”, facilitating and may then trust the process more.

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