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.

[Kristina Rio]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I will be away the next two weeks on my honeymoon, so I will not be checking in those two weeks. Please contact Erika, Meredith, or Beth with any questions you may have, and I look forwards to reading your posts when I return!

[Megan Calabro]

Kristina – best wishes!!

I was really inspired by this weeks training and the questions that were posed. I had the opportunity to run into a parent today at work that I had first met several years ago, and this parents shared with me why they felt MT was so beneficial. In their words, “you have such a unique skill set, and such unique experience.” I had to pause when they said that, because I know that I for one do not necessarily acknowledge that in myself. I one that I have unique training in comparison to many of my colleagues, but by being in a medical setting, I’m so used to seeing a child “only while in the music” (usually as procedural support), and I don’t necessarily have an opportunity to see them “outside of the music” (for example, when they are just with the child life specialist or another individual) and therefore truly see the difference that MT can make.

Bearing all of this in mind, I think it’s important to acknowledge what this parent said to me. MT’s have a very unique vantage point, and can truly provide opportunities for children and parents to intentionally be together in a creative, playful atmosphere that truly supports the overall development of the child and family. When I’m introducing MT to the families I work with at the hospital, I almost always say, “it’s so easy to get caught up in who you have to talk to, what you have to do, and families so often just need an opportunity to simply be family.” MT allows this to happen naturally, and supports that in very unique ways. I feel like this is particularly true when I meet first-time parents, adolescent parents, or single parents. But, I also can see where parents may feel threatened or anxious when the word “therapy” is used. Definitely something to continue to bear in mind when considering how MT can work within the community.

[Joanna Calahan]

Music therapists provide opportunities for growth and development without being threatening or invasive. Because music is something that most people around the world can connect with it provides opportunities to share, create, and grow both collectively and individually. I think that music (as well as art, dance, and drama) with young children is essential to their development because it not only helps with critical and logical thinking, but it also allows the child to explore the world around them, and experience different sensations and emotions, and increases our imagination and playfulness that we sometimes forget about or forget to use in our busy worlds.

[Dina Breaux]

Congratulations, Kristina, and I hope your honeymoon is filled with romance and fun!

Music Therapists bring a unique approach to early childhood development and the music programs geared toward that age level. Because of our expertise and training, we can identify developmental milestones in children and help guide parents whose child exhibits delays towards treatment options. Our flexibility with small and large groups of children lends itself to a more personalized, child-focused experience. The songs we use are easy to sing-a-long to and for parents to remember so they can share them at home with their child and other members of their family. My hope is that I will bring a sense of fun and joy to families; give parents a few musical tools to help them in their parenting; and give hope, support, and encouragement to those parents of developmentally delayed children as they navigate through the sometimes overwhelming experience of seeking help for their child.

[Gina Greeson]

I like Joanna’s statement, “Music therapists provide opportunities for growth and development without being threatening or invasive.” Music therapists can communicate without words and use the music and body language to communicate. It can provide families with a safe environment to connect. Music therapists are flexible and adaptable to the group needs/individual needs.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed reading all of your responses. This is a great exercise to show your value and what you bring to the families you serve. Thank you all for sharing.

[Lauren Klimek]

Music therapists bring a different approach to music than other professionals. Our approach is supported by extensive education,research and training in specifically working in early childhood and special education music therapy. We know what to look and listen for on a developmental level, whereas other music professionals may not be so keen to identify. Music therapy groups differ from music classes as it has intentions that go beyond just creating a playful and fun environment. Music therapy groups support a child’s development but also support and encourage the parent child interaction which helps the parent connect to their child on a much more emotional level. Can a child enjoy and learn from a typical music group? Yes, but music therapy is different as there is a relationship involved with the therapist and with that relationship comes trust and with trust comes the ability for real growth and sometimes (or hopefully) change, to happen.

[Megan Calabro]

Beth, Meredith, and Erika – weird, random question for you all… I happen to live in a smaller town, that happens to have Music Together centers in I think every neighboring town (so about 4, and all literally within a 15 minute radius). I also have another MT with a booming private practice (one who strongly promotes ABA informed MT) who’s located 15 minutes away as well… Have any of you ever had challenges with really advocating for SM in similar set ups? I’m mainly asking because music together had actually developed a clinical license (music together within therapy), and there’s just a lot of marketing that’s going around there. The other MT also has a very strong presence in the ASD world, and really advocates for ABA/MT. Just curious more than anything…

[Anonymous]

Hi Megan,

Music Together is pretty popular in the area of Morris County that I am in as well. The company that offers it here has been around for possibly 20 years so it is well established. I also have Kindermusik, Kidville, and a few other family music programs here. I have learned from Meredith, that it is a good thing that families are paying for music programs because that actually shows that they are interested and willing to invest in programs for their children. What I have worked to do is to show families the value that Sprouting Melodies and my background as a music therapist brings to their families. In the two years I have been running Sprouting Melodies I have gotten a handful of families who are truly invested in having a quality family program for their children. My goal has been to keep my Sprouting Melodies program small so I have not worked too hard to bring in a lot of families. But, there are many ways I could do more and would probably grow this program quickly if that was my goal. If you become a SM provider you get lots of support from Meredith, Beth, and the SM Provider network to help you create and grown your program. And I am not too far away and would be happy to help in any way I can. As for the ABA/MT thing. I have also seen the practices that are focused on provided behavioral programming, including ABA and NMT/ABA. My background training was actually more behavioral, including ABA, but several years ago I realized it was not the way I wanted to work as an MT and I studied to become more humanistic focusing on relationship based/person-centered/family-centered music therapy. I have not had a problem finding families who are comfortable with my approach and those that still go for ABA with their children still see the value in the work that I do for the children. I have also had one family switch from ABA based music therapy and to my practice (just a note that they approached me, I did not seek them out) and a second family that is switching their child from all behavioral and ABA programming to relationship based and/or DIR Floortime based providers for their child. So, I think there is room for all kinds of providers and enough clients for everyone. I hope that helps.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Megan, not a random question at all, but a very important one. We will be talking in the coming weeks about what makes the Sprouting Melodies program unique. As the ‘new kid on the block’ we often have to be very clear about the difference between what we offer and what other programs offer. A key point- the quality of Sprouting Melodies is assured because all Sprouting Melodies Providers are Board Certified Music Therapists. That is value!

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Megan et al, you might also want to look at the work of the AMTA Strategic Priority on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Information can be found at http://www.musictherapy.org/research/music_therapy_and_autism_spectrum_disorder/.

[Megan Calabro]

Erika – thank you for your response! I’m glad that you’ve had positive responses with your SM families. (Btw – one family that I referred to you has told me how much they LOVE what they are doing with you) I think my one fear, which is probably somewhat irrational, is that I’m going to start doing some demo groups at our child development center as part of the NICU follow up clinic, and then hopefully get some good solid groups going. And I’m somewhat nervous that it’s not necessarily going to be supported because it’s (a) something completely different from anything that has been offered thus far, and (b) something that’s totally not ABA. Hopefully, the value will prove itself.

Beth – thank you! I actually had printed out a copy of the AMTA document earlier this year. It’s a helpful resource for sure.

=)

[Kristina Rio]

Thank you all for the well wishes! We had a blast.

One phrase I often use when explaining the value of Sprouting Melodies is that we work by the child, not by the book as some other music programs do. That’s where our training as music therapists comes into play!

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