[Alexis Ramagnano]

I am planning on starting advocating for the music therapy profession at the daycare center my children attend. I have provided a free music group session there in the recent past and was told to drop off a flier once I get my business up and running. I feel that this opportunity is a great starting point because it would provide me a connection to the sister locations that are in the area. There is also a recreation center in my township that offers various fitness and wellness programs. I am hoping to make some connections there and see if I can offer some free sessions to establish an interest.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

Julia, thank you for the information on business building CBMT courses! Tomorrow will also my my final day at a place I’ve worked at for over 8 years. I am going to be building a business from scratch but feel more motivated since completing this training. I have been discussing a business plan with a really close friend who is a CTRS. I am not sure that I will be able to provide Sprouting Melodies programs if I have a CTRS assistant. Is this something that would be ok? I am having surgery on Monday and will have six weeks of rest to figure things out. I am hoping this time of healing will also be a time of growth.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

I agree with everyone’s answers as well. Despite not yet working with children, I find that our trainig to use the music as the tool to elicit a desired response is one of the best ways to reach a child. I find myself doing this daily with my own children and it never fails! In my opinion, there is music in all of us, so no child can fail in a music group. For example, I’ve turned a tantrum into a silly vocal improv with body percussion that has stopped my daughter in her tracks to join in.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

I am excited to venture on a new path of growth as a music therapist. I have always worked with adults 18 and older (aside from my practicum placements). I remember being a music therapy student and being fully convinced that working with children was my path. I graduated and got a job working in a long term care facility and have been providing music therapy for adults ever since (10 years).
Something recently has been pulling in this direction, maybe seeing my young children and their friends enjoying music, and I have the feeling “it’s now or never”. I really want to expand my horizons as a music therapist and feel challenged. I believe that providing Music Therapy programs ,for children and their caregivers in the community, is the challenge I am ready to take on.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

I think that the challenge will be making sure every child is being engaged to the capacity they are able to handle. I currently run groups with adults. Each group is comprised of mixed age ranges, ability levels, and cognitive levels. I constantly have to mentally check myself to make sure everyone is engaged. There are times I am not sure that I have reached everyone in the group.
MY hope is that the parents will be a great support, that the children will be honest ( which I know my children can be brutally honest at times), and that I have established a trusting relationship with families so they can express themsleves openly.
Another challenge of mixed age groups is being able to use the training from each Sprouting Melodies level all in one group. That is a little intimidating but also seems like it will be fun to have to be so spontaneous.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

Music for skill building is very specific. A desired music skill is identified and the goal focuses on successfully attaining said skill. There is development but it is only addressing that one skill. In my opinion, music for development is always evolving since development is usually always progressing. We have learned about all the changes that a developing child experiences from month to month. These developmental changes actually influence how we provide music.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

Five words for SM3: energy, flexibility, expression, creativity, independence

SM 3 plan: Begin with “Sit Down With Me and Join My Circle” and allow the children to find a spot in the circle and encourage them to join in and encourage the others to join until everyone, who is willing to, has gathered together. Next, I would move onto “My Brand New Friend” and have the children begin where ever they are and then encourage moving to another group member and change the action ( shimmy shake, make a funny face, Etc.) Songs About Me I would Use “Where is The Music?” And encourage the group to tap on different parts of their body for each verse. For example the lyrics could include ” I make my music on my knee” ” I make my music on cheek” etc. I feel like I would incorporate a few Songs About Me because children in this age grouping tend to be focused on self. I really enjoyed “You Play A Little” for the Instrument Song selections because it encourages turn taking. Also, “Music Is The Way” is great for Instrument Songs but I can also see it being used as a Bonding Song. For Movement songs I would adapt the song “The Leaves Go Down” and have it fit the appropriate season “The Rain Falls Down” or ” The Snow Falls Down” or “We Fan Ourselves”. I like the idea of incorporating the scarves for this activity. Finally, I would end with a predictable Goodbye Song so everyone can prepare to leave music.

Family Sprouts five words: Bonding, Unique, Sharing, Relationships, Acceptance

Begin with “I’m Glad You’re Here Today” to greet everyone (make eye contact) and make everyone feel welcome and comfortable in the space. I feel that a few Bonding Songs might be needed in this grouping to allow each child the opportunity to bond individually with each person they came to the group with. Songs About Me, I enjoy the calm energy and focus required for ” All Of This Is Me”. I would encourage the children to assist their little ones with pointing to the body parts in the song and then do it for themselves. The Instrument Song ” Dancing In the Middle” would be great to give those older children the freedom to get moving in the group center and also allow the parents the opportunity to focus on their younger children. The “Can You Follow” movement song would incorporate instrument play or movement call and response. I would end with a goodbye song like “Thank You Very Much” because it is great to have the children shake hands with their loved ones and group members before they leave music.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

Unfortunately, I do not have experience with using instruments with children yet. I was actually going to be asking this questions because I am looking to start my child appropriate instrument collection soon! I am taking notes….

[Alexis Ramagnano]

Stimulation with SM2 is essential to keeping the children engaged. I feel that our MT training and intuition will play an important role in assessing how much each child will be able to tolerate. It is hard to say how much is enough or too much because each child is different. Although I am not currently working with this population, I feel that the parents will be able to offer some insight too, whether it is verbally or through their own body language, if they feel overstimulated. I feel children are a reflection of their parents and trust their parents at this age, so they most likely will respond like their parents.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

1. Fun, energetic, exploration, discovery, personality

2. Allow yourself to synchronize with your child’s movements, not necessarily the rhythm of the music., This space is safe for your child to explore and move about freely., I clean all instruments after each group so it’s ok if your baby puts the instruments in his mouth., Your child may want to sit on someone else’s lap during this group and that is developmentally appropriate., That is so great that he/she wants to face outward and see everyone!

3. Greet everyone and begin with a GATHERING SONG. I love how inviting the song “Hey, Hey, Come And Play” is. Parents can allow their children to explore others in the room and/or bounce their child on their knees. Next for the BONDING SONGS, the “Wiggly, Jiggly Car” song is also one of my favorites. The movements, energy, and dynamic changes are perfect to keep the children engaged with their parent and provide a great framework for bonding. Next I would do two or three SONGS ABOUT ME including “Just Like Me” and a song that involves incorporating each child’s name and something about them. For example, lyrics may be “Sarah’s in a blue dress! How pretty!” And “John has two sandals! One and Two!”. Go around the room and create a verse for each child to feel unique. The INSTRUMENT SONG “Dancing In The Midddle” allows the parents and children to explore the space and move freely with their maracas. Incorporating predictable stops in the song provides the suprise the children enjoy. MOVEMENT SONGS “Pick Your Hands Up High” and guide the group to move scarves high, low, left, right, fast, slow, etc. Finally, I loved the ” Thank You Very Much” song and going to each child to shake hands and encouraging them to shake another child’s hand. I felt this was a great element especially since children this age tend to not acknowledge their peers. On their way out have group members assist with dropping used instruments in the “Recently Appreciated” bin for cleaning. This reassures parents that the instruments do get cleansed after each group.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

1. Bonding, trust, safety, flexibility, and supportive

2. We are here to enjoy our babies natural responses to music. Please allow yourself,and your baby, time to get settled in this space. Remember your babies need to see and hear YOU participate to get the greatest benefit from this group. Please share these songs with family and friends so they too can share them with your son/daughter. It is ok for your baby to look startled or unsure because they most likely are! This just means we should do it again.

3. Allow participants to enter and get comfortably settled while music is playing. Start with a greeting “Hello song” and incorporate each child’s name with physical touch. Then move onto a bonding song like ” Skittermarinky, Dinky, Dink” ( not sure if that’s the official song name) with child on parent’s outstretched legs. Encourage parents to make eye contact and engage their child in the movements. Next move to a song about me. I enjoy the “Just Like Me” song and would go around the group and encourage the parent to name a body part to add in for the group to sing. We would move onto an instrument song such as “In My Little Hand”. Each child and parent would have a percussion instrument to shake. Each pair would be encouraged to shake, move, and experience their shakers. Finally, we would end with a Goodbye song ( the same one each time) making sure to address each child to prepare them for their departure from music.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

I agree with all the above submissions to this question. The non-music therapy programs offered in community based settings do not use music as a tool to address a non-musical goal. There is a place for entertainment and that is already available. There is a need for enriching and knowledge driven music experiences that families and children can share in and grow from. Sprouting Melodies provides these experiences and therefore is creating stronger more supportive family networks in the community.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

I have not worked with a group of infants in a music therapy setting yet either. I have, however, been able to share my music and observe my friend’s children experiencing music. I thought it was really great to hear and recall how some babies get startled when music/sound suddenly stops. I remember experiencing this with my own child. He would actually look concerned when I stopped singing and moving with him. The look of relief on his face when I began singing again was such a wonderful thing to witness. I find it so fascinating to watch new babies experience and react to music.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

I do not work with children and their families currently. However, as a parent myself, I can say that every family benefits from interacting with other families in their community, every family appreciates when a knowledgeable person can offer support or guidance, every family is receptive to learning new tools to help their family grow and develop as a unit. I imagine these these are some of the needs I will encounter once I get started working with families.

[Alexis Ramagnano]

I have had the opportunity to observe the “Music Man” who offers monthly classes at our children’s daycare center. He was very entertaining for the children but the children basically observed a “show” with drawings, jokes, magic, and a touch of music. I believe that was the moment I realized that our community needed more opportunities for their children to engage in meaningful music therapy driven experiences. We board certified music therapists are required to maintain our credentials, which ensures that we are a group of educated, knowledge driven, believers in the services we were trained to provide. This is something that performers are lacking and therefore most children are not being exposed to. Music therapists are able to use their music appropriately, observe responses, and communicate progress or make recommendations. This is what sets us apart.

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