[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.

[Bernadette Skodack]

Ann Arbor is a huge, diverse arts town, so to offer something from the music therapy perspective is unique. Other programs are offered in the area, but I’m not aware of any Sprouting Melodies classes offered in the area. Within my company, I would love to use Sprouting Melodies with our returning military and their families. It offers the bonding experiences with children of all ages; many servicemen don’t meet their babies until they return from service! I can see Sprouting Melodies as the offering that helps bond the entire family together.

[Bernadette Skodack]

Thanks, Sarah! I would really appreciate any information that you can pass on! I’ve seen Paige present, but I think it was about using music therapy with kids who have hearing impairments.

[Bernadette Skodack]

Just a couple of days ago, a family member posted a video of her 16 month old daughter using a coffee can as a drum. She was playing it upside down and using the spatula from a Foreman grill. She then used a crayon…then tried a different crayon. She then turned the coffee can so she was playing on the plastic top. After a few beats, she turned it back over and played on the bottom. While she was playing the coffee can, she was singing! Her pitch actually stayed the same, but the singing did match each time she would start back up (she stopped singing when she would stop playing the coffee can and then would sing when she started playing). The video was over a minute long. It was so cool to see her experiment with beaters and with the can itself! In a way, she had control over what she was doing, how she was playing, what she was playing with, and how she was singing.

[Bernadette Skodack]

I’m not currently working with children, but I could see myself adapting “How Do You Know When it’s Summer Time?” for all of the seasons. I also really liked “A Car on My Knee”; that’s really adaptable as well with different objects!

[Bernadette Skodack]

Up here in the Detroit area, Motown music is big with my clients. A lot of them who are from Michigan grew up listening to The Supremes, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson. Many of my younger clients gravitate towards rap and hip hop; some of them even write their own raps. What they listen to and what they write about are the struggles and overcoming- it fits not only the client and their current situation, but also represents Detroit and the state of Michigan itself. My clients from more of the rural areas enjoy country music (which is actually what I grew up on in the South!).

I try to integrate a mix of music, especially around holidays and events. Christmas is a big one; I mix in Christmas music with Hanukkah and give background (even playing the dreidel). Our Activity Specialist does a dinner for certain clients once a month called Dinner Around the World. Each month, she makes food from a different country (chosen by clients), and one client does a presentation on the country and the culture. One of the clients plays saxophone, and we’ve been able to find a piece of music to represent each country. For France, the client played “Alouette”, for Mexico, “La Cucaracha”. Not only is the client learning about the different music for each country, but the client is performing and boosting self-esteem.

Just outside of Detroit is Dearborn, which is home to a big Arabic and Muslim population. In the past, I’ve tried looking for Arabic music, but haven’t had any luck. I do remember from a religion class that I took in undegrad that Muslim music isn’t really written down because of how sacred it is. If anyone knows of any resources, I would love to know about them!

[Bernadette Skodack]

I hope to bring passion and creativity. I volunteer with a music therapy camp each summer, and that’s the only time I really get to work with kids during the year. I was able to work with children in my internship, and it taught me to see things differently; turning candy-shaped containers into shakers and writing a song for object recognition and even counting. The biggest thing for me was that I really had to come out of my shell to be a goofball. Now, I don’t think I’ll ever NOT be a goofball!

[Bernadette Skodack]

I have to echo the appreciation for the red flags and the “let’s trade” concepts. I also loved the reassurances. As someone who doesn’t have children (yet), I can see where a new parent could be uneasy or “freaked out” by some things. Having those reassurances and explanations is definitely valuable!

I also found myself longing for my Essential Guide to Brain Injury book in my office to compare the stages with typical brain development. It’s interesting too that some of the concepts are things I have to keep in mind when I work with my adults due to their injuries; things such as simple and clear explanations and even “let’s trade”. I think I’ll have to grab the book tomorrow and reference it during the rest of training!

[Bernadette Skodack]

Hi everyone! My name is Bernadette Skodack. I have a bachelors in music from Furman University, a bachelors in music therapy from Eastern Michigan, and I will be starting my masters in music therapy this fall at Western Michigan! I completed my internship in the Lincoln Park Public Schools outside of Detroit and have been board certified since December 2010. I currently live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and work at a facility for people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Only adults over 18 reside at the facility, so I haven’t gotten to do too much work with children since my internship.

I learned about Sprouting Melodies at the 2013 AMTA conference and wanted to find out more. I do miss working with kids and definitely want to get back working with them. This is the perfect time for me to get involved I feel: going part time at work for grad school would allow me to start a Sprouting Melodies group, and there are ways that I could incorporate Sprouting Melodies within my current workplace. We are starting to see some returning Vets at my facility, plus we are paring with the DNR to start a camp for returning Veterans and their families. What better way to re-integrate and form family bonds than with music!

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