[Billie Junget]

I have learned so much in this course that I can not only take back to Sprouting Melodies, but to all my work. I feel energized with new knowledge, songs, and ideas for my upcoming sessions. I have a better understanding of childhood development, and can speak to caregivers about it with more confidence. This has been a good reminder to just have fun in the music and with the kiddos! As an MT, you also have to enjoy the ride! Connecting with others and creating a safe space for families to play and grow are very exciting things.

I love talking about Sprouting Melodies with colleagues, especially my coworkers who have also taken this course. I feel like I have new knowledge that can also help my colleagues working in preschools too! This course has also inspired me to have more conversations with caregivers before and after class, and to also encourage them to mingle with other caregivers to deepen their connection with their community and to the music.

[Billie Junget]

I feel like this has energized me and my work in Sprouting Melodies! I’m excited to bring new songs, new ideas, and new education to the families in my classes. I have more knowledge to point out those “musical milestones” and to equip families with more tools to use music with their loved ones at home. I feel refreshed, and I know that my work will be refreshed to bring the best services and music to my groups! I’m excited for the possibilities of how music in Sprouting Melodies will look and transform my community.

[Billie Junget]

I like to make sure caregivers know there are no expectations for how it looks for their child to engage in the music. Taking pressure off the caregiver, in turn, gives the child more freedom to explore and engage in how they see fit. I pair signs with my instructions and teach them to parents to assist in developing language and understanding. I like to incorporate movement if there are many wiggles in the room, I rather shake up the “typical” structure of the interventions to support the children than to be stuck in one way and try to have them sit with their caregiver. I am sure to assist in transitions to help the children be successful, pairing them with song and cues before and during clean ups and other transitions. I often also give a choice between two when changing direction/dynamics during instrument play or movements. I give choices of instruments and scarves by offering a variety of choices for the kiddos to choose what color they’d like on their own.

[Billie Junget]

Five Words: Support, Joyful, Connection, Individuality

Gathering: It’s Time To Make Some Music
Hello: Hello Everbody
Bonding Song: Big Red Firetruck
Instruments: Playing In A Band
Movement: Jump Up
Cool Down: My Scarf Goes Up
Goodbye: Bye Bye Music Time Is Done

[Billie Junget]

The education is different for a music therapist vs. music teacher, especially in the ways you learn about kids. We are trained more in child development and can discuss how music supports the children in their development. We can tell parents about the differences in how we structure our sessions to address non musical goals by using music in comparison to instructing how to play a specific instrument or sing. All are welcome, no matter what level of musicianship you bring to group.

[Billie Junget]

It is really wonderful to experience multi age groups, and they also come with their own challenges. You have to find the sweet spot to engage everyone; enough challenge for the older ones and not too much for the little ones! It’s important to mend the music and make those observations to see where everyone is at. You also may give direction in different ways, one way for the older kiddos family and another way for the younger kiddos family.

[Billie Junget]

In my Sprouting Melodies classes in this level, it is so amazing to see how both baby and caregiver grow together throughout the weeks. You can really see them bonding and it’s a fun and safe way to engage in music with one another. Music was softer, a little slower, and calming. I like to think of the music and space as a deep breath. I minimize stimuli and use all one timbre of maracas and sometimes no guitar, just vocals supporting the shaking. Families at this level are sometimes new/first time parents and get the chance to connect not only with their baby, but a community of people having a similar experience, sometimes even hanging out outside of class. It makes a ripple!

[Billie Junget]

Music therapists in community based settings are an asset in providing safe and knowledgable experiences that are fun for the families to engage in together. They are able to facilitate building social capital within the community. Music therapy in the community is not only fun, but educational and can bring people together in a creative way.

[Billie Junget]

Music Therapists who run Sprouting Melodies have an extensive background and training in childhood development, making them able to provide families with unique knowledge/perspective about their children. They provide a space for the families to bond, grow, and have fun with their child in a safe and comforting environment. They also provide in-the-moment music making, able to mend the music to fit the child’s needs.

[Billie Junget]

5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 3: Energetic, Playful, Joyful, Together, Individuality

Session Plan:
Gathering: It’s Time To Make Some Music
Hello Everybody
Body Percussion: My Little Hands
Lap Ride: Train Ride
Instrument Play: Play With Me
Movement: Jump Up
Cool Down Scarves: My Scarf Goes Up
Goodbye: Bye Bye Music Time Is Done

[Billie Junget]

5 words: Playful, exploration, surprise, observation, curiosity

5 sentences about musical responses of children in SM 2: 1. It’s okay to let your child explore and move away from you. 2. We wait longer for starting/stopping to give the child a chance to initiate that play, as they are still processing and observing around the room. 3. Music is about feeling, songs about “me” can help develop sense of self. 4. It’s okay if your child isn’t fully engaged for the full session, they’re engaged by being here and taking all of this in! 5. Modeling and singing along is helpful, your child looks to you and recognizes your voice most, if you don’t sing here, you won’t sing at home!

Session Plan:
Gathering: Gather Round (with frame drums)
Hello: Today Is A Beautiful Day
Gathering: Just Like Me
Lap Ride: Wiggly Jiggly Car
Instruments: Sit With Me And Shake
Movement: Marching To The Music
Cool Down: Where Oh Where/I See Colors
Goodbye Song

[Billie Junget]

This definitely depends on the individual or the group. I find that there are moments in a group session where some participants may be overstimulated while others may be under stimulated, it’s all a balance to make things comfortable for everyone. Flexibility and adaptability are so important and observing the signs for both within a particular group/individual is always good to look for. Something I do to help prepare for successful stimulation in SM is using instruments of one timbre when I’m playing guitar/singing acapella (all maracas or all drums). I typically try to read the room, if kids aren’t engaged I try to capture attention musically or physically. One of my classes has a few kids who like to run around, so we start with movement after gathering at times to help regulate and get those wiggles out. It definitely varies!

[Billie Junget]

At RMTS, I am primarily playing Remo drums and auxiliary percussion. They are easy to clean and maintain! We also use scarves and other materials ordered from West music. The guitar I use is a Mini Martin and it’s great for class because it’s light and compact and gives me more flexibility for moving about the room!

[Billie Junget]

5 Words: Soft, Gentle, Calm, Nesting, Bonding

5 sentences to use when speaking with parents about musical responses: 1. This time and space is for you and your baby. 2. Listening is doing, your baby here in the room is enough. 3. Your baby responds best to your voice, sing here so you can sing at home. 4. Notice your child’s response to the music and our voices. 5. Position yourself and your baby as you feel comfortable, I can give suggestions throughout the session.

Session Plan:
Gathering – All Night All Day
Hello – Today Is a Beautiful Day
Gathering – Just Like Me
Lap Ride – Row It Faster
Instrument Play – In My Little Hand
Movement – Pick Your Hands Up High
Cool Down – Scarf Song
Goodbye Song

[Billie Junget]

Many needs of my clients are for shared joy and engagement in a leisure activity. Building community is part of that as well. Some of the newer mothers in one of my sessions have been exchanging numbers, that’s a need of the community. Staff in my sessions experience their residents in another avenue with the music, and we get to facilitate that. Music serves the families and community by bringing people together and engaging with one another in a creative way.

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