[Channing Shippen]

I love the use of music therapy provides a simultaneously universal and individual way of connecting people. Finding commonalities in music can strengthen and develop bonds between families and strangers alike. There is potential for music therapists to explore a  and utilize multiple interventions in efforts to promote bonding within a community.

[Channing Shippen]

I run a drop-in group at a family center that has a varying number of participants from week to week. It is drop-in play group that runs from 9:30-11:30, I come in and have a session for 45 mins with 15 mins of conversation time to answer and questions the parents may have. My first session had 8 infants with accompanying adults, my second had 30! So I learned quickly to expect the unexpected.These sessions are a great opportunity to inform parents about how they can use music in their homes with their infants and toddlers. I really love having this opportunity to educate parents on the ability music has to change their lives on a daily basis!

[Channing Shippen]

EDIT:
Gathering song: Hello Everybody

 

[Channing Shippen]

Here was my plan I actually got a chance to use on friday at a drop-in class for parents and toddlers. This is a fairly large group with up to 30 infants-2 year olds and their parents. Previously I had a similar structure but I felt that following the structure of sprouting melodies this passed week really improved the session and had a great natural flow.
Gathering song: Hello Every

Body Percussion: Tralalala

Lap ride: Row your boat / Comin to get ya!

Instrument Song/Movement Song: Sit with me and Shake

Cool Down: This is the way we read a book – Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Goodbye:  Bye-Bye music time is done

Because of time constraints I combined the instrument and movement song to explore physical and instrumental directions such as shaking maracas fast and slow, stomping, etc.

[Channing Shippen]

I think this is a great question! I often get asked by parents what the difference is between a music therapist and playing music for their children. Like others have said in this thread, we are trained in the clinical application of music. Our music is goal oriented and promotes development beyond listening and singing along. Music therapy family sessions provide family bonding in a unique experience that provides the opportunity for families to understand each other in another way through music.

[Channing Shippen]

Contracting, I get to work in a variety of communities! I feel that one of the biggest needs of the general community of the greater boston area is music therapy in eldercare. I think that multi-generational music experiences would greatly benefit the surrounding communities.

[Channing Shippen]

I have certainly used all four of these areas in my practice. Most recently I have been working with a pair of twins who are 2 years old. Each child has been diagnosed on the spectrum. I treat them each with 30 min individual sessions. We are working towards increasing vocalizations in each child. After my latest session with each of them it has been interesting to come back to this weeks slides and compare to my notes and decipher the stages that each child is at. One of the children has demonstrated independence in vocalizations responding by changing volume, sound, vowel, and pitch when matched by the music therapist while the other child has shown a level of trust by matching the sounds I create. I felt this helped put into perspective the different developmental levels of each twin.

[Channing Shippen]

Singing

Awareness:  matching and distinguishing between pitches
Trust: imitating sounds demonstrated by music therapist
Independence: Vocalizes independently in response to music therapist
Control: Completes musical phrases with the music therapist.
Responsibility: Can initiate and/or complete songs independently

Playing

Awareness: Tactile exploration of instruments by mouthing or by use of hands.
Trust: Matching or imitating rhythm as demonstrated by music therapist
Independence: Exploration of the multiple uses for instruments, initiating instrument play with the music therapist
Control: Responds accordingly to musical starts and stops, and other directions given within the music
Responsibility: Follows pulse or rhythm as demonstrated by the music therapist

 Moving

Awareness: Responds with natural body movements to music
Trust: Responds with global repetitive rhythmic body movements
Independence: Demonstrates ability to isolate movements to music (clap hands, raise arms, kick legs)
Control: Imitates movements of the music therapist or group members rhythmically
Responsibility: Recalls sequences and patterned movements

Listening

Awareness: Recognizing change in vocal timbre, directs focus to sound
Trust: Responds to familiar melodies
Independence: Demonstrates musical preferences physically or verbally
Control: Requests preferred music
Responsibility: Listens to music made by others

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[Channing Shippen]

Growing up in and around Boston, I have always been involved in the folk music scene around here. I love the rich history of Boston and the Celtic and European influences of the north east.  The music of my childhood was heavily influenced by the religion of my parents, and I became fond of church hymns, I found this to be a great resource during my work in Hospice!

Elizabeth: I find that keeping up my performing skills is part of my self-care routine.

[Channing Shippen]

I am currently working with a 4 year old child who has severe separation anxiety. I believe that she had previously passed the developmental levels to the point of control, however has gone backwards, and needs to re-establish trust, and independence. In the beginning of our sessions working together she would not let me play music of my own choosing without a resulting tantrum. It took several sessions to establish a sense of trust enough where she would let me sing. Over the course of our sessions we have begun exchanging songs, as well as writing several together. She is making wonderful progress!

[Channing Shippen]

Hi Everybody!
I apologize that this took me a little longer to post. My name is Channing Shippen, I live in Boston and work for Roman Music Therapy Services in Melrose as a music therapist. I am a graduate of Berklee College of Music (2011). Through RMTS I have the opportunity to work within a variety of settings and demographics including early childhood, children with special needs, educational settings, rehab and day hab programs, as well as private clients. I completed my internship this passed November on Whidbey Island  in Washington working in hospice and in the medical setting. While I was on the island I developed a small teaching business which focused on providing adaptive music lessons to the special needs children of the island who were unable to get instruction from the local teachers.  I was recently certified in March, and have been very lucky to join the team at RMTS. I love working with Meredith and am very excited to learn, in more detail, about the sprouting melodies program because I have seen it in action!
I am excited to get to know all of you!
Channing

[Author]

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