[Charniqua Snell]

The private practice I work for is offering Sprouting Melodies this summer. So we have already been sharing this with the community through festivals, schools we see during the school year, and through parents who already know us. We also had an open house recently and got many parents to sign up for the classes!

[Charniqua Snell]

I am excited to use the skills with the clients and groups I already see. The private practice I work for in Orlando is already starting Sprouting melodies classes this summer. So I feel ready to be able to contribute to the business and start facilitating classes myself.

[Charniqua Snell]

I have been working with children as a MT for a short time. Before this, I did hospice for older adults. This course has been helpful beyond words and I am excited to learn and grow even more through practice not just conversation. Also, the community I serve can always use more early intervention for disabled and typically functioning children. I really love the idea of Family Sprouts especially for families who have children with and without disabilities.

[Charniqua Snell]

I agree with others about using the music to pull the children in and keeping their attention. Also using different timbres of the voice is helpful too. Make sure you voice (whether you are singing or speaking) is engaging and energetic. Also facial expressions and body language can be more important than the words we sing or say! If the MT looks and sounds excited to be in the group then everyone can feed off that energy.

[Charniqua Snell]

For me, the challenge is making sure everyone is appropriately stimulated during the session. It is easier to cater to the older children in the group especially since they can do more. I like the idea in the videos of allowing the older children to choose the songs and the MT adapting for the younger ones. Also, using different instruments that are novel to the older ones but having simple instructions and songs so everyone can participate has helped me in the past.

[Charniqua Snell]

5 words for SM3: Intentional, Tantrums, Active, Control, and Transfer (to outside world)
5 words for Family Sprouts: Interaction, Sharing, Joyful, Family support, and Consistent songs

SP3 Plan: Have music playing in the background and have instruments out for exploration.
Gathering: “Sit down with me” with a strong rhythm. With this age, we can do different body parts to the rhythm (clapping hands, stomp feet) Bonding: “Brand New Friend” – this is the first song given in the videos that specifically asked for bonding with a peer. I love it and cannot wait to use it in my schools too. Movement: “Will you come” – marching, spinning, running, jumping, dancing… Instruments: “You Play a Little” to work on sharing with adults and/or peers Songs about Me: “Hand, hand, finger, thumb” book to practice body parts while playing instruments Cool Down: Sometimes I use the ocean drum as a novel sound and to practice sharing. I either go to each child or they can all come to the center and touch the ocean drum and a way to wind down. Goodbye: “Goodbye Everyone”- A song I use that allows for the MT and parent to say goodbye to the child by name. It also is very simple and repetitive so the parents can easily remember.

Family Sprouts Plan: Have music playing in the background and have instruments out for exploration. Gathering: “Gather Around” – but I would not get faster at the end if there were very young ones in the group. Bonding: “Swimming Together” – This allows the older ones to move from the caregivers lap so younger ones can be held. Movement: “The leaves are falling” would be perfect to structure for different ages. Not every child could throw the scarf, but they can hold on or have the parent move it for them. Also, could be a great cool down activity. Instruments: “Music is the Way” – Some children can use the mallets and the younger ones can watch and listen. Or they can even be given an easier instrument while the older ones have more stimulation. This would also be a great cool down song. Songs about Me: “Ding Dong” is a song by Brady Rymer that goes through each body part in a dance. Sometimes I use the recorded song or sing it on my own to customize it to the group. Goodbye: “It’s time to Say Goodbye”

[Charniqua Snell]

For sprouting melodies, (or most music therapy groups) the goals are to support the child’s overall development. Since, music therapists are trained in child development they can also gently challenge the group in meeting new developmental milestones as well. Using music for a specific goal can be done in a group especially if the goals or social in nature. But in my experience, it is easier to practice skill building in an individual setting.

[Charniqua Snell]

I was fortunate that most of the instruments I use were provided to me. I use a lot of the same instruments others have mentioned in the post: chiquitas, smaller frame drums, bells, and my guitar. I have also used the xylophones, ocean drum and rain stick as novel sounds that are also soothing and not alarming.

[Charniqua Snell]

5 Words: Playful, Flexibility, Authentic, Variety, and independence
5 Sentences: Just because they are not moving, it does not mean that are not observing their surroundings. – We are promoting independence in this group. So let the child go to another adult, MT, or another child! – At this age, it is okay if they do not imitate exactly what the songs say. They are still exploring music and any participation is encouraged! – Children are still putting things in their mouth, so we have a “dirty” bin. We clean every instrument before giving them out again. – They are still learning to shake their maracas/shakers. It will take a while for them to shake them on their own.

SP2 Plan
Have music playing in the background and have instruments out for exploration.
Gathering: “Hey, hey come and play” – It is more energetic than the hello song I had for SP1. Bonding: “Wiggly Jiggly Car” Movement: I know “Dancing in the middle” was under instrument playing but this would be a great movement song as well. There are not specific instructions but encourages free movement and play. Instruments: “Sit With Me and Shake” Songs about Me: “Can you see Me?” – This song is so perfect for not only bringing awareness but imitation too. Cool Down: I have a scarf activity where the child will move their scarves as the MT and parent do. Goodbye: “Goodbye Everyone”- A song I use that allows for the MT and parent to say goodbye to the child by name. It also is very simple and repetitive so the parents can easily remember.

[Charniqua Snell]

When it comes to stimulation, you really have to read the room. You can have the same group each week and the level of stimulation will change each week. Look for crying and fussiness when they are over-stimulated. When under-stimulated they will seek out stimulation with themselves or other things in the room. For this age, do not use a lot of alarming sounds. However, new sounds are important to keep them engaged.

[Charniqua Snell]

5 Words: Open, Warm, Bonding, Observant, and Calming

5 Sentences: It is okay if your child puts an instrument in their mouth, this is how they are exploring music – Sing to your child and do not worry about being perfect! They prefer your voice anyway. – Do not worry if your child only wants to observe. At this age, observing is just as important as participating. – Please sing these songs with your child outside of our group in your day to day routine – Do not stress if you are late to group, you made it out of the house with an infant! I am glad you are here

SP1
Gathering: “Hello Everyone” – It is a very simple song that repeats and allows for the parents to say hello to the child by name. Everyone learns names and it helps build a community.
Bonding: I really like “Wiggly Jiggly Car” and cannot wait to try it with young ones in the future.
Instruments: Then, we would could move to “shake our sillies out” using shakers. It is a children’s song usually used for movement, but can work with any instrument you shake too.
Songs about Me: I have a peak-a-boo song with scarves that would work for this. Using scarves, the parent would touch different body parts on the baby and/or themselves.
Goodbye: “Goodbye Everyone” – Just like in the gathering song, it allows for the MT and parent to say goodbye to the child by name. It also is very simple and repetitive so the parents can easily remember.

[Charniqua Snell]

I agree with Julia and Rebecca in that music therapy in this setting is about support and community. Since music therapists do not have specific goals and are not expecting specific outcomes, the MT can use this time to really structure the group to what the parents and children need. Also, music in general is great for creating memories and bringing people together. So to use music therapy in the community is a great way for these families to make important memories with their babies and with other families.

[Charniqua Snell]

I have not worked with infants in a music therapy setting but I have worked with children (of different ages) who are developmentally still in this level. This is definitely the hardest developmental age for me because there is not always feedback from the child. So as a beginning music therapist I am still trying to figure out how to look for small interactions and responses. Usually using instruments and props with different sounds and tactile stimulation has been successful as long as it does not scare them!

[Charniqua Snell]

Most of the families I work with have a child with special needs. My parents need transparency in how the music is working for their child because they are going to a lot of therapies and paying a lot of money for them! I have noticed that the more I include them in the process, they are more excited about it and so are their children. Someone mentioned this earlier, but I have also have some clients who have aged out of the school system. Their caregivers need something that will offer stimulation and therapy for their child to mature or maintain their skills. Music therapy is perfect for this!

The needs of my community are similar to the needs of my individual families. I think the biggest benefit would be the support a group like Sprouting melodies could provide. Not only from the Music Therapist but also from the other families participating.

[Charniqua Snell]

Music therapists bring different levels of support to the families that come to the groups. It is definitely more than giving the children something fun to do for half an hour. It allows the parents to not only bond with their child in the group (which can happen to any other group) but they can use the songs and tools when they go home!
Also, music therapists can bring knowledge in how their children are developing (or not). Especially if the child is not developing as they should, MTs can adapt and improvise so everyone in the group is successful and can learn and grow!

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