[Caitlyn Pawelek]

I agree! I have seen a lot of similar need areas when I used to do home-visits, especially with the older cliets! So many families have shared that after school has ended for these clients, especially when covid shut everything down, there was nowhere for their out-of-school kids to interact with others their age! Music groups for older clients were always requested.

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

There is so much value that a music therapist can bring to the families they work with! Music Therapy training encompasses so many different areas such as early childhood development, psychology, intellectual and developmental disorders and so much more. Many other therapies do not focus on this multitude of areas that knowledge from MTs then can be shared with the families they work with. Music therapists are also taught to be highly individualized and focus on the needs of the clients and their families. Catered sessions and resources can be created to aid the families. Music Therapy is also a safe place for families to develop and bond together. Songs and activities are accessible that the families can take them home and continue to use them to bond and grow!

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

Singing- Awarness- vocalizations corresponding to pitches in music T- matching the occasional pitch I- Responding to the music melodically with babbles C- Can follow patterns and rhythms R- singing familiar songs

PLaying- A- Looking to and away from sound sources T-exploring instruments with hands and mouth I- using hands to strike instruments C- folliwing directions with the music R-maintaining a steady beat

Moving- A- Rhythmic Sucking T- full body movements to their own rhythm/beat I- Full body movements to music rhythm C- Clapping/moving on beat R- Follows instructions to play

Listening A- Attention to music, pleasure while listneing T-positive affect while listening to familiar songs I-maintains engagement to preferred music despite distractions C- accepts music making with others R- listening to others make music

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

I used a car on my knee in an individual session with a preschooler. I did not have a car, but I did have a Cabasa. We sang about where the cabasa was on him while we played together. During “go” we worked on rolling it up and down, to the point where he could roll it on his own while I sang “go” He did very well with this!

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

I had worked with a young client for just over a year. When we first started together she was very nervous and would run away from any large instruments (primarily piano and guitar). Sessions were lead acapella and were very client-led. I would improvise a lot using my voice on simple syllables. The longer that I worked with her, she began to match my pitches and attempt to copy the syllables that I was singing. Near the end of the year she was approximating the sounds of simple words that I was singing as well as matching pitch! It was exciting to see her develop in these areas. I would say she ended went from trust to control in the later parts of our time together.

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

I work in Frederick and Montgomery counties in Maryland. A majority of my caseload is school-age children. Due to that, I use a lot of pop, nursery rhymes, and Disney music in sessions based on their preferences. Some of my older kids will introduce me to musical genres that I have never heard of before. For example, Goth-core and Gothic Country. I also see a number of memory care groups and adult clients. R&B and motown have been popular requests around this area, and not a genre that I have been exposed to much in other areas of the country that I have worked in. There have also been a few clients that will request hymns for me to sing. This was much more common when I was at my internship in Oklahoma.

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

Awareness: Looking to and away from the music, reaching to the music or singer,changes in body language based on music being played

Trust: Matching pitch with another,rhythmic movements, recognition of familiar songs and voices

Independence: imitation of music and movements, vocalize in response to music and other stimuli, reaction and enjoyment out of suprises embedded into songs

Control: Understanding/creation of musical preferences, imiation of movements and words, dancing and movement for enjoyment in music

Responsibility: maintains a steady beat, singing in major/minor, distinguishing dynamics and tempo

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

My most valuable takeaway was learning about just how much music and rhythm relates to early childhood development. While we learned about it in school, the deeper look really put things into perspective. It was also nice to get the information from a music therapy perspective, as opposed to the early childhood classes that I took in undergrad that did not have any relation to music therapy.

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

I feel that I can relate to a lot of you in this area! I tend to have a more relationship and client-centered approach to therapy. Really getting to know clients and allowing time for rapport to grow is so important, especially with the younger kids who are still navigating interacting with new people! It has taken a while to grow in this area, but allowing myself to look and act silly while working with early childhood helps a lot, they really enjoy the more silly you are! I think it is also important to let your personality shine through. While still being professional and a therapist, it is important to still be yourself in sessions.

[Caitlyn Pawelek]

Hello everyone!

My name is Caitlyn Pawelek. I also currently work at Noteable Progressions in Maryland. I work primarily in the school setting with children with IDDs, but I also have some older adult and adults clients. I have been a music therapist for over a year and a half now. I have spent my first year as a contracted music therapist doing home visits with primarily children with IDDs. I graduated from Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte NC in 2019. I have completed my internship at a private practice in Tulsa Oklahoma. I have two pups named Cooper and Finley. A huge goal of mine is to have them registered at therapy dogs so I can take them to work with me!

I have always loved working in early childhood, so I am very excited to take this course and expand my knowledge with the population. I hope to use what I learn here to bring into my current sessions as well as hope to build more groups in my area!

Excited to be joining you all in the group!

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