[Darcy Lipscomb]

I use a Remo Gathering Drum that is fairly low to the ground. It’s great for this age as they can reach it while sitting. (Slightly older ones try to use it as step or seat.) I use scarves often and prefer the ones from Bear Paw Creek as their colors are more vibrant and the texture feels softer. When the group is small enough, I have used Boomwhackers successfully, and they were a favorite. I also use LP chiquitas and a rainstick (not sure which brand).

[Darcy Lipscomb]

Exploration. Discovery. Energy. Anticipated Surprise. Observation.

1) It’s perfectly fine if your child doesn’t exactly follow the cues. They are exploring what it feels likes to engage in and respond to the music. 2) Now that we know that song, let’s do it again! This time, we’ll pause throughout and see what happens. 3) It’s okay if the maraca goes in the mouth; he’s exploring. When he’s finished, you can put it in the “Yucky Bin” up there. 4) Play is the work of children, and work can be exhausting or over-stimulating. When you child seems to “just” sitting, she is observing everything! You might hear her humming this song on the way home or later this week. 5) Children get a lot of sensory input from the soles of their feet. If you’re helping them stamp, make sure the whole foot is making contact, not just the toes or heel.

Sit Down with Me – Gathering, Hey Hey Come & Play – Greeting, Wiggly Jiggly Car – Bonding, All of This is Me – Song About Me, In My Little Hand – Instruments, I Can Move Around – Instruments/Moving, Can You Follow – Movement, Music Time is Over – Closing

[Darcy Lipscomb]

Enough stimulation versus too much stimulation is going to vary minute to minute and child to child. As everyone said, this is where our therapeutic skills can shine: read the room & adapt in the moment. Levels of stimulation is usually the one of the first things I consider when creating a plan for my groups. Do we need to start soft and slow to ease into the session (SM1), or do we need to promptly provide an appropriate outlet for potentially bottled up energy? As Mary and Katie mentioned, I keep the bell curve in mind and often schedule interventions in a sine wave pattern as well. Now, the actual session doesn’t always match the schedule of interventions, but that is one thing sets us apart.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

I feel like my early childhood practice was in need of some direction, and the Sprouting Melodies training has helped to rejuvenate it! I am excited to continue to lead early childhood groups and practice these skills and interventions. Communication with parents/caregivers is key, and I feel that the training has provided a strong framework of knowledge to draw from and reference when having casual as well as difficult conversations with families.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

A local toy store hosts an early childhood workshop series for parents and educators, and I have led a workshop each time. I can’t wait to infuse even more of the information I have learned through this Sprouting Melodies training in my next workshop! I have already reached out to my contact at our Infants & Toddlers program and will continue to seek out more and deeper connections with other local early childhood leaders.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

I am looking forward to having the backing of a “name brand” program as it seems many parents are drawn towards branded classes versus “home grown” offerings. I am also looking forward to continuing to build our connections with other early childhood services providers in our community and sharing this resource with them to in-turn (hopefully) share with their families!

[Darcy Lipscomb]

As Katie mentioned, natural transitions are key. Using the music as a tool to support each transition has been helpful. It reinforces the transition task through lyrics, melodic contour, timbre, and tempo. Communicating expectations is also very important, for adults and children. Adults need to know what they can reasonably expect from their child at his/her current developmental level and children thrive on clear boundaries.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

As I start my early childhood sessions, I tell the parents that we are here to make music and explore together. If I say “go” and your child doesn’t go, that’s okay; if I say “stop” and someone doesn’t stop, that’s fine too. We are exploring together and there is no wrong way to do that. Conversely, in a music therapy session with a child who is working on following one-step directions, if I say “stop” and the child doesn’t stop, we will continue to work on that specific goal using multiple interventions until the child has mastered that skill.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

One challenge that I encountered recently while leading a multi-age class was safety. The older little ones, especially two twin boys, were very active and unpredictable in their movements and of course wanted to be about two inches away from the action (aka – me). As the younger little ones settled in and became more comfortable, a few started crawling/gingerly walking toward me. It was definitely a dance to keep the intervention going, keep one eye on the little ones to encourage their exploration, and keep the other eye on the big kids to promote safe, gentle play. This was a one-time community group at a library which also impacts the ability to best support everyone’s participation as you don’t know the families and children as well.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

Sprouting Melodies 3: Strong, Emotions, Purposeful, Active, Personality
Family Sprouts: Sharing, Joyful, Cooperation, Individuality, Busy

SM3 Plan: Sit Down with Me (Gathering), Hello Everybody (Individual Greeting), Swimming Together (Bonding), Where is the Music? {I loved the book suggestions and would also incorporate a book here.} (Songs About Me), I Like This Song (Instruments), I Can Move Around (Instruments/Movement), Will You Come? (Movement), Time to Say Goodbye (Goodbye)

FS Plan: Hey Everybody (Gathering/Greeting), Row It Faster (Bonding), All of This is Me (Songs About Me), Twinkle, Twinkle – Iza Trapani (book), Listen, Listen (Instruments), I Can Move Around (Movement), Time to Say Goodbye (Goodbye)

[Darcy Lipscomb]

Honestly, I have minimal experience working with children of this age & developmental level. I’m looking forward to that changing!

[Darcy Lipscomb]

We as music therapists have an amazing set of skills that allow us to provide top quality opportunities to our community. I believe that people are beginning to realize the difference in the services we offer, but I also believe there is confusion which signifies a need for more education and outreach. One challenge of community based programming is building a following. Again, this comes back to education – Educating your partners and connections in the community as to whom would be the perfect referral for a Sprouting Melodies class.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

Five Words: Warm, Gentle, Bonding, Trust, Joyful

Five Sentences: 1) This is a safe place for your child to explore instruments. 2) While we are clapping with this song, the focus is on the overall sensory experience, not volume. 3) This is the perfect opportunity to let outside stresses drift away and purposefully connect with your child. For this next song, tap a strong, steady beat on their body while you sing to them. 4) Your baby might be looking at me right now, but they know and need to hear your familiar voice. Your baby doesn’t care if you sound like pop star; they associate your voice with trust and comfort. 5) Let’s slow our movements down and move back just a bit so your baby can see and process what’s happening in from of him.

Plan: 1) Greeting – I would start with “Today’s A Beautiful Day” as the rhythm automatically invites swaying which is such an excellent grounder. I would then transition to “Hey Hey Come & Play” as it introduces a bit more energy in the music and provides an embedded opportunity for both touch (clapping, tapping, etc.) and supporting beginning vocal sounds (la la la). 2) Bonding – Row It Faster allows for so many different experiences for babies in different stages that might be needing varied stimulation. 3) Instrument Playing – In My Little Hand has great functional language as well as supports instrument play however it may look. 4) Songs About Me – Where Oh Where I feel like this is so much more than just a “Song About Me” as it is encouraging eye gaze/ bonding as well as could facilitate reaching/movement. I would then transition to “All of This is Me” as a cool down. 5) Closing – Goodbye Song I really liked the suggestion of a consistent closing ritual across all classes.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

I think education is a big need for some of the young families with which we work. Specifically, education as to appropriate expectations for their child’s musical engagement and ability as compared to their current developmental level as well as awareness of pre music output milestones (eye contact, moving mouth/ tongue, body movement in response to music changes, etc.). I am excited about having new language and research to share with families to help in the educational process. Another need for all of our families is support. They need the opportunity to connect with other families who have been or are currently in similar situations. They need to know what other resources are out there for their child and family. They need to know that they aren’t alone.

[Darcy Lipscomb]

The further along in my career that I get, the more and more I believe that our skills as a music therapist also make us perfectly suited for so many other related opportunities – early childhood music classes being a perfect example!
Adaptable – We are able to adapt our plan, a song, the environment, the purpose of an experience, all in the moment.
Knowledgable – We have the education and additional training to be able to knowledgeably answer parents questions and validate their concerns. We know approximately what to expect when in child development and design our sessions and conversations to best support that process.
Resource – We are often connected with other agencies within the community and can guide parents to other providers and services that may be of value to their child and family.
There are many other ways that music therapists bring value to families of young children, but these three stand out for me right now.

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