[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Yes, communicating with the parents in these groups (and all groups)seems to be the key to the groups being viewed as successful. I hope that all of you are keeping copies of your statments to parents that you have written over the weeks. They will be a great resource!

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

When speaking with families, teachers or adminstrators, I try and emphasize what music provides that is unique. If another person can help a child to accomplish a specific cognitive skill better than me, that is great! That leaves me more time to focus on what we as music therapists do best. To give a specific example, I am not so concerned with colors or shapes within song material. The songs I write and use might focus on making choices, being flexible, and recognizing others who have similarities and differences. All that happens in the music, but I have to alert the grownups to these more abstract skills.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

In case you didn’t know, all of the songs used in video are available either through the “You and Me Makes…We” songbook or on a CD. These are very reasonably priced and can be ordered through the website or by calling the office. I will look through the list of songs that participants have mentioned and if there are any that are not in the book or CD we will get them to you.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

I am sure that you have much to bring to the families in your area. We plan for Raising Harmony to provide all its members with support as they work to develop programs in their communities.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

I really like your emphasis on advocacy, Stacey. In my community work I often find myself explaining the importance of inclusion as beneficial to the entire community. In my parent/child groups we make it clear that there is a place for everyone and that everyone must participate to make community. Since my groups always include young children with special needs (some quite significant) it often takes a good deal of educating and faciliatation. But then there comes the time when I look around the group and I can’t tell which child belongs to which grownup. It is so heart-warming and the friendships usually extend outside of music.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Several of you talked about songs that you have created for your clients or your groups. Would you be willing to share them with the group?

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

All of you mentioned that finely honed sense of musical energy in the room that we, as music therapists, are trained to notice and adjust to. One aspect of stimulation that I think about is the use of pitch and key structure. I like to listen for a moment or a few seconds to the ambient sounds of the room before selecting the key of the next music. To keep things calm and stable, I will begin to sing in a key that matches the ‘sounds’of the room. If I want to capture attention or create a sense of anticipation, I will deliberately select a key that is discordant to the sounds of the room.
Has any one else tried this?

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

But soon, Renee,we will be seeing Sprouting Melodies programs all over the country!

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

GREAT NEWS! Roman Music Therapy has put out a brand new CD, Gather Round: Music Time is Family Time,with 15 songs. It is terrific. To order a copy go to http://www.romanmusictherapy.com.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

I learned so much from reading your posts this week, especially the way you share and educate parents. I am always amazed at the impact our words have and how much families appreciate and remember these simple, but important, ideas. Many of my moms will tell me that they find themselves teaching our ‘sayings’ to dads, siblings and grandparents.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

One of the reasons Meredith and I are so passionate about Sprouting Melodies is because we want to have the skills, knowledge and talent of music therapists recognized and valued in every community. We invite and encourage all of you
to spread the word about the many things music therapists do for the community through presentations, publications, social media and good old-fashioned person to person contact. Remember the old adage: ‘A rising tide floats all boats.’

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Welcome back, everyone. We appreciate all of your hard work on this course, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Meredith and I are looking forward to the new year and have plans for a very exciting and dynamic year for the music therapists of Raising Harmony!

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Thank you course participant, Becky Wellman, for a thoughtful blog this week on http://www.ecmma.org the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association.
Please take a moment to read it,  as well as Becky’s other blogs. The link is below.

http://www.ecmma.org/blog/meaningful-music/relationships_music_and_healing

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

There is a very strong common theme running through all the posts this week, and that is how much young families trust us and look to us for guidance
information and acceptance.  I am so proud to be able to know that we give our communities not only music, but a home.

Please make sure that you save your comments. Your eloquence on this forum will come in handy in explaining your value to new families, and new
communities.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Thank you for your touching and personal stories of your communities and your families. All three of you touched on how families and parents become
so close to us and look to us for support, guidance and acceptance.  As I try and remember, it is the ‘me’ that is the music that  they are responding to
and the music that is the place in which we all gather in common meaning.

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