[Erin Spring]

I think it is wise to make a distinction between clinical music therapy services and music therapy-based services. We as board-certified music therapists flip out the second someone who is not an MT-BC even implies they are providing MT, often for good reason- BUT we must also be willing to recognize when we ourselves are not conducting clinical music therapy services. I think a key distinction that goes along with focus, is to look at whether all the standards of clinical practice and scope of practice are being met. Key factors such as lack of specific objectives, data collection, etc create a pretty definite line as to what is music therapy. The heart of it all is making sure the community knows what our training and skills are, and that we are being intentional and ethical when we provide music therapy services versus when we provide music therapy-based programming. If we are clear ourselves on what services we are providing, then we can make it clear to the community and other professionals, what we are providing and how we are practicing. Also, I get the feeling some therapists see it as a negative to not call something they do music therapy, but I think we should be proud any time we appropriately and ethically use our specialized skills and training to assist others. I use my music therapy skills and training in the swimming classes I teach, even the simple incorporation of rhythm with the rhythmic/rotary breathing and stroke movements for the older/advanced classes. I would never say I was practicing music therapy in my swim lessons, but I am always proud to say I use my skills and training as a music therapist to enhance the teaching I provide to my swim students and families. I LOVE to share how I am applying my music therapy knowledge and training to other tasks, I think it shows the breadth of my mastery, because I not only know these skills for my clinical work, but I am able to take that knowledge and skill and apply it appropriately and effectively to things outside my clinical work.

[Erin Spring]

I agree with the above. Music therapists bring a unique education, training and understanding of music, relationships and development. There is simply no comparing the quality and VALUE provided by a trained professional versus someone who has taken only a few hours of training in kid music and activities. Those running “branded” early childhood program have little training in modifying and adapting to meet the child developmentally where they are. I am not a parent, but I know that no two children develop exactly the same ways and in the same time frames. Music therapists are the only professionals adequately trained to provide the most effective experience for all involved.

[Erin Spring]

About a year ago, a mom came to me requesting an assessment for her toddler son. When I asked her what prompted her to seek a music therapy assessment, she told me a story I had never considered. She said she had signed herself and her son up for an early childhood music class (kindermusic I think) because her son loved music. However, her son was diagnosed on the autism spectrum and she quickly found herself feeling out of place in the class. Not just because she was the only parent there with a child with special needs, but her son responded so very differently than all the other children. She told me the teacher did not know how to handle her son in the class, and she often felt disapproving eyes from other parents as her son “disrupted” the class. How awful! When I heard about Sprouting Melodies, this mom’s story immediately came to mind. There are so many children with special needs, learning disabilities, speech delays, and parents need a competent and understanding leader and teacher to engage themselves and their children in an environment where they feel safe, comfortable and respected. They need an early childhood program that does more than simply teach songs and play instruments, but truly teaches them what’s behind the music, moving and playing and gives them applicable daily strategies and concepts to support their child’s growth and their relationships.

[Erin Spring]

I have primarily worked with adults in my practice, so its hard for me to think of a clear example. I do remember a sweet girl who was born with a terrible diagnose and was placed on our hospice service at age 3. While she was 3 years, she did not display the typical developments of a 3 year old, but she LOVED music. She was limited in her movement, and was non-verbal some due to the fact that she had a trach tube, but when a song she liked was played, she would smile brightly and bounce herself as best she could in her special seat to the pulse of the music. She could reach out and grasp, so I gave her lots of opportunities for choices, and she took them, picking instruments of different shapes and colors. Based on her physical responses, affect, and eye focus, she would communicate music preference, and tempo preferences, to me too. Even though she was not a typically developing 3 year old, in many ways, musically, she was…

[Erin Spring]

My practice serves a lot of rural Appalachia… lots of bluegrass, country and gospel music. A lot of children grow up listening to these songs and know them by heart. I also must add that in my little home town of Circleville we are about to have our Pumpkin Show, which is coined the “Greatest Free Show On Earth.” It has its own song, “The Pumpkin Show Song,” and it is a great example of the small town feel and gathering with old and new friends amongst the harvest. I use it in my sessions a lot this time of year, though primarily with adults. The kids like it to because it talks about the rides and they can share which is their favorite ride.

[Erin Spring]

I bring experiences from working with early childhood through the YMCA swim classes I teach, especially the parent-child class with infants and toddlers 6 months-3 years, working with Sunday school music groups at churches, supervising at various preschools for practicum students are all helpful to my work in early childhood. While early childhood is not specifically where my greatest passion exist, I am extremely motivated by the struggles I have seen my friends face with their children’s development, both in just understanding their child’s development, and what to do when development is significantly lagging behind in specific areas. I am passionate about music’s impact on the development of the brain. My husband was a music educator, but lost his job a couple years ago like so many music teachers due to budget cuts. With music disappearing from schools, especially at the elementary level, I am even more motivated to provide this nurturing musical experience for young children. Even though I might not be the best therapist to provide this service myself, I can support the development of this musical opportunities for my community and provide qualified therapists who can best conduct these sessions. Gaining this training is the first step to bringing Sprouting Melodies into my business, next having my therapists trained and working with them to develop programing to meet our communities needs.

[Erin Spring]

I think just reviewing the specifics of developmental milestones in such a detailed way was extremely helpful for me in thinking about my work with children. I also teach a parent-child swimming class at a YMCA that incorporates a lot of singing with various activities and water movements, and have had specific water skill development training for early childhood, so it was great to mesh the two together in my head. Having this knowledge more readily available in my head and at my fingertips will be very helpful with working with families in my early childhood swimming class as well as my supervision at preschool sites and eventually my work with Sprouting Melodies.

[Erin Spring]

Hi Everyone! I am very behind in getting started with the training but am very excited to be participating! I am a business owner in Circleville, Ohio, just south of Columbus. My practice has 3 therapists and serves most of southeast Ohio. The business has until recently been very heavy one the adult populations, such as hospitals, hospice, nursing homes etc. I am looking to add more balance to the age range my practice serves, and create more community music opportunities for families. I also teach and supervise students for Ohio University and am looking forward to expanding and enhancing my knowledge and expertise with children as many of the sites I supervise are preschools and special education classrooms.

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