[Greta Yates]

Awareness
1. Infants may turn their head towards sound
2. Children may kick and move when the music stops
3. Infants may vocalize a nonspecific pitch in response to singing

Trust
1. The child will make pitch changes in responses to pitch changes
2. Show pleasure in hearing a familiar song
3. Explore instruments with their hands and mouth

Independence
1. The child will use simple word sounds in familiar songs
2. Enjoys crescendo
3. Purposefully play instruments (shakers, drums, bells, chimes)

Control
1. The child can imitate simple rhythm patterns
2. Isolate body parts to move rhythmically
3. Imitate the words of songs before pitch and rhythm

Responsibility
1. Regulate voice to match dynamics of the music
2. Sing in both major and minor keys
3. Listen to the play of others

[Greta Yates]

I think of my daughter who turns one next week. I’ve sung to her throughout her life and she currently attends a Spanish Immersion Daycare. Several weeks ago I began to sing a random Spanish song I know at the dinner table and she suddenly began to clap along! I’d never seen her do that before. We will sing other songs at home, but she always claps and smiles immediately to los pollitos dicen. She’s also started mimicking “uh oh” and will repeat the sounds with the appropriate pitch. This has emerged recently. I know her English language may emerge later as she is in 40 hours a week of Spanish immersion, so it makes sense that she responds to these songs as they do circle time every day where the teachers will sing and clap and use pictures. They say she always signs “more” when the music stops 🙂

[Greta Yates]

I can serve a rather diverse patient population within pediatrics (Somali, Arabic, Black, Hmong, White, Native American). I’ve had some families share that they sing some songs of their heritage, but many of our patients orient themselves with more traditional American children’s songs. I’ve learned a few songs in Spanish (not enough) and will sing those as appropriate. I’ve listened to music with patients of other cultural backgrounds as it was not appropriate to recreate. My colleague and I try to mindful of the use of music in families of Muslim faith as some families will permit singing but not the use of instruments. Overall we try to be accommodating and have more music, but new repertoire and being in a rut is my current struggle (hence this course!)</p>
<p>When I previously worked hospice and long term care, many older Minnesotans identify with Scandinavian and Nordic backgrounds. I also had the ability to speak much better Spanish back during my internship and would see Spanish speaking clients. I would utilize songs from these traditions as appropriate in that work.

[Greta Yates]

I know as a young professional that this was a big thing for me to! I was always trying to be prepared or anticipate what could come next. When I supervise students now, I encourage them to sometimes just remove the guitar and stick to vocals. It can be hard as a new MT to do so many things at once! Simplifying things can still have great outcomes!

[Greta Yates]

Such a great point about the importance of safety and security! We know the importance of a secure attachment and the implications it has on development. A child who cannot guarantee their needs will be met or their safety will certainly be less willing to explore. I think of hospitalized infants who experience pain related to procedures or disease and how the threat of pain can inhibit their natural desires to play and explore.

[Greta Yates]

So wonderful that you could implement ideas immediately into your work! My daughter is in a daycare class 6 weeks-16 months and I’m in awe sometimes how her teachers are able to accommodate and make activities appropriate for such a range of ages!

[Greta Yates]

I did not have a course in college that addressed these milestones specifically and I’ve always felt behind because I did not know specifically when something happened. It was reassuring to me that through my practice and collaboration with others in the field and related fields, that I did know more than I was giving myself credit for. It was helpful to have this as a guide for goal areas and what we can be assessing when working withe se children. I think it’s also helpful to always remember that it’s a range and that children may achieve cognitive milestones before motor milestones, but it is all typical.

[Greta Yates]

As a mom to an 11 month old, I also went through some anxieties that my daughter wasn’t doing enough, wasn’t rolling over yet, etc. Working in pediatrics, I always saw worst case scenarios or more often encountered children with developmental delays. I was reassured by my closest work friend, a physical therapist, that babies naturally are motivated to achieve these milestones and often says “typical development is a beautiful thing.” It didn’t stop me from asking her to ‘assess’ my daughter whenever she came over. Have the reassurances from her and a dear friend who has older children really helped me stress out less and just enjoy my time with my daughter more instead of feeling I needed to be constantly addressing a milestone! It’s hard, it takes a village!

[Greta Yates]

In my work in pediatrics, I encounter developmentally delayed and typically developing children, but then also children who may regress given their clinical status or because they are in a hospital. I’ve recognized how important it is to reference milestones and skills with parents, but to also observe, assess, and document session outcomes because sometimes we recognize something is different. Just this week a mom told me “She never talks in the hospital, but she says words at home.” Music therapists working in pediatrics have the opportunity to use music to bring out the “inner child” and allow them to feel comfortable and more themselves, normalizing the hospital environment so we can observe and assess skills. In my work, I quickly have to establish rapport in order to work to achieve goals in an already stressful environment. When I seen a child curl up against mom but then begin to dance and play instruments within the same session, I know I have a better opportunity to observe skills and work on potential goal areas

[Greta Yates]

Hi Lynn!

Small world! My husband and sister are both St Thomas grads! We have 2 MTs and 70 hours of coverage at Masonic. I work 5 days, my colleague works 4. We certainly could use more coverage lately. Our consults are diverse and needs based. Our census does often trend very young given the great outcomes we’ve had in the NICU and with young babies for state regulation, development, and comfort. We work closely with the Pain and Palliative Care team so many of our patients are quite complex. Today our census is 34 with 15 babies in the NICU. Twenty five of our patients are under the age of 2!

[Greta Yates]

Hi Jee!

I have an 11 month old and I look forward to learning more about the musical milestones and perceptions through her eyes! I very intentionally don’t use any music from my hospital work at home. I don’t want to sing a song at end of life and then sing it to my daughter before bed-thus her lullabies are actually influenced by my initial MT work in adults. I’m also looking for other ways to engage with her 🙂

[Greta Yates]

Hi Lynn!

I think you’ll offer such a wonderful perspective given your teaching background! I wish you well with completing your internship! I’m certainly glad I did not have to navigate COVID as an intern and young professional. My heart goes out to all of the students who missed practicum and internship opportunities! Good luck in your move!

[Greta Yates]

Hello!

My names is Greta Yates. I have a bachelor’s (2013) and master’s degree (2015) in Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota. I became board certified in 2014. I am currently the lead music therapist at Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. I worked in a wide variety of settings but have been the program lead since 2019 after beginning my work at Masonic in 2016. I began my career in adults/geriatrics/hospice and my internship was in those fields. I’m currently experiencing intervention burnout and am looking for new ideas for how to improve and expand my therapeutic work and repertoire in the hospital setting. I’m hoping to increase my song repertoire along with learning more about early childhood development that I missed in my internship experiences.

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