[Jennifer Whitlow]

Right now my company does not have early childhood classes. However, once we do I think it will grow quickly. I live in an area that seems to be continuously growing in the opportunities for women and young children. And maybe that really isn’t the case, but maybe my awareness has grown, either way I like to think it is growing!<br />
There are other Early Childhood programs close by. Many of them seem to be on waiting lists. Geographically there seems to be a small gap in the location of these classes. so I am hopeful to be able to provide services in that gap. We actually live in that gap and I have already used a nearby church for groups with DD/ID in the past. So this will help add more opportunities for individuals in my local community.<br />
I feel like these families would benefit from being able to meet more like minded families and caregivers. As a mon, I feel like this is important to me. I want to create a nonjudgmental environment that allows children the opportunity to explore and grow. And also gives the family the opportunity to ask questions and visit with other members. I am already involved in many local opportunities for moms and babies. I will continue doing that, so families will see that I am interested in many aspects of parenting and child development.

[Jennifer Whitlow]

Singing: Awareness: Vocalizes or turn their head towards sound source. Trust: begins to match pitch. Independence: Begins to babble and initiate sounds. Control: will begin to sing along with familiar songs and follow melody. Responsibility: Keeps a steady beat.

Playing: Awareness: turn towards familiar person and begins to engage in play trust: Plays in pulse and meter Independence: Strikes an instrument Control:will start and stop in response to music. Responsibility:maintain a steady beat

Movement: Awareness: instinctively moves body Trust:responds with repetitive motion Independence:Isolates body parts to move rhythmically Control: follow the leader or maybe taking turns Responsibility:sequences movements and may begin moving correctly to “Head, Shoulder, Knees, and Toes.

Listening: Awareness:recognizes different timbres Trust:recognizes familiar melodies Independence:Imitates timbre and music intensity Control:Stops to listen to music Responsibility:listens to music of others.

[Jennifer Whitlow]

When I went through this week, it was hard not to think of where my daughter was in these musical experiences. I have a 9 month old and really think she is in the independence stage. Since most of my work is 1:1’s and with developmentally disabled clients, I found myself thinking about one group that I do get to work with. I see these children at an ABA center and most of them are between independence and responsibility stages. I typically structure my sessions with singing, playing, and movement. I do not give many opportunities for listening. I think I have occasionally, but not much. With some of those groups, the staff can sometimes get a little chatty and distracted. I don’t always have enough instruments for them to participate. I am going to change that and ask if they could all always actively participate. Thank you for breaking down the stages of each of these. This will be very helpful once I begin my early childhood classes.

[Jennifer Whitlow]

At home, my husband and I have completely different tastes in music. He has always been into more hard music like Tool and Nine Inch Nails. Where as I love Adele, Taylor Swift, Backstreet Boys, Air Supply, Mariah Carey, Jewel, and so much more. We will never come to an agreement when it comes to that. However after taking a music appreciation class, my husband has been able to find enjoyment listening to orchestral music and will actually initiate playing things by Beethoven, Mozart, Holst, and more! It is very refreshing. So our daughter is exposed to a lot of things! My husband does agree that Tool and Nine Inch Nails are not really baby friendly!

We live pretty close to a bigger city. In Indianapolis, we have a symphony orchestra, huge concert venues, and stages that are great for plays, musicals, and opera. We are actually even planning to see Phantom of the Opera in May (too bad our daughter is too young). We are very fortunate to have a lot of exposure to a lot of music opportunities in our community. We are also the city that hosts Bands of America and the DCI finals, so I think music is well preserved in this area and I look forward to seeing how early childhood classes do here!! It seems like there already are some and they appear to be full and having waiting lists, so that is a good sign for me!

[Jennifer Whitlow]

I have not had many opportunities to use these song, as I primarily work in 1:1 situations. However there were a lot of take aways for me. It got me thinking about my own song writing and the songs I use for the only groups I do lead (I see them every other week, so I look forward to using some of these song very soon). I am specifically looking forward to using some of the movement songs and the themes and concepts. The Autism Center that I see clients at really likes themed sessions, so this will be very helpful.

With my 9 month old, I have done a few of the songs with her. She already is so vocal (everyone at daycare even tell us that). But she is beginning to really match pitch and seems to understand reciprocal conversations. I love doing some of these songs with her and they have encouraged me to become more creative with the songs we do. I cannot wait to start my early childhood classes this summer and really begin using these more! I just love them!

[Jennifer Whitlow]

I currently work with a 5 year old boy with CP and a variety of other diagnoses. I have seen him a few times since starting this class and I have been really focusing on where he is developmentally. His case manager wrote that he functions as a 10 month old, which I completely disagree with and also don’t understand why she would make a comment like that! However, I will admit that he has developed immensely in music therapy, in just a few short months! I was reminded of that yesterday when I participated in his team meeting. So anyways, about the client! In October/November when I started with him I would say he was more in the trust stage. He was reluctant to participate and trying to figure things out. He would vocalize occasionally and sometimes even match pitch. When he was given an instrument, he did not always appear to want to play them. However, now I would say he is in the control stage. His vocabulary and verbal skills have EXPLODED! His mom told me yesterday that he is even independently requesting songs at home. She asked me specifically about “Row Row Row Your Boat” which he asks for almost every session. He also is able to answer simple questions, make choices, and engage in song lyric completion. He matches pitch much more. So yesterday at the meeting, after discussing this. The case manager stated that she believes he is developmentally functioning as a toddler! We all think a lot of it has to do with his participation in 1:1 and also group music therapy! HURRAY!

[Jennifer Whitlow]

In my introduction, I mentioned working with individuals with DD/ID. It was after having my daughter that I really became passionate about working with this population and possibly pregnant women as well. In my area, I do not feel there are enough resources for early childhood experiences and support for new mothers. For me personally, I had a great pregnancy and labor, so post partum smacked me right in the face. This challenging time, has now fueled my passion to want to help other parents. I want to be able to encourage positive interaction, the understanding of the developmental process, and, most importantly, create a safe environment for families to come to.

I currently have a contract at an ABA center with children. I facilitaty a few short back to back groups. Those kiddos have so much energy and by the time I am finished, I am usually sweating and so fatigued… and I LOVE IT! This chapter brought a better sense of awareness to those groups and the needs for those kiddos. Thank you!

[Jennifer Whitlow]

In my introduction, I mentioned working with individuals with DD/ID. It was after having my daughter that I really became passionate about working with this population and possibly pregnant women as well. In my area, I do not feel there are enough resources for early childhood experiences and support for new mothers. For me personally, I had a great pregnancy and labor, so post partum smacked me right in the face. This challenging time, has now fueled my passion to want to help other parents. I want to be able to encourage positive interaction, the understanding of the developmental process, and, most importantly, create a safe environment for families to come to.

I currently have a contract at an ABA center with children. I facilitaty a few short back to back groups. Those kiddos have so much energy and by the time I am finished, I am usually sweating and so fatigued… and I LOVE IT! This chapter brought a better sense of awareness to those groups and the needs for those kiddos. Thank you!

[Jennifer Whitlow]

Wow! A lot of information right from the start! Thank you! It has been a while since I have studied early childhood development. As a parent of an 8 month old, it was a great refresher that every child is different. I liked how Dr. Schwartz presented the information and only brought up key red flags. I think parents often compare their children to peers and it can cause a lot of confusion and unnecessary panic. This week’s information will be some I review often as I begin my journey in offering early childhood classes.

[Jennifer Whitlow]

Hi Tracy! Good to see you on the forum. Hope things are going well for you. Kristen, I also know Tracy from the JAFSP! I went in June of 2010. What an awesome and life changing experience!

[Jennifer Whitlow]

Hi Everyone. My name is Jennifer Whitlow and I live in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have a Bachelor’s degree in music from Indiana State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Music Therapy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. After completing my internship at Orchard Manor, in Lancaster Wisconsin, in 2011 I moved back to Indiana. I am now the owner of Dynamic Music Therapy, LLC. I started my business roughly one year ago. There are not many private practices in this areas and I want to provide more music therapy opportunities in the community. When I initially started my company, early childhood was not my intention. However after welcoming my first daughter in May 2015, I realized the need in this area. I love my new passion to want to support new mothers as well as pregnant mothers. So I plan to spend some time focusing on that population as well. I would also like to continue working with the same population, DD/ID, and believe this course with strengthen my knowledge with them as well.

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