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Having the opportunity to take this course as a non-MT really gave me a deeper understanding of the work that you all do and how much work and thought has been put into the Sprouting Melodies course. Learning about the different choices you make while in the sessions based on the children’s needs and your observations of what’s happening in the room was eye-opening. I really respect all the effort that goes into the classes! It also gave me the opportunity to reflect on the stages of development in babies and small children. I am hopeful that I can share this knowledge with other parents who have young children and give them the tools to recognize that each stage is normal and valuable and unfolds at each child’s own pace.
ModeratorAs usual… I’m not using strategies myself. However from the times I have been able to observe sessions, I have seen the music therapists use direct verbal cues, visual aides, and forms of sign language to encourage participation and cooperation with their clients. Also giving choices, which can empower the children / clients and give them a feeling of control. I know with my own daughter even now, if I’m not willing to give her what she wants, but I can give her a choice between two things that I am okay with, allowing her to choose makes her feeling independent and in control. So all of these are good strategies for making the kids successful.
ModeratorWhat most excites me is being able to share this information with the other moms in my life! Knowing what I now know about the different levels of awareness and the importance of repetition, I think I can be confident sharing these tips and tricks with my fellow parents. Also understanding the different types of songs – bonding, movement, etc – is a really interesting element I did not know before and am looking forward to sharing.
ModeratorI am cheating a little bit because I’m answering after our conference call, but what I’ve learned from you all about the challenge of multi-age groupings is to keep it inclusive. Billie mentioned having an adjusted age 8 month old and a pretty advanced 19 month old in the same class. Providing for both those level of needs while also being mindful of the rest of the group sounds like a challenge! But the solution Meredith offered, of telling the caretaker of the little one that this can be time just for them and their baby, while having the older child participate in more of the larger “nest” made a lot of sense! I think this is a tactic that parents of more than one kid have to utilize all the time. 🙂
ModeratorI feel like from what I have learned both from taking this course and the work that I have witnessed at RMTS, that the primary difference is that music therapists are not necessarily teaching musical skills. They aren’t trying to teach someone how to play piano or sing. I field a lot of incoming calls that are inquiring about music “lessons”, and I have to explain that’s not what we offer. Music Therapists are using music to address goals outside of just music-making and looking at each person’s individual needs and how to use music to get them closer to their goals.
ModeratorI think music therapists provide a safe space for young families, especially in a group setting like Sprouting Melodies. As we have discussed, parents are not necessarily trained in the development of children and many are concerned with what is “normal” for their child. Having a music therapist there to allow them to see that their child is developing in an appropriate way for them, and offering guidance as to what to look for in terms of growth can be a source of reassurance.
Moderator5 Words: Active, Strong, Intentional, Creative, Accepting.
Session Plan:
Gathering: Sit Down With Me
Bonding: Hold On Tight
Songs About Me: That All Makes Up Me
Instrument Song: All Night! All Day!
Movement: Will You Come?
Goodbye: Time to GoModerator5 Words: Busy, Sharing, Helping, Individuality, Cooperation
Plan:
Gathering Song: I’m Glad You’re Here Today
Bonding Song: Wiggly Jiggly Car
Songs About Me: All of This Is Me
Instrument Songs: Dancing in the Middle
Movement Song: Clickety Clack
Goodbye: Music Time is OverModeratorI think this varies from individual to individual, and I would also imagine that it could vary within the same Sprouting Melodies class from week to week! I think as an adult in the room, being aware of each child’s response to the level of noise/stimulation in the room is important and being flexible enough to adapt as needed. For some kids, being in a room full of egg shakers might make them uncomfortable – I know my own daughter couldn’t hear a group singing “Happy Birthday” for years without bursting into tears every time from being overstimulated!
Moderator5 Words to Describe Sprouting Melodies 2: Playful, Energy, Exploration, Surprise and Spontaneous
5 Sentences to use with parents: 1) It is okay for your baby to explore on their own! 2) We are here to be playful. 3) Even if your child is not actively participating, they are still engaged with the music. 4) Repetition is key for your baby. 5) Please feel free to sing along! Your baby loves to hear you sing.
Session Plan:
Gathering: Hey! Hey! Come and Play
Bonding: Wiggly Jiggly Car
Songs About Me: All of This Is Me
Instrument Song: Dancing in the Middle
Movement Song: March with My Baby
Goodbye: Music Time is OverMarch 11, 2024 at 11:24 am
in reply to: What are the needs of the families and communities that you work with?
ModeratorI think that, particularly post covid, that communities in general have a need for increased opportunities for community-building. So many services that were paused during the pandemic have not bounced back to their pre-pandemic levels. There is also a whole cohort of young/new parents and small children who did not get to experience a lot of community-based programming. My niece, for example, was born a couple of months before the pandemic so essentially, she did not leave the house for the first year of her life. There were no library programs or play groups my sister could take her to. Music programs like Sprouting Melodies meet this need by providing a safe and nurturing environment for the participants to build community together.
March 11, 2024 at 11:19 am
in reply to: Share some of your experiences with children of this age and level
ModeratorAs a mother and an aunt, I have a lot of experience with this age group! I think one of the most important things to note about children at this age is how very different they all are. While we know they are all progressing through the same stages of development, each child moves through those stages at their own pace and that’s normal! Watching their progress is so rewarding and fascinating. When I observed Billie’s Sprouting Melodies class when I first started at RMTS I remembered just how quickly the time really does go by.
ModeratorCommunity-based music therapy serves as a vehicle for creating shared experiences. In the case of Sprouting Melodies specifically, it proves opportunities for caregivers and children to enhance their bond and enhance the child’s development. It becomes a safe space for babies and children to see and interact with other kids their own age and start to realize that “Hey, you’re just like me!” Also, importantly it provides a safe space for parents and caregivers to form community with other adults who are going through similar experiences with small children, perhaps struggling with their identities as new parents.
Moderator5 words to describe Sprouting Melodies 1: Gentle, Bonding, Joy, Cuddling, Swaying
5 Sentences to use with Parents: 1) This group is about coming together in a quiet, nurturing space. 2) The voice your child wants to hear is your voice. 3) It’s OK if your baby is asleep, you will benefit from the group yourself and take the experience home to your baby. 4) Music can be used to increase your baby’s awareness and your bond together. 5) Feel free to sit and position your baby whatever way is most comfortable for you and for them.
Session Plan:
Gathering Song: Hello Everybody
Bonding Song: Little Red Wagon
Songs About Me: Just Like Me
Instrument Song: In My Little Hand
Movement Song: Pick Your Hands Up High
Goodbye SongFebruary 28, 2024 at 2:43 pm
in reply to: How have you used these four music experiences in your practice?
ModeratorI wish I had known about these experiences and practices when my daughter was a baby! As a “big kid” now she is always singing and dancing and gets so much enjoyment out of music. I love to know how her musical development might have been different, or come earlier, had she been exposed to music in an intentional way.
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