[Kasey Sollenberger]

Sharing this information with colleagues should be easy! I would certainly reccomend this course to any one of my MT colleagues. If I do decide to become a SM provider, I think that Beth and Meredith have created some information materials that I would be glad to have and distribute.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

This training will really take my private practice to the next level. I’ve always worked with children but did not have the extensive knowledge that I have now about childhood development. I really enjoyed these last few videos because of the information on the business side of our programs. So much of that information was helpful to me.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

I am most looking forward to becoming an essential part of my community by bringing music into the lives of families here. There are so many connections made through the network of parents that gather in this community. I like how Beth and Meredith mentioned that because of their Sprouting Melodies groups, the parents have gone out and become supporters of music therapy. I hope that will happen here too.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

To make sure every child has an opportunity for success, the therapist must be flexible and observant throughout each session. Strategies such as speaking with parents about redirection, positive reinforcement, and modeling will aid the therapist in ensuring the children are successful. Being observant and flexible by noticing reactions to changes in music will help the therapist to know what is working or not working for the group.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

In my understanding, Music for skill building is a more concrete concept to explain. Skill building covers all of those definitive cognitive and academic goals in a very deliberate way. Music for development enhances the less obvious areas such as coordination in a more natural or intrinsic process.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

5 Words to Describe Family Sprouts: cooperation, gleeful, adapting, structured, personality

5 Words to Describe Sprouting Melodies 3: control, creativity, learning, purposeful, moody

Family Sprouts Session: Gathering: Come and Join the Circle, Greeting:Hello Everybody (KS), Bonding: Row It Faster, Songs About Me: All of This is Me, Instrument: I Like This Song, You and Me Makes We, Movement: I Can Move Around (really like this one!), Goodbye: Music is Finished (KS), Thank You Very Much.

Sprouting Melodies 3 Session: Gathering: Gather ‘Round, Greeting: Hello Everybody (KS) Bonding: Swimming, Jumping Up and Down, Songs About Me: From Head to Toe Instrument: You Play a Little, Music is the Way, Movement: Will you Come? Goodbye: Music is Finished (KS)

[Kasey Sollenberger]

The way my current groups work out, I feel like we always have multiple ages! Typically, I struggle with finding the happy medium of age appropriate songs but the given examples are great to sing with many different ages. I think the therapist would have to bring a wider range of instruments for some of the instrument exploration songs. Encouraging the older children to help/model for younger children has always been helpful for me to manage these mixed age groups. I think considering the musical choices may be a challenge.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

I have to go look on the website after hearing Beth and Meredith talk about providing instrument suggestions for this age group! I recently purchased a few rattle type instruments (not sure of the brand) for the really little ones. I have used scarves, small maracas, and remo nesting drums.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

Meredith and Beth mentioned balance a few times this week. With this age group a therapist needs to pay extra attention to the balance of energetic and calming tactics used personally and musically. I think an MT should always be observing the group to assess the level of stimulation that is needed. One way we can detect if there is too much stimulation is if the children startle (as mentioned earlier) or display a negative affect. We can notice when a group needs more stimulation when members of the group are easily distracted or losing focus easily and often. Beth talked about the element of (expected) surprise that can be used in this situation to draw in the groups attention. The use of instruments should also be considered when thinking about over/under stimulating. Sometimes I find that using guitar and singing at the same time can be overstimulating for young groups. It’s important for us to recognize these factors and have the ability to modify our sessions on the spot.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

5 Words: Exploration. Spontaneous. Balance. Absorption. Discovery.

5 Sentences: 1. It does not matter if your child is imitating exactly what I’m doing; it’s important that they are making their own musical choices. 2. It is okay for your child to move and walk around, they need to be able to explore in safe environments. 3. It is typical for children of this age to mainly observe the session leader at first and repeat songs at home. 4. Children of this age are unsure of their position in space. 5. During jumping, help the child to land firmly on the bottom of their feet to ground them.

Session plan: Greeting- Hey, Come and Play, Hello- Hello Everybody, Songs about me- Can you see me, Instrument- Come with me and play a little (gathering drum), Sit with me and shake (maracas), Movement- March with my baby, Goodbye- Music is finished, Thank you.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

The community aspect is one of the main reasons I was so excited to take this course. I think music plays such an important role in our community and in the lives of families in our community. Having young children can be so challenging and an element support is needed. Music groups are a great way for caregivers to bond with others who may be dealing with some of the same struggles. I have been privileged to experience a really great bond between families made in one of my music groups. The best example comes from an older group of teenage girls. Their parents were all in search of a music group that the girls could benefit from socially. Not only do the clients get along well, but the moms have developed this beautiful bond and support system with one another. They have each verbalized how thankful they are that music in the community brought them together (even indirectly).

[Kasey Sollenberger]

5 Words: Bonding. Intuitive. Playful. Stimulating. Explorative.

5 Sentences: 1. I encourage you to slow down, take a breath, be present, and enjoy this time with your baby. 2. Put your hand on your baby’s chest when we sing “hello” to him/her. 3. Place the maraca handle in the center of your baby’s palm and they should close their hand. 4. You got out of the house! Thats great, and I’m really glad you’re here! 5. Please sing! It is most beneficial for your child to hear your voice!

Session Plan: Gathering- “Hello,” Greeting- “Today is a beautiful day,” Bonding- “Row it faster,” “Wiggly jiggly car,” Songs about me- “Just like me,” Instrument Songs- “Shakey Shakey song,” Movement- “Growing Up,” Goodbye- “Music is finished”

[Kasey Sollenberger]

I haven’t had any clinical experience working within this age group. Like some others have mentioned, I have interacted with babies of my family members and a few friends. I enjoy observing babies in the awareness stage. It is fascinating to me to observe what they are attracted to and how they react to whatever the stimulus may be. Every new movement or facial expression they make is such an exciting accomplishment and I really enjoy celebrating those little achievements. I think it may be quite a change for me to facilitate these younger groups just because I have only worked with older children, but I look forward to it!

[Kasey Sollenberger]

I currently work at a sensory gym for children. Many of the families that visit the gym are looking for different opportunities that meet their child’s sensory needs. Children of all ages attend the gym, from little babies all the way up to teenagers. It is an environment that provides opportunities beneficial to typically developing children along with children who have sensory and developmental challenges. Many of the families I come into contact with at the gym want their children to be involved in an inclusive activity with their peers. Some of the children receive music therapy services individually but their parents have been searching for an MT group for them as well.

[Kasey Sollenberger]

It has been so interesting to read everyone’s comments on this topic. I’ve always had difficulty with the idea of “selling myself”(for lack of a better term) and/or my services; but I find it easier to focus on the value of music therapists as a whole vs. just myself and this course has greatly helped me to feel more confident. There have been no many great points made here. The first thing that comes to my mind is, when I started my group sessions, parents were constantly apologizing for their children. It is so valuable for the families to be able to come into a group setting, and just let their children be themselves! In whatever stage of development they are in, it is so important for us as the professional to ensure the parents that their child is not doing anything “wrong”. Music therapists enrich the lives of our families in so many ways: in creating bonds between caretaker and child, in creating support systems between families, and by facilitating child development in such a unique and effective way through music.

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