[Katie Whipple]

There are many valuable skills that we bring as music therapists and the one that sticks out to me the most is that we know how to motivate. I teach private guitar lessons and at one of my student’s recitals her aunt came up to me and was amazed at how well her niece did and wanted to know if I recommended any teachers in her area of the state that had my approach. I immediately told her I was a music therapist and that I would recommend finding an MT. The reason is because I feel that we are so well equipped to motivate and encourage is such positive ways that don’t require a lot strict “rules”. We know how to work with kiddos with short attention spans or how to make music experiences become fun even if hard work is being required! I know that our training allows us to work with a “kiddo” or “family” oriented approach rather than about the music development or skills.

[Katie Whipple]

SINGING:
Awareness- Begins using pitches in vocalizations, such as coos and ahhhs. It is such a SWEET sound!
Trust- Can match pitch about 50% of the time.
Independence- Enjoys exploring voice and will often sing “silently”.
Control-Can follow the melodic contour of a song
Responsibility- Uses pulse and meter with in a melodic contour

PLAYING INSTRUMENTS:
Awareness- exploration of instruments (mostly in mouth!)
Trust- Briefly (a few shakes) uses pulse and meter with instruments. As they grow speed increases as well as duration
Independence- Purposeful exploration of instruments- they enjoy using a variety of instruments
Control- Can start and stop intentionally with the music
Responsibility- Can maintain a steady beat

MOVING:
Awareness- Rhythmic movements are instinctual. Music should support the natural movement
Trust-Responds to music with purposeful repetitive movement (not necessarily in tempo) AKA the “baby bop”
Independence- Isolates body parts to move rhythmically
Control- Imitates learned musical movements and beginning to internalize music as part of themselves
Responsibility- Connects music movements in a sequence (we can now do Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes!)

LISTENING:
Awareness- Recognizes changes in vocal timbre… loves their parents or care givers voice the most! Beware of startling them with your own timbre
Trust- Recognizes familiar melodies
Independence- Matches intensity of movement to music
Control- Can stop action in response to listening to the music
Responsibility- Listening to the music of others.

[Katie Whipple]

I really enjoyed this element of the training. In every session I provide for children I try to incorporate all of these elements. I consciously place them at specific places within the session in order to gain and maintain attention and engagement. This is something that I try to have my music therapy students think about as well. When planning music therapy experiences, providing a variety of musical modalities really helps with engagement. That being said I incorporate these different methods throughout the session as well. Most of my hello songs encourage singing or at least vocalization as most of my hello songs invite the client to sing or respond in some way about how they are feeling, what the day is, etc., depending upon the need and ability. Every population I work with I encourage instrument playing because I feel that all clients have the ability to contribute musically to the group and can share in that “responsibility”. Depending upon who I am working with instrument exploration may be more applicable or if working with adults or older children it may be more structured. I think the key here is the type of instruments being played that is vital! I utilize movement in most all my sessions whether it is large, improvised movement experiences or very structured, fine motor movement experiences. With children I work with I aim for improvised movement as long as it is in response to the music. As for listening I have utilized this with adults through progressive muscle relaxation. For children, I utilize drum “rumbles” and “stops” to gain attention.

[Katie Whipple]

There are several different qualities that I like about the songs presented. First, the words were composed with purpose- I really appreciate the aspect that the language was intentionally used to promote vocabulary that the child may most likely need to use in their day to day life. The second quality that I appreciate are the musical aspects of intentional silences or pauses that gives the child the opportunity to anticipate the next beat or note, have a moment to process or to demonstrate the action being sung. Third, I really enjoyed the dramatic elements that Beth demonstrated and that are key to each song. The way she started the beat of the song while still talking to sort of transition our minds into the song we are about to experience and the way that she exaggerated certain words or stopped quickly. It is those dramatic elements that I think that can help make the song as successful and engaging as possible.

[Katie Whipple]

So my hometown is deeply embedded in old Baptist hymns. At least in the nursing homes, assisted living facilities, etc. As a former Catholic, now Episcopal, I have had to learn a lot of old hymns that I was not familiar with! Songs like Old Rugged Cross, What a Friend We Have in Jesus and In the Garden are all songs that I have had to learn! For young kiddos I would say that traditional nursery songs are most popular here… the wheels on the bus, old mcdonald and twinkle twinkle for sure! A few months ago my two year old came home singing “my baby bumblebee” song… not sure of the title but it’s “I’m picking up my baby bumblebee…”. It took me a while to figure out what he was singing but the rhythm and the hand motion cued me more than his words.

I think it is interesting because even though each of us are from different places with different cultures and backgrounds, music is so much more accessible than it used to be. We aren’t restricted to just what is offered on the radio or even what they have in stock at the music store. I imagine that in years to come that cultural music will become wider and shared among more people. I would love to hear the “popcorn song” that Jaycie mentioned. That sounds fun! It is also interesting to hear from Milijana and how the musical culture of her former country has changed. It is a beautiful thing that the old music of her ex-country can be shared across each new nation and that music is a way to connect them again.

[Katie Whipple]

Right now I am not currently working with any young kiddos, except for my own two children! I would consider my two year old son to be in the control stage right now. He is able to match certain pitches and sings simple melodies with really good accuracy! My husband and I both play music and often perform for different events, etc. Last night we were working on “Here Comes the Sun” and as we sang the “sun, sun, sun” part and harmonized when my two year old looked over at us with a stunned expression on his face. It was like he wasn’t sure what to think about it! We encouraged him to sing the words “sun, sun, sun” with us but he put his head down and CHOSE to not sing. While I had wished for a different response, I had to validate and respect the fact that his choice to not sing was just as valid. I also had to realize that he was also probably processing the song as it was a new one that we were working on. I think it was the element of harmony that initiated such a response.

I also have to share a sweet musical response from my 5 month old who is in the awareness stage. Last weekend we were playing music with some friends of ours and it was wayyyyy past both of my boys bed times. However, I’m not a stickler for schedules when we have special things come up like spending quality time with family and friends. As our friend sang and played an original song I was swaying my son to the music. He had been getting fussy, was very tired and I knew he was about to nod off. While our friend sang my son began to vocalize… it was more of a coo. At first I didn’t hear him because his face was facing away from me… but our friend looked up at me in surprise. It took me a moment to realize that my sweet baby boy was cooing in the same key that my friend was singing. His vocalizations felt rhythmic in nature and matched the tonal center that he was hearing. It was obviously a self soothing vocalization but it was clearly a response to the music that he was hearing. It was a magical moment for this mama!

[Katie Whipple]

I think for me what I have taken away the most are learning about the skills that the children develop and enjoy engaging in. It gives me ideas for music experiences that will work on those skills and draw on their current interests. For example, my sweet 5 month old baby boy loves seeing his image and my image in the mirror. I’m already brainstorming original song ideas that I can use in a group setting and trying to find a deal on some cheap, non-glass mirrors to utilize. Another important take away is that Beth talks about certain delayed skills as being a red flag, but also realizing that each child develops differently and at different rates. Milestones are just that… goals to reach. When learning about the different developmental stages there were many skills that my boys did earlier than the milestones… while some of them a little slower. I love how Beth reassures parents that most children will have control over their elimination muscles because this is always a concern for parents!!! I also enjoyed the references to the application of music. For example when discussing how an infant can begin to grasp toys they can also begin to grasp a maraca. Tying it back into the music helps to keep my wheels turning on how these skills affect children’s ability to experience and learn from music.

[Katie Whipple]

I feel that I will be able to bring a lot of support to the parents. Just as a few others already mentioned, the parents really are the other half of the equation. And as a mommy of a 2 year old and 5 month old I know how it is to have all these questions about development… is this normal… should he be rolling over yet, etc. Fortunately from this week’s training I am more aware of these things and feel more comfortable sharing them with parents. I love in each training module how Elizabeth throws out there “it would be a good idea to mention to this parents…”. I feel that if I can help support and educate the parents about was is typical behavior or part of a child’s natural development as well as provide ideas and songs that they can do at home… then the effects of music on a child’s development won’t stop with just me once or twice a week! Children will then have the opportunity to experience these things at home on a regular basis and that is what is so great about the Sprouting Melodies approach.

[Katie Whipple]

Hi Everyone! I am Katie Whipple and I live in Milledgeville, GA. I have been a music therapist for 9 years and continue to love what I do everyday! I directed a Creative Arts program for Adults with developmental disAbilities that encompassed music therapy and visual art. We focused heavily on community music therapy approaches as it was our goal to promote true integration for adults iwth DD. Twice a year our musicians would perform alongside music therapy students to present quality and fun music performances. This continues to be a beneficial program for both our musicians and the music therapy students.

Currently I am working as a lecturer at Georgia College & State University. I am also in charge of our private music therapy clinic. The purpose of our professional clinic is to offer music therapy services in our surrounding areas while providing our graduate and undergraduate students an opportunity to work and learn from professional music therapists in action! I posted on Music Therapists Unite on facebook and asked what type of childhood program people offered as part of their practice. I had initially been debating between Kindermusik and Music Together. However, there were so many MT’s that posted how much they loved the Sprouting Melodies approach. I am hoping that this training will be something unique that our clinic can offer to all individuals and their families. I am a firm believer in inclusion and I feel that is something that this program really strives for. I am excited to learn and share with everyone!

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