[Laura Myers]

I will share this information in a variety of ways. With family, friends and close colleagues will first be verbally. I’d like to share with them what SM is and how I would like to incorporate it into my current practice. I will also approach my daughter’s daycare and let them know I have completed the training and how it can serve the children there. I would provide them with printed materials also outlining SM.

I plan to contact the local library, speaking first with the children’s librarian. They have a storytime twice a week that I can attend and become a familiar face to the parents and librarian.

I would also approach the director of the preschool at my church to see if materials ca. Be sent home in the kids folders.

I plan on locating parent groups to present to as well. I am an active member of local moms group online and can discuss my SM business there in attempts to gain interest.

[Laura Myers]

I am seriously Thinking of being a SM provider. As I’ve mentioned before I’ve been wanting to start working with children. I currently work part time and after daycare costs I don’t bring in much income. I could begin a SM practice and focus my work on days my husband has off from work and can watch our girls.
I think focusing my work in the county I live in just outside of St. Louis might be best. There are lots of programs for children in st. Louis county but none that I can find in Jefferson county.
But, before I can work on any of that I feel I must become more familiar and comfortable with leading childrens songs. I need to learn the music I will be leading.

I think this training will add to my current practice by giving me another set of skills I didn’t previously have. I feel knowledgeable in the development of children, where I had no formal education on it before.

Also, my apologies for not being on the conference call. Monday night’s are my handbell choir rehearsals of which I am the director.

[Laura Myers]

I am most looking forward to beginning my work with younger children. Many years ago I was given the opportunity to take over a Musikgarten practice, but with working full time, being in grad school,having a young child, and a husband also working full time while also completing his doctorate, it just wasn’t the right time. Fast forward 7 years… I’m mow working part time with a daughter in 3rd grade and a daughter who is 16 months. I’ve been thinking very seriously about starting work with young kids. My life is still busy, but I am hoping to do SM as a small part time commitment to provide early childhood music to my community. Who knows, it may develop into something bigger 🙂

I have truely enjoyed learning this material. Will the videos still be available to watch after our training session has ended? I would like to go back and review some of it again. Thanks!

[Laura Myers]

In working with older adults, I attempt to make each resident feel successful at each group or individual session. It is my hope I will be able to do this when working with young children. To do this I would plan my groups with experiences that will allow the children to learn and grow. I would learn the characteristics of each child and what motivates them. I would provide consistent feedback to the children. I also features that in order to succeed, the environment must be a positive one.

[Laura Myers]

SM3 5 words- Free, independent, social, purposeful and active
Family Sprouts 5 words- Active, cooperative, engaging, Helpful, supportive

SM3 Session:
I would begin by making sure the room was set for the group. Instruments out on the floor and music playing while the participants are coming in and getting settled.
I would move to a gathering song (Sit Down with Me) to get everyone ready to make music! Next I would use Brand New Friend for a bonding song, to encourage the children to interact with me as the teacher and then branch out to their parent and/ or classmate! The Song about Me would be My eyes are on my face, for body identification. then the instrument song of You play a Little. I feel it goes along with brand new friend in helping to encourage the children to play together. Next will be the movement song of Will You Come, and the the Good Bye song Time to Go.

Family Sprouts Session:
As always the room would be set and ready for group, with music playing while everyone enters and gets ready to make music! I would begin with the gathering song of I’m Glad You’re Here Today, mvoing to the Bonding Song of Row it Faster. I think with mixed ages this would be a fun song to do. The Song About Me would be Can You See Me, to the Instrument Song of I Like This Song. (SIDENOTE: Thanks for the advice of not handing the kids a mallet!) The Movement Song would be Will you come, followed by the Goodbye song: It’s time to Say Goodbye!

I look forward to learning more of these songs as I further my involvement with SM. Its going to be a fun challenge to start working with a new population!

[Laura Myers]

Tricky, tricky… I look forward to reading the other responses to this question. I guess I would explain that music for development would focus on the developmental milestones that we would like to see at each stage, in each of the catagories of Physical, Sensory, Motor, Cognitive, emotional/ social, and language. For example we can use instrument holding for grasping, or bonding songs to focus on visual tracking, etc…
As for skill building, I would explain to the parent that during the SM group we are also working on skills such as listening, turn taking, Sharing, and book handling (Side note: i loved that explanation during the video. Working with older adults, its not something I would even begin to think about!)

[Laura Myers]

I feel that the biggest challenge in providing mulit-age groups is making sure the group material engages all participants. I like the thoughts shared in the video on how the older kids may enjoy helping the younger kids learn. The older kids may enjoy demonstrating the actions for the songs they are familiar with, however, there needs to be something new for the older kids too. If not, it may become a bit boring for them.
I also like the thought share about trying to find songs with movement that works for all involved. This may require some altering of the moments, but it’s not anything I would have thought of until I was in a session leading movements and finding that not all could participate.

[Laura Myers]

Thanks Kristina for encouraging me to look at this question differently. Funny thing is, I couldn’t tell you what brand any of the instruments are at my work, aside from the Malmark Chimes and the Not so Loud Tubanos. Neither of which I would use with kiddos. The Tubanos are to tall and the chimes are not little kid proof in my opinion. The maracas I have are not made of a plastic that would hold up for kids use, they are one hard hit from busting open. I do have rhythm sticks that may be suitable for the older kids in SM.
When I begin my own SM program, I hope to purchase instruments that are suggested from SM, and that are fun and safe for kids.

[Laura Myers]

Well, what stimulation is enough or too much is different for each child. I’m sure this can be difficult to manage at times during groups. However, if the atmosphere is managed by the group leader then it may be easier to add stimulation without causing extra chaos in the room. You have to take signs from the kids, are they acting out a little bit more, are they getting easily frustrated, is there to much extra movement in the room, etc… then there might be to much stimulation.

[Laura Myers]

1. Exploratory, active, playful, engaging, and supportive
2. Through the music your child is continuing got leArn trust and independence.
Music will encourage free movement.
The music will offer your child the freedom to move around, but they will need you as a secure base to come back to.
The music will begin to illustrate anticipation for your child.
The children will be engaged in the music making whether or not they are outwardly participating.
3. My plan for SM 2
Begin with setting the environment, allowing families to come in and get settled, maybe some music on to great them, as well as me greeting everyone.
I would then use a gathering song to begin the music making, such as hello. I may also add in sit down with me to prepare them for the next song, the bonding song- wiggly, jiggly car.
Since that song can get exciting I would bring the energy level down for the song about me- just like me. Next in instrument playing I might try something a little more active, maybe dancing in the middle. And then the children can keep the instrument for the movement song, marching in the middle. And keep a slight relationship between the instrument song and the movement song. Then we will end the session with a moderately paced good bye song, to be followed up with a slower thank you song.

[Laura Myers]

Since I am not currently working with kids at this level, I have nothing to list. However, I am impressed with the amount of instruments available for use with young children. I know not all are as safe as others, so I would stick with instruments that other mt’ s who work with young children would recommend.

[Laura Myers]

One follow up question…
Do sessions need to be theme based? Working with older adults I do mostly theme based sessions.
Thanks!

[Laura Myers]

I guess I’ll be the first one to jump in on this question, although I feel I have no idea if my answers will be correct:)
My 5 words would be: quiet, calm, engaging, bonding/supportive, and gentle.

5 sentences when speaking to parents. (I’m really not sure what you are looking for. This is what I have learned through this training about how baby will react to musical experiences at this age)
1. The music will help your baby develop their awareness.
2. Your baby will begin to learn and feel trust though the musical experiences.
3. The bond between baby and parent will be strengthened through the music.
4. Your baby will respond differently to various types of music.
5. Any rhythmic movements by the baby will be from instinct.

Okay…this question has been stressing me all week. As someone who does not work with kids, I feel I’m not quite ready to develop a plan with songs and activities. My rep of songs and activities with this age group is limited to what has been presented to us. If you want a session developed for older adults, I can do that! I look forward to further developing my rep soon. So, I guess I will go with what I know. That’s a good place to start!
Begin with music playing as the participants arrive. This will help set the atmosphere of the room and get people thinking about music, and not what they’ve felt with so far that day or will have to deal with later. I will great everyone as they enter.
Then we will move into the hello song once the group is settled. I would choose one that is calming.
Next I would plan a song that will get baby and parent closer with interaction. I loved the example of the Row row row your boat/ row it faster.
The next song would be a song about me. I think it would be fun to do a song about fingers and toes. As a mom, I love it when my baby’s feet can breathe. Maybe a song playing off of the tune of 10 little Indians? I’d have to write that.
The instrument song for this session would be a tapping song with the drums. (Thanks for discussing what size drums are good for lap sitters/ older babies) I would have never thought of it that way.
As the group is nearing the goodbye song, I would probably do a softer movement song, maybe moving the feet that are connected to the toes we sang about earlier.
Finally, we sing good bye

This session is just off the top of my head, with the knowledge I have just learned.

[Laura Myers]

I know I’ve said this before, but I do not currently provide mt services to children. My work experience has been strictly with the older adult population. But, I do try to make music daily with my 15 month old (anyone else find it difficult to make music at home after making music all day?). Recently we have been playing on her toy xylophone. We take turns playing. She will play a few notes and then engage the rest of the family in clapping for her. I also sing songs when completing daily tasks. Cleaning, diaper changes, waking from a nap etc… most of these songs are made up on the spot, but she seems to react to them.

I look forward to working with young children musically, I find I aam scared to jump in. I don’t know songs and activities to do. I’m learning some from this training, thank goodness. But I have so much more to learn.

[Laura Myers]

One role mt’s have in community based settings is to fill a void. I know in my area families would need to drive 30+ minutes to find a music class specifically for young children. This makes it difficult for families to want to take a class when it can turn into a 2.5 hour process for one class. Also, as mt’ s we can educate and advocate for our profession. Getting out there in the community will shed light to our community as to what music therapist do and how we use music. We offer support to our community as well.

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