[Lauren Stoner]

Ditto to all the responses above. I completely agree that music therapists understand the value of music and musical interaction. It is not just- “Oh we are going to use this song (that I found somewhere) so that you can move around and have fun.” Music therapists understand and grasp the potential when music is part of the equation along with relationships and a strong knowledge base of development. The interventions/ experiences we offer are not “willy nilly” they are specifically designed for development and are flexible for success.

[Lauren Stoner]

I agree with the comments above. I would also like to add that the time, money, and struggle it can take to get to sessions/ groups can be worth it to families, because the program provides an opportunity for the parent/ guardian to learn about themselves and learn about their child. This time is precious and special to families and they search out ways to improve their interaction and relationship. Music experiences provided by a music therapist who has the ability to communicate knowledge of developmental levels is also a significant benefit to parents/ guardians. Music is a natural way to engage and interact. Songs that are applied in SM groups can be used at home to help parents connect with their children outside of the group session and continue to promote development throughout the week.

[Lauren Stoner]

I try to incorporate all four experiences in my clinical work, because it provides for a better sensory experience and more possibilities for growth. I have come to recognize these more as I apply them to my work. I also look to see how each experience supports the other. For example, in looking at movement- this can aid with spatial awareness and engagement which is helpful in awareness of others, which in turn offers opportunity to increase listening skills. I agree it is difficult at times to recognize all the responses, like Stacy stated, but I also think this is because it might be something not easily detectable, while still maintaining focus of the group.

[Lauren Stoner]

Singing: Awareness- turn eye gaze toward source of singing; Trust- shows pleasure when hearing a familiar song; Independence- Uses vocal glissando; Control- sing a phrase using three or more pitches; Responsibility- coordinate breathing, posture, and muscle tone to sustain sound

Playing Instruments: Awareness- uses arms to reach out to source of the sound; Trust- explore instruments with hands or mouth; Independence- use hands to strike drumhead or tambourine; Control- grasp mallet or striker to play instrument; Responsibility- alternate hand to play shaking instrument

Movement: Awareness- suck rhythmically Trust- tolerate movement of body parts rhythmically; Independence- move whole body rhythmically; Control- sustain hand clapping in familiar song; Responsibility- learn simple social dances

Listening: Awareness- can discriminate between pitches; Trust- adjust vocalizations to indicate happiness or displeasure; Independence- follow simple directions set to familiar music, Control- tolerate singing with others; Responsibility- adjust quality of sound to blend with group

[Lauren Stoner]

Living in Indiana, close to Kentucky, the cultural music is focused on popular music on the radio as well as country music. I feel like the culture of my current residence is not as diverse as some of the other places I have lived, including New Orleans and Florida. When living in these areas, I developed a substantial new repertoire of music including Cajun, jazz, rap, and Haitian music. In my clinical practice, I try to bring in new artists and styles to develop new musical interactions and experiences.

[Lauren Stoner]

I really enjoyed reviewing and singing these songs. They are structurally sound and entertaining, even for adults (since some of the tunes are still in my head when I wake up in the morning). I do not work presently in this population, so I have not been able to utilize the songs in a clinical setting as of yet. However, I have been going through the songs and have been thinking of ways to adapt them to fit the need of the client in the moment. I like the possibilities these songs provide with the anticipation of resolution, movement, and stage development. I hope to learn more about developing new songs for this population and focusing on “peeling the onion” as you say. I am very excited to move forward.

[Lauren Stoner]

Like Erin, in recent years I have primarily been working with adults. However, I have seen a drastic change in the musical development of children through my relationship with my nephew. Months will go by before I am able to see him. It is wonderful and almost miraculous at times to see his musical development. I think he likes staying with me as I am the aunt with all the instruments. However, as this is not a clinical experience, I will share a story directly relating to my clinical experience. I was working with a little boy with down’s syndrome for a short period of time. Several of his developmental skills were delayed, but he was in the independence stage. It was wonderful to see him search out music and musical sounds. He would grasp and experiment with what was available in the environment. During a session, he began with body movements and a melody that I was not able to recognize due to lack of tonality at his stage. He became frustrated with me as I was not able to identify the song, even though I repeated the tonalities back to him. When I finally was able to recognize the song, this further fostered the other stages of development as it improved trust and reciprocal musical play.
I would like to take this time to apologize for my late post. I had some personal issues come up, and my internet was down for a substantial amount of time.

[Lauren Stoner]

One of the things I will be taking away from this week’s information is not only the developmental understanding, but also the encouragement to remember to look at life from a child’s point of view. I try to keep this in mind now in my work. The emotions, struggles, and successes can evoke significant responses for adults, adolescents, and children coping with mental health concerns. I think it is always important to be empathetic to the experience of the client, and it is clear that this value is present in Raising Harmony. One way to help clients better is to understand what they are experiencing and what they expect (for example: clear, short responses that are consistent). I am looking forward to learning more.

[Lauren Stoner]

Hi everyone. I am Lauren Stoner. I have been a music therapist for about 5 years. I have worked in both forensic and acute psychiatric facilities working with children, adolescents, and adults. I am currently in Evansville, Indiana working in an acute psychiatric setting. I am also in my first year at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods pursuing MAMT. I became interested in this program, because of the focus of wellness and community for children and families. I have limited experience with the baby/ toddler population, but do have some due to practicums in early childhood, women and children shelter programs, and volunteer opportunities in grief programs. I look forward to learning and look forward to our discussions.

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