[Leah Strand]

I agree, it can always be as simple as the power of music. There’s so many corners it can reach.

[Leah Strand]

I think my main takeaways from the course was really lining up every stage a child is at to the music. Some things happen naturally, but others we need to use our knowledge and expertise on. As always I like the emphasis on we are the experts. It’s hard to think of it that when when faced with a room full of parents and kiddos when I don’t have personal experience to share to really draw on each moment. I do however have my own clinical knowledge and therapeutic mindset to adjust and respond how best to in most situations. It was really nice to take such a focused class on development and with how to talk to caregivers and communicate more effectively. Overall, I enjoyed the flow of the course and how knowledge was passed around.

[Leah Strand]

I also like the getting on their level and talking to them in a direct way. I can see this working for children who may have too much stimulation going on. Getting on their level and simplifying where to direct their attention may be good.

[Leah Strand]

I think my first strategy before the class even starts is to set up the room for the best possible outcome. In a perfect world where just the room set up would keep everyone engaged and focused on the music, I think its valuable to recognize the impact of preparing before the children get there. I think during the sessions I feel my first response is to redirect in any way I can. I’ll either do that through the music or if I need to do that in spoken form depending on the level of attention needed. It really will depend with each child or group what will be the most appropriate response to get back on track. I think making sure before hand that the agents are aware tht they can do what they need to for their child throughout the class, but that this is also a space to grow and tackle the “hard to handle” moments and that I am trained to recognize and react at varying levels for support.

[Leah Strand]

I think this will b a great opportunity for the community of Athens county to have an extra layer of support.

[Leah Strand]

I think what excites me most is being able to be apart of that developmental journey for kiddos and their families. I want to be a resource in the community and having sprouting melodies in my tool belt is going to be a great way to really reach the younger children where they need it most. making music as accessible as possible has always been a key factor in my practice and the added bonus of helping parents bond with their children is something else I look forward to sharing.

[Leah Strand]

Silly, energetic, sensory stimulation, adaptive, fun

I wold start with the gather round song then go into a hello song so they can socially interact and get a sense for who’s in their space. I would then move onto the do you wan to be my friend song for more recognition of who’s around them. After this I would move into an instrument song like I like this song. With this song I would mix it up with various planned movements to get everyone a moving and grooving. After this a small transition song for putting instruments away then get the scarves out for. Bonding song of row row row your boat, adapting where needed. Next I would do the where is music song and end with a Goodbye song.

[Leah Strand]

Fun, intentional, joyful, adaptive, independent

I would start off with the gather round hello song, in which I would then transition to the all of this is me song o establishing some self awareness. Next I would do an original song that I call “will it wiggle” which involves movement and spacial awareness, its also just a silly fun song as well. After this I would get out the instruments to do “I like this song” since this one is easy to adapt when needed and gives lots of room to everyone to explore. Next I would do wiggly jiggly car for a bonding song and for the older kiddos that don’t ant to it on laps I would get the scarves out and adapt it with them. I would next do the where is the music song to create a transition for our goodby song and to being the energy back down.

[Leah Strand]

I think the challenge with in multi age groups when the ages aren’t balanced out. What if there is one 4 yer old in a group of 1 and under because that’s who showed up. The intentional decision one has to make so that everyone is included at their developmental level could be tricky. It could also be challenging if it was a huge group of varying ages. Either way the MT will have to adapt to fit the collective group. So many options, so many faces, so munch music. This scenario could also call for sensory overload and stimulation as the more there is the more noise there is to be made. Many things to think about.

[Leah Strand]

I love that you mentioned specific areas that MTs are knowledgeable in. We have a lot to offer to those who walk into our sprouting melodies classes.

[Leah Strand]

I think the biggest thing to make clear is were not just there for the music, but we are their for your child’s development. Music WITH many other things in mind to be as helpful as we can for the caregiver and the child. As music therapist we have the knowledge to know when too much is too much or when it may not be enough just yet. To be experts on how to create a musical environment for all developmental stages is a great key factor on why what we do is different then just any music class.

[Leah Strand]

I agree with other posts that enough stimulation and overstimulation can look different from child to child. It could be obvious disregulation such as crying, moving way from what’s making sound or drawing into themselves. It could also be seen as consistently seeking for that sensory input by actively doing something else or trying everything all at once. When there is enough stimulation you may see the child more clearly engaged, focused, and relaxed in their environment to explore. It’s important to recognize subtle or not so subtle switches in children to minimize too much stimulation or not enough.

[Leah Strand]

Describing words: Louder, wiggly, fun, rhythmic, and explore

Phrases: Watch you child take in everything they see no hear! Don’t be afraid to explore along with your little one. You can start to think about how the songs we’ve already learned can grow with them developmentally. If your ever concerned that your child isn’t developmentally there yet that’s okay! I can answer any questions you may have about it! our child may have different ways of sharing their attention with us we just need to pay attention to see what they do that indicates they actually are.

Plan: Hello song- most likely the gather round song as it is still familiar and engaging to this group. I would then incorporate songs about “me” and then the world outside of themselves. After this I think it would be great to get out the scarves for a row your boat song incorporating them. As for instruments play I would probably use the song wiggle jiggly car and adapt it with tambourines which can also pair as a bonding song as well involving the parents and children to “drive” the wiggly jiggly car. After this I would use a transition song that includes putting the instruments away and gathering around for the goodbye song.

[Leah Strand]

I think investing in drums where the drum head is replaceable would be wonderful in the long run as well compared to other types of drums.

[Leah Strand]

I use egg shakers, hand drums, maracas, hand bells and scarves. I now some of my instruments are remo but the her ones I am not sure of as they too are somewhere where I am not at the moment.

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