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Maggie,
I really like your point about following the lead of the child. Even with my own (now 11-year old!) son, sometimes I have to stop and take a breath and remember that he has a voice and I need to support him to use it, even if I don’t want to hear what he has to say or wants to do!
I need to support this agency and (developmentally appropriate) autonomy in the children I work with. (Whether the parent supports this goal is a question for another time, I suppose…)
ParticipantJee,
Sometimes I think it can be challenging to translate what we do professionally when it involves our loved ones. It’s good to have mom friends/friends with experiences in early childhood who can reassure us (or if needed, encourage us) when we have questions about our own kiddos.I think your own experience at the library is a good example of “know better, do better”, a quote attributed to Maya Angelou. It is something I often say to myself, as a reminder that it is a process, for myself as well as for others around me. You will be able to provide a meaningful service for children and their caregivers based on your experiences as a MT and a Mom.
Participant(Apologies: I can’t find my original post after editing, so I’m trying again…)
I think it is important to come alongside the child and the parents/caregivers in an early childhood setting. I like what Beth and Meredith said about parents not always having the time to learn ‘what to expect next’ after the baby is born. In my early childhood classes in the schools, there was not a 1:1 child/caregiver ratio. I rarely saw parents, and never during music. I wonder what it would be like if I could have an opportunity in my community to create a group class where it was 1:1.
I also think COVID disintegrated our sense of family and community. Having sessions where parent and child can connect in the music could be so good for both of them. If parents were uncertain about their child’s development, it could be an opportunity to observe their child’s strengths and point to what they should look for in heir child’s development.
ParticipantAfter watching all of the videos for this week, I find that my most valuable takeaway came from the first video. In fact, I wrote it in my notes: be proactive and look at it [choosing a path in growing/learning/becoming in a healthy way] as an opportunity to share another way of being in the music (in my notes, I underlined “in the music”).
That’s why I wanted to take this course: to learn more about being in the music, alongside others. I want to work on doing this better. Sometimes, I’m making music, but simultaneously thinking about what comes next, or trying to concentrate on what I need to remember, and it takes me out of the moment. (People observing me have commented on this.) I’m working on being present in the music with other people and simultaneously make a mental record of what is happening.
ParticipantHi, Jee!
My little one is now 11, but I still see the stages of development in my child! As for when children are old enough, there is a quote attributed to a music educator about when to start making music with children. Zoltan Kodaly’s answer was, “Nine months before the birth of the mother.” I think it works in MT as well.
ParticipantHi, Maggie!
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I look forward to learning from all of you and hope to apply what I learn here soon…
ParticipantHi, Erika!
My mom attended Montclair back in the day when it was “Montclair State”. Thanks for being our moderator: I look forward to immersing myself in this course. Best of luck as you continue your graduate studies!
ParticipantHi, Greta!
I spent several summers at the University of St. Thomas and really enjoy the Minneapolis/St. Paul area! How many MTs do you have at the hospital? Do each of you work try to focus on a certain age group (early childhood/adolescents/teenagers), or is it just as needed?
ParticipantHello!
My name is Lynn Rechel (our last name rhymes with “freckle”). I am currently in the Professional Studies Program at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. (I had the privilege to take a course with Elizabeth; I only wished we could have done it in person!) I have completed coursework and am working on my internship placement, which was delayed due to COVID. My family consists of one husband, one 11-year old boy, one fish, and four cats! We are in the middle of a move to Lovettsville, VA.
I am a career switcher, having spent the past 25 years in music education. I have worked with children from 18 months through undergraduate students. Part of my work was with children with special needs (as identified by IEP’s in various school districts).
My hope is that taking this course will continue to challenge and refine my perspectives of music therapy, and what my role is as a music therapist. My long-term goal is to work with young children and their families.
My expectations is that this course will add to my understanding of young children and their development, both musically and non-musically. -
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