[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

knowing I have support, people to check in with and ask if I feel stumped gives me a boost of security. But beyond that, I am remembering all the information I already got in my in depth master’s training after listening to Meredith and Beth give their concrete experiences. This model will impact me by providing more structure and a nice formula to my free-style music therapy work.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

I have a plan to stop in to the 2 children’s librarians I know because of my own kids, with whom I have a very good rapport already and ask them their needs before I say what I can offer. I will take them the pamphlet cards from Roman Music Therapy’s office. The only part I don’t know is how much funding they have for these types of things. Luckily this is our Ops manager’s job. After that I will go where the contacts lead as they emerge.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

I love opportunities to help siblings bond or help parents relax a little and enjoy a structured and warm environment to do all the things you mention.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

yes me too!

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

giving jobs to older kids, communicating with parents about expectations, setting up bonding sibling experiences! the song “It’s my turn, then it is your turn”. has one Built right in! dynamics up and down grabs attention and can offer expected surprises and joy and ownership! so many strategies.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

I most look forward to building relationships and presenting a “set” if you will that the members can really get to know and count on. I tend to be so spontaneous, that my in the moment instincts are always alert, but sometimes it causes me weaknesses with sticking to a plan and keeping flow and expectations going. Success! I always love the feeling of walking away and saying yes, I planned, prepared, and I know it was received well! This format will work so well for me!

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

Challenges… perhaps keeping a little one safe or not over stimulated. I remember I took a music together class and my baby was sitting and my other 2 were with me. the oldest made me nervous because he started pounding on the walls. The leader was really good I remember but she did not know what to do with this. As a parent I was embarrassed. would love feedback !

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

oh I know this reflective process! Yes, next time is always better.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

Music for development should provide a holistic approach and present opportunities for musical intelligence to be gained as well as opportunities for developmentally appropriate emotional, social, motor coordination, and communication goals to be addressed.

Skills-based music experiences is specifically for developing life skills, such as physically grasping, or emotional self-regulation (for example explaining that a child is stepping outside of circle because they have an innate skill that leads them to make this choice) or learning strategies to help a child along in this, IEP goals etc.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

I am a firm believer in this. In my groups and with individuals, I find if I break the flow of the music, I lose attention. I love how in one module Beth showed how she modulated from one song and then back to another she had maybe just done. singing through transitions too, helps.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

ditto!

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

I just posted, “like Maura does.” me too! smiling. thanks for the thoughtful posts

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

I used a large gathering drum for the mommy and me groups I had years ago, SM2 level. I can’t remember how I managed the instruments. Maura’s works for me! I will do just as she does when I do SM. I like the frame drums setting up the circle before they enter. I know I have found that leaving instruments just laying out to be problematic for my sessions. They can take kids’ attention away from some other goals I have been addressing, particularly if they have self-stimulatory behaviors. I have struggled with this in other settings, but I don’t remember it in my baby groups. I have even felt like an instrument nazi! “oh my take them away now,” my internal voice says as I see them dive deep into their own worlds. I would love to hear how others handle these situations. maybe with babies it isn’t such a problem. With a group of 20 5-year-olds I had no trouble when I gave them all the same thing (bells) and kept it very contained to one song. feedback?

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

Yes, I agree! It is something we gauge as we go along. Presence and care keep us connected to the needs of each baby and adult. I know adults too who are overstimulated by sound, and music particularly. It is very cool that we are trained to excite them and gather their attention, but also to know when to shift to a sedative-style, then on to a simple percussion and rhythm (with voice, body, or drum) to organize everyone together or simply organize one little baby in your arms by your own bouncing or bodily compression.

predictable stimulation can be great use of trust and also independence, “ins and outs”, all in one song, introducing the element of expected surprises. These are ways of using stimulation in a controlled way.

[Marisa “Marcie” Rozek-Arena]

SM2 is 1. exploration, 2. music-making, 3. music-listening, 4. developmental exercise, 5. individual and social

1. Allow your child to move in and out of joint attention. 2. We bring the music experiences up and down, in and out, intentionally so that your child can experiment socially and motorically and within an appropriately gauged amount of stimulation. 3. Sometimes your child will want to face you and return to your safe dyad and other times your child will want to turn away in your arms. 4. Your child’s participation can be through observation, action, and also taking a break on the outside for some time. These are all developmentally appropriate. 5. Honor your child’s instincts on how he or she needs to participate at any given time.

Session Outline:
1.Come Gather Together
2.Wiggly, Jiggly
3.From My Head, Head, Head…All of This is Me
4.Sit and Shake with Me yeah
5.March with Me now 1-2-3 (frere Jaques)…tip toe, jump, rest
6.Bye Bye Music Time is Done (American Pie)
7.Thanks A lot … thanks for the sound that we made, thanks for all that you gave, thanks for name and thanks for name, thanks for …..thanks for all that you gave, thanks for all that you gave.

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