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October 17, 2023 at 12:26 pm
in reply to: What are the needs of the families and communities that you work with?
ParticipantLydia- I really loved how you pointed out how children connect with their families through music when they can feel so disconnected on so many other levels. I think that truly speaks to the epitome of what we do and why we do it!
October 17, 2023 at 12:23 pm
in reply to: What are the needs of the families and communities that you work with?
ParticipantI live in a seasonal community that is booming with tourists in the summer but what the winter hits, the population essentially splits in half and lots of stores and attractions shut down. The winter can be exceptionally isolating for some families. The center that I will be starting music groups at is an indoor plays space and has the potential to be a wonderful resource for children and caregivers to come and meet others. I know of some new moms who have expressed feeling isolated in our area and my primary goal is to provide an inviting space and help them feel excited to come and meet other caregivers and for their children to meet peers. Sharing music experiences with other children and caregivers can help “break the ice” for some caregivers who may not necessarily feel comfortable striking up a conversation with another parent or caregiver. Like many places, childcare is expensive and hard to come by for many families, so the music group provides vital socialization for both children and caregivers.
Having just started getting back into music therapy, Meredith talking about believing in the value of what we do really resonated with me. I need to get comfortable putting myself out there again because I am confident that once families understand what it is I am providing, they will be encouraged to attend. Something I need to work on!
ParticipantEveryone has identified some really thoughtful values that MTs bring to the families we work with. Personally, what comes to mind first is creating a safe place for children to express themselves creatively without judgement and too much restriction. I feel that this kind of outlet is so crucial in building the foundation of a child’s confidence and self-esteem as they grow into their own person.
October 13, 2023 at 2:14 pm
in reply to: How have you used these four music experiences in your practice?
ParticipantYes! I have had great success with Wiggly Jiggly Car as well! I like that you introduce it with letting the parents know that truly any response from their little one is OKAY.
October 13, 2023 at 2:11 pm
in reply to: How have you used these four music experiences in your practice?
ParticipantI found it so helpful to truly breakdown all of these music experiences. It has sharpened my awareness to the more subtle changes that tend to be overlooked. Right now, my daughter is so incredibly imitative and we have had a lot of fun with stopping and starting both within songs and movements. I find myself paying a lot more attention to observing her process each response that she makes to music and the choices she makes. As I prepare to start a new music group, I am also very appreciative of the language to aid in explaining the “why” to parents and caregivers who will be joining.
ParticipantSinging: Awareness-Make sounds of different and varied durations. Trust-If a melody is changed, a child may shift their attention. Independence-Imitation of short vocalizations. Control- Singing a phrase with 2 or more words using pitched intervals. Responsibility-singing a familiar song while playing an instrument.
Playing: Awareness-The child will reach their arms toward the sound. Trust-A child may grasp an instrument. Independence-Transfers an instrument from hand to hand. Control- Use a gesture to indicate instrument choice. Responsibility-Will use alternating hands to shake an instrument.
Movement: Awareness-An infant will tolerate and may calm to rhythmic rocking. Trust-Tolerating the movement of body parts rhythmically. Independence-Uses their own body to move rhythmically. Control- Will start and stop movement in response to music. Responsibility-Respond when cued to make 1 or more movements.
Listening: Awareness-Alter movement when the music stops. Trust-Looking toward the singer’s face Independence-will follow simple direction set to music. control-Will stop action in order to listen to music. Responsibility- Will follow along with routine of session.
ParticipantI enjoyed refamiliarizing myself with these songs from the last time I took the course. When I worked in EI, I used “Just like me” a lot. I found it to be such a useful song if a child needed redirection or we were in-between activities/interventions. The song also provides an easy way to include anyone else in the room. A very useful song to have in the back pocket! I’ve been working on body parts a lot with my daughter so I have started to sing this to her, mostly in the tub where her joint attention is the strongest and it has really helped her identify different parts!
ParticipantI am not currently practicing, but I will look forward to revisiting this discussion once I do start my children’s groups toward the end of the month. Looking back on some of my previous experiences, one of my internships was in a continuing care nursing facility working with the geriatric population many of whom had dementia. I learned a lot of new material in a short amount of time-mostly songs from the 40s and 50s. There were also several requests for nursery rhymes and more generally well known children’s songs and it was remarkable to experience how the residents recalled song lyrics from their childhood.
ParticipantWow that is truly a diverse population and an amazing experience to become familiar with so many different musical backgrounds and traditions. You must be such a comfort to them!
ParticipantI have a very distinct memory of singing and playing “White Christmas” on the guitar to my daughter when she was 2.3 months old. This moment can be categorized within the awareness and trust levels of development. She was lying on her back, and I was sitting on the floor next to her. This was really the first time that I felt like her vocalizations were purposeful and she made attempts to match my pitch throughout the song. When I stopped singing between phrases, she’d look in my direction and then continue to coo once I started singing again. She moved her limbs all around in response to the music for the duration. At the end of the song, I stopped playing and she smiled and gave the sweetest little giggle, seeming so proud of herself. Her whole body then settled once the music ended.
Participant• Awareness: turn toward familiar pitch, briefly grasp an instrument, change movement in response to silence in music.
• Trust: Anticipate the sounds of an instrument with repetition, move entire body rhythmically to music, recognizing a familiar song and showing pleasure.
• Independence: Using their whole hand to play an instrument, imitate movement patterns, recognize familiar music even with a different timbre.
• Control: Request a song using gestures or words, start and stop instrument in response to music, tolerate singing along with peers
• Responsibility: sing songs using functional language, alternate hands to play shaking instruments, respond when cued to make simple 1-3 step movements.ParticipantYes! It is so hard when parents are so apologetic for their children just being children!! I feel like music therapists have such a unique role and ability to show parents that it is okay to encourage that play and exploration in a safe, non-judgement zone.
ParticipantNothing in music therapy energies me more than groupwork with babies and toddlers. I had the opportunity to lead a few groups while working for EI and started a group via Zoom for our agency during the pandemic. I love the challenge of navigating what draws each child in depending on where they are in their developmental journey. The EI groups I did in person did not involve caregivers as well, but they were more involved with the Zoom group. I am really excited to offer parent child groups to help facilitate connection between caregiver & child, child & child, and caregiver & caregiver. I know it can be stressful when parents are comparing their little ones to others and are worried that they are falling behind. I hope to bring a sense of comfort to those by meeting them where they are and using the knowledge from this course to help explain and show parents the incredible role of music in their child’s development.
ParticipantI found this developmental review so incredibly helpful. I have been out of the field for a couple years and I have a new perspective with a one-year-old at home. I think my biggest takeaway would have to be the concept of developmental phases. There have been so many instances for me personally where I feel like a particularly difficult phase with my daughter will never end–when will she sleep for longer periods? Why can’t she transition from prone to sitting? Even with the developmental knowledge I have, it can be difficult in the moment to truly comprehend that this too shall pass! And the next day and next week are completely different. Having a front row seat to her exploring and discovering the world is truly spectacular. I definitely appreciate Courtney’s perspective and relating the material to her personal journey as well!
ParticipantHi Cammy- I can definitely relate to all of your sentiments about EI. So rewarding and fun, yet can be very isolating and I remember feeling tremendous burnout as well. Hang in there!!!
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