[Meredith Pizzi]

It was great to hear some of you suggesting your own songs or ones you have used in your other sessions. We would love to hear them if you would be willing to share.
You might also want to check out the video blogs I do for the Raising Harmony and Sprouting Melodies web sites. I have been trying to put new material there for you to have.

[Meredith Pizzi]

It is hard sometimes to take the time to write down or talk about our value as music therapists. But I think having a deeper understanding of how and why our interventions allow for growth will help all of us become more articulate about how important we are!

[Meredith Pizzi]

I have just had the chance to read over everyone’s responses to this question, and I am so impressed with the vast range of experiences. Thank you for sharing resources and thoughts…especially the reminder to always ask before expecting active music making.
Kristen had asked a while back about introducing babies to multicultural music. I think we need to closely examine how each piece of music from a specific culture is created and how each musical element is specifically used. I like to then use music that resembles the way the elements are used in the child or family’s culture even if I am not recreating the exact music. The earlier you make this connection for children the better. The reference to multicultural music in the video, really refers to how a child in the responsibility level will begin to consciously align themselves with music from their culture and use that music to express and create their identity.

[Meredith Pizzi]

Thanks for all your comments and questions! Many of you noted the ‘red flags’ that were presented in this week’s material. In Week 9, one of the modules is called ‘Opportunities for Success’. Meredith and I will go in depth into spotting ‘red flags’; incorporating strategies for success for all; and facilitating conversations with parents and caregivers when we spot developmental concerns.

[Meredith Pizzi]

What an exciting and diverse group of music therapists! It is great to hear about all the different paths that have led you to early childhood music therapy and this course. I encourage you to share with each other on this forum. Post each week. Check back often for other postings and always let us know if you have further questions or comments. See you soon! Beth

[Meredith Pizzi]

Welcome! We are so excited to begin this journey into early childhood music and early childhood music therapy with you. My name is Elizabeth Schwartz, but most people call me Beth. For the past 25 years I have worked with very young children through Alternatives for Children on Long Island, New York. AFC provides comprehensive services for children with special needs, children at risk, families, early intervention and typical children. I also teach music therapy at Molloy College which is here on Long Island. Meredith and I founded Raising Harmony early in 2012 because we were so passionate about sharing our work with young children and families. I am lucky enough to have been able to put many of my ideas and music down on paper and in cyberspace. Please take a look at the blogs I write for the Raising Harmony and Sprouting Melodies web pages when you get a moment.

I am also the mother of three grown children, and so have lots of personal knowledge of the ups and downs, joys and challenges of young kids.

I look forward to getting to know all of you. Please feel free to email me, or any of us here at Raising Harmony, with questions or suggestions.

Beth

[Meredith Pizzi]

Hi, Nancy. Thank you for your thoughtful questions and for sharing the often hidden struggles that parents (okay I am really talking about moms) have every day. As I read your posting, pictures flashed in my mind of the many moms that I have had that really hard conversation with. One of the reasons we are so passionate about qualified people such as music therapists running early childhood programs is because we have the skills and the responsibility to be an honest and intuitive resource. After 25 years of working with families and little children, I firmly believe that, as painful and uncomfortable as it can be, it is best to speak up when we see significant issues with either the mom or the child. Here are some of my strategies for making that ‘talk’ go as best that it can for all involved.
* When starting any new group, I work hard to create a non-judgmental and supportive community. I will often joke with the parents and say “Look, the door is closed and it is just us. Be who you are and let your child be who they are. And what happens in this room, stays in this room.” I take this confidentiality very seriously and never discuss issues about the parents or kids outside of the room.
* It is so important to develop really good observation and assessment skills. That is why knowing development and red flags is so important. Sad to say, I have gotten really good at assessment of difficulties. I often wish I were wrong, but I rarely am.
* I choose the time and location to speak with a parent very carefully. If there is no privacy during the group, I might call them on the phone later.
* I never start by telling a parent there is a problem or what they should do. Instead I ask them how I can do my job better. What can I do differently that will help them or their child? For a mom who seems to be depressed or exhausted, I would first thank them for making the effort to come to group, and then ask them what I can do to make it easier for her to get in the door, or chase after her child or…whatever seems to be the hardest. I might follow up with a statement like “We are all in this together. It takes a village to raise a child.” I try never to ask leading questions, but to make statements that lets them know that I am ready and willing to be supportive and accepting.
*Your idea of printed resources is great. Giving the parent some time to think and then come to asking for help on their own is ideal. Often I will give them out to all the parents so I am not singling out one person.
*What I have experienced is that often moms know when something is not right, and underneath it all they welcome the chance to unburden themselves to another person who can offer help.
Thanks again for opening up this thread of conversation. Please add any ideas or comments from your own experience. I know it will be helpful for your fellow course members.

[Meredith Pizzi]

Thanks for sharing all these ideas and strategies. I love Katie’s ‘small strategy’ because it is all these small details in observing and responding to the children that make us so unique and such a valuable asset to our communities.

[Meredith Pizzi]

I am so excited by the collective energy and focus in this group! I hope to chat in person with many of you tomorrow night.

[Meredith Pizzi]

Hi, Dany. I am so glad that you are part of this forum and a larger on-line community of music therapists. Please let us know how we can continue to support you and your work.

[Meredith Pizzi]

Nice to meet you again, Cassandra. I remember that Temple course fondly. An exhausting but fun three days!

[Meredith Pizzi]

Great idea to take notes during the videos, Elyse. Just another reminder to everyone that it will be helpful in the future to have a copy of your answers to these forum questions.

[Meredith Pizzi]

I tend to do very little talking once it is music time. The music begins and the children and grownups generally watch the first few times and then join in.
As we have (or will) talk about on the videos, we have a number of very short, very concise statements that we use to either educate or instruct or redirect. We call them “Sprouting Melodies Sayings”. You will get a taste of those in the course soon.

[Meredith Pizzi]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about vocal timbre and dynamics. Voice skills and techniques is another area of interest for me and I am honored that AMTA just posted a podcast that I did on developing voice skills for music therapists. You can listen to it at the AMTA-Pro page at http://www.musictherapy.org.

[Meredith Pizzi]

Thanks so much for you honesty, Katie. There is a huge amount of material in the course. But as Erika stated so beautifully, we are here as a community to support and help each other not only during the course, but after and onwards! One of the reasons that I might look confident is that I have had over 25 years of practice in early childhood alone, and many more before that in other areas of practice. But every day when I go to work I still get that ‘flurry’ of doubt that I will be able to meet the needs of the children and families I work with. It totally disappears as soon as the music begins. This will happen for you, too.

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