Sara May

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 15 posts – 1 through 15 (of 23 total)
  • Author

    Posts

  • Sara May

    Participant

    Erika- I specified rap in this not because of the content it may or may not contain, rather, the difficulty of maintaining control over expressing speech in a communicative manner. It may be modified and that works great for some individuals. However, not all, depending on the situation.

    I feel as though I should tell a little bit of backstory to the case I was thinking of when I posted my response. It was one of my first cases as a MT-BC so it has stuck with me. The individual was a child, elementary school age, who was involved in an accident and was in speech therapy and music therapy to re-learn how to communicate through speech. So, we were starting with sounds and moving on from there at the time the individuals preference of rap was attempted to be integrated into session to build a therapeutic relationship.

    The use of rap in session proved to be a source of anxiety and frustration for the client because they were unable at the time to form words at the rate they were previously able to. Using rap as music listening with drumming to the beat or syllables also showed signs of frustration for the individual. Initially, using rap was not appropriate. Further on, rap was successfully integrated into session when the individual was ready. My post was specific to their beginning stages for expressive speech, not language.

    There are some great modified and/or created for children rap-type songs that could be great for the right Sprouting Melodies group, of course! Rap tends to have a beat that is easy to groove to and feel. Oh, what fun that could be for parents and their children!

    Sara May

    Participant

    Sprouting Melodies is very well known within the community I am in due to the long relationship with the university here. So, for right now, expanding our groups is already in the works with the hopes of soon offering Sprouting Melodies 1, 2, and 3 in addition to Family Sprouts (yay!). We often participate in festivals and fair’s in the community to promote and advocate for music therapy services and our Family Sprouts groups. I find that this really brings awareness of services to the community and any visitors. It is always exciting to find someone who doesn’t know about Sprouting Melodies and see their face light up when they are told what it is. Usually, we also make sure to have small flyers to hand out so when parents return home they can remember who we are by looking at a simple sheet of paper. We have groups during the week that are sign-up only, however, we draw the most attention through our once a month free to the public Family Sprouts class. A couple months ago, the head count for the free group was in the 40’s!


    in reply to: Where will you go from here?

    #15119

    Sara May

    Participant

    This training will greatly impact my work as a music therapist within the community. As the company I am employed with is expanding, so are our Family Sprouts groups! To bring more Sprouting Melodies groups to the community will enhance and deepen the bonds of families who attend while also expanding the knowledge of music therapy and music therapy related services available to individuals within the community. For me, on a personal music therapist level, this course already has and will continue to expand my knowledge of how to work with children of this age. Most of the individuals I work with are a couple years older than the Sprouting Melodies age, however, I now have greater insight and understanding for what they need from me to assist them in growing as a whole in addition to specific milestones or goals we want to reach.


    in reply to: Share Your Strategies

    #15114

    Sara May

    Participant

    Success is measured on a multitude of levels. For Sprouting Melodies, I find that success is measured differently for each individual who participates and is a part of the group, including parents. For me, knowing that everyone has something different that makes them successful, my hope is that everyone walks away after gaining something from session, even if that’s just a break from being home with a child. Getting to know the families who attend Sprouting Melodies sessions is key to making sure everyone is successful and feels successful. Once you get to know the families who are part of Sprouting Melodies, that’s when modifications of how directions are stated or what interventions/songs work best for certain families and children as opposed to others. A big part of success is seen in the relationship developed between the provider, the parent(s), and the child. The stronger that relationship, the better prepared the provider may be for subtle adaptations that may make a world of difference in the success of individuals.


    in reply to: Share Your Thoughts

    #15113

    Sara May

    Participant

    I am beyond excited to become a Sprouting Melodies Provider. I have been observing and co-leading sessions with a music therapist who is a Sprouting Melodies Provider to further my knowledge and experience hands-on situations and interactions. I have already started using some of the knowledge I have gained between this course and the hands-on experience in current Sprouting Melodies courses within the area. The community that I serve loves and needs more Sprouting Melodies classes. Following becoming a Sprouting Melodies Provider, it is already in the works to add another weekly Sprouting Melodies class to the services the company I am employed with provides. These classes are geared and developed as Family Sprouts classes so more families of the community have opportunities to engage and join us. Hopefully, in the future as my employer has more Sprouting Melodies Providers on our team, we will be able to move from only Family Sprouts type classes to Sprouting Melodies 1-3 classes. I believe this will be a great opportunity for children and families within the community to engage in meaningful and appropriate music experiences.

    Sara May

    Participant

    Sprouting 3: Moving, Gathering, Choosing, Practicing, Creating

    Gathering Song: Hello Everybody
    Bonding Song: Hold On Tight
    Songs About Me: Where Is the Music?
    Instrument Song: I Like This Song
    Movement Song: Jumping Up and Down
    Goodbye Song: Out of The Box Goodbye Song (Familiarity is key!)

    Family Sprouts: Helping, Growing, Bonding, Exploring, Engaging

    Gathering Song: Come and Join the Circle
    Bonding Song: Row It Faster
    Songs About Me: All of This Is Me
    Instrument Song: Dancing In the Middle
    Movement Song: I Can Move Around
    Goodbye Song: Out of The Box Goodbye Song (Familiarity is key!)


    in reply to: Share Your Thoughts

    #15110

    Sara May

    Participant

    Having a wide range of ages within one group can be a challenge. I have been observing and co-facilitating some Sprouting Melodies community family classes recently with a music therapist on my work team and found that the most challenging aspect of wide ranges is keeping everyone involved and engaged, parents too! Decreasing the time between verses and songs (but not by too much, the littlest kiddos matter too!) and giving leadership roles to bigger children seems to be an effective tool for keeping everyone engaged. Also, utilizing gathering drums (if the space is big enough or has enough carpet/sound absorbent material) seems to work well, too. The gathering drums may be played with hands, increasing the sensory stimulation, which also creates a delightful and calming sound to the babies and young children present.

    Sara May

    Participant

    Depending on the parent(s) of the child and their knowledge/history with music, some parent(s) will understand better and in greater detail than others. However, I believe that the biggest difference that all parents may understand is that music for development is laid out and executed in specific ways/patterns with specific goals (the overall development of the child) attached to each element within the session. Music for skill building is linked to specific tasks music or non-music related such as gross motor skills, oral and speech skills, emotional regulation, impulse control, etc. If this could be put in the absolute simplest way possible, I would say it is the child’s development as a whole v. a single specific skill set of the child.


    in reply to: Share your thoughts.

    #15107

    Sara May

    Participant

    When I first read this question, I thought, what an excellent question but it can’t be measured in a number. That’s still true, stimulation is not measured in a number which may make it a little tricky to see if someone does not know the signs. Stimulation itself is a tricky topic because what may be considered over stimulation for one child could be what is not enough stimulation for the child next to them. It’s important to know the signs of over and under stimulation with different ages of development along with how stimulation may present in different disabilities. In babies, signs of over stimulation may include the ever so famous “stop” hand, turning away, and fussiness. The challenging part of stimulation is that these may also be the signs of not enough stimulation, especially in individuals who have a disability. The disabilities that I am specifically referencing in my mind are autism (yes, it is not diagnosed this early on) and downs syndrome. With both of these, I have seen children in sprouting melodies classes my co-workers run in the community who need more stimulation on their arms and legs at a young age to work on using extremities without becoming stuck in the “loop.” So, it is important to be aware of what all children may need at the early stages. All in all, stimulation is tricky and everything in the environment (lights, sounds, objects, etc.) has to be taken into consideration when determining the appropriate amount of stimulation for the child (or adults, they become over stimulated too!)

    Sara May

    Participant

    Supportive, Engaging, Playful, Energetic, Exploring

    1. Allowing your child to make musical choices engages them in practicing independence and learning on their own while still being supported by you.
    2. Surprises may seem scary, but children this age love them! So, by staying engaged with your child’s energy level, you can use the opportunities of surprise to bond with your child.
    3. It’s okay if your child wanders, just keep an eye on them and they will come back.
    4. Even though your child may not be moving around and fully participating in the activity, they are still learning — I could see it through the eye movement and how they watched what was going on intently.
    5. It’s okay if your child doesn’t play high and low, they’re moving and that is part of making music!

    Session: 1. Gathering Song: Hey! Hey! Come and Play! 2. Bonding Song: Hold on Tight 3. Song About Me: All of This Is Me 4. Instrument Song: Sit With Me and Shake 5. Movement Song: I Can Move Around 6. Goodbye Song: Music Time Is Over

    Sara May

    Participant

    Engaging, Safe, Comforting, Nurturing, Communicative

    1. Your baby may not appear to be engaging, however, they are taking in all of the new sounds and surroundings.
    2. It’s okay if your baby becomes fussy during the session/class, this is a safe space for them to express themselves in their own way.
    3. When you sing the songs from here at home too, your baby is more likely to recognize them as a familiar sound.
    4. Your baby wants to hear your voice because it is comforting and familiar to them.
    5. I know the songs may seem repetitive, but the repetition helps you and your baby become more familiar with them! ????

    1) Gathering Song: Good Morning To You – taking care to make sure families are ready to go and situated with any items them may want or need.
    2) Lap Song: Wiggly Jiggly Car – babies in laps (who like to be in laps) or in arms cradled (some babies prefer this) making sure to read the room regarding tempo and making adjustments as necessary
    3) Songs About Me: All of This Is Me – babies facing parent(s) and parent(s) touching the body parts identified during the song.
    4) Instrument Song: In My Little Hand – baby shakers or baby tambourines in the baby’s hand (with assistance from parent(s)) and MT showing a visual example of how to hold and use instrument.
    5) Movement Song: Pick Your Hands Up High – babies facing parent(s) with assistance from parent(s) in moving hands
    Goodbye Song: Slowed down version of the Out of the Box Goodbye Song from Playhouse Disney — I’ve used this in the past and it works well because the most recent generation of parents are from the time when the show was on Playhouse Disney and are familiar with it.

    Sara May

    Participant

    I have not had much experience with individuals of this age, however, the experience I do have draws from collaboration with SLP’s focusing on expressive speech disorders. During my time collaborating with SLP’s in music therapy, I found that silence is my best friend and the child’s too. In the silence, the wheels start turning and taking the time to allow silence is priceless. Using music at an appropriate level is also key to the success of the individual. Even though a child may like rap songs, perhaps, that is not appropriate due to their goal of expressive speech and forming words correctly at the time. However,learning the words used in the song can be beneficial to using the song in its original form later on down the road. Keeping little hands busy and engaged may also be beneficial to keeping the focus of kiddos during session.

    Sara May

    Participant

    Music therapy certainly has its place in the community, especially in lower economic communities. I have found through working in lower economic communities that music and music therapy gives individuals the break away from the daily grind that is needed. Sprouting Melodies has been greatly accepted in the community I am in because it is available to young families who are in desperate need of scheduled time to bond with their young ones and other young parents who may be facing the same challenges as them. On a different note, regarding music therapy in general, music therapy has the space in the community if presented in an appropriate way. For instance, the community I serve also has choirs for individuals with developmental mental disabilities. The choir is geared towards adults, so, individuals who no longer receive services through school systems due to age. The individuals in the choir are highly accepted in the community because they have worked to share their voices with the community through music therapy. When communities are able to see the outcome of music therapy and the benefits it has, then music therapy is more likely to be accepted and acquire a permanent hold.


    in reply to: What are the needs of the families you work with?

    #14934

    Sara May

    Participant

    In my current community, the needs are great for music and its benefits. The surrounding areas are filled with emotional and psychological needs of family and loved ones. The youth I work with are having to grow up far before they should have to or are ready to. The community itself is in need of healing and music may bring that to them. The need seems to start at very young ages and goes up into the adult years for many individuals and families. The youth I see are primarily due to behaviors or traumas experienced within the family and often have a large disconnect between the child and parents. In this community, I find that music in a therapeutic environment beginning at a young age with families may help to change the family dynamic by assisting in the creation and formation of the ever important bonds between parents and children.

    Sara May

    Participant

    Music therapists as a whole bring a wealth of knowledge to families of young children. Yes, we bring the music and the fun times, but we also bring insight that parents might feel they were missing. Insight into the “why”‘s that come up in having a child surrounded by a wold that consistently points out ways they might not be “normal.” This is possibly crucial for first time parents. I’m not a parent, but I can only imagine the worries I would have about my child’s developmental milestones and if they’re being met or not and the best ways to see that the child is meeting them. Music Therapists have a trust and a relationship with families that is different from all other disciplines, in part due to the knowledge and education that we have, but also because there is a musical relationship developed with their child during their time with us that may not have been as strong outside of a therapeutic environment.

Viewing 15 posts – 1 through 15 (of 23 total)

Skip to content