Forum Replies Created
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May 27, 2014 at 9:18 pm
in reply to: What value do music therapists bring to families of young children?
ParticipantStrategies for Success
Ok- I paused the video…
Here’s what I’m bringing to the table:
I have over ten years of music therapy experience with children and adults in at home and educational settings with developmental and physical disabilities. Incorporating parents has always seemed like the most natural and important part of the work with the kids and with the adults (whenever possible). It has also felt like the most over-looked part to me by the parents. I’ve worked hard at respecting and being sensitive to the multiple dynamics and roles each family member brings to music therapy. This is hard for me as parents always want to see “results” that aren’t always immediately visible but that may occur over a period of time.I do feel somewhat nervous working with ‘typical’ kids and their families but this training is helping to build some strength and courage in foundations and approach.
Parents will come to my program because I will help them build or discover the building blocks to bring music into their lives in even a small amount. Hopefully help them have a “take home” for their time sacrifice and money.
May 21, 2014 at 1:30 amParticipantGoing to use Row Your Boat as ex through exercise. I enjoy simplifying one thing and expanding to build or layer one piece at a time.
Singing: Sing and encourage parents and caregivers to sing greetings, soothing and play songs to the babies. Encourage family to sing and build vocalizations and songs based on where the child is in DS. Possibly use one song like Row Your Boat as example of how to build musical skills over time. Awareness: ex: Hum or vocalize tune Trust: Singing pitches slowly with child/parent together Independence: Reintroduce Row row while kid is off to side playing with trains singing over MUTX guitar playing in same room; Responsibility: Child participates with parent singing (often playing instruments) Row your Boat
Playing Instruments: Awareness: Try several instruments playing and singing simple tunes; Trust: Use simple pulse-tempo (with or without movement) with instruments and or vocals; Independence: Use Row Your Boat with multiple instruments mirroring how child plays in regards to timbre, rhythm and tempo; Control: Watch for child and/or play with Stop and start for Row your Boat; Responsibility: Play song Row Your Boat with steady beat from start to finish either with or without singing or guitar accompaniment.
Moving:Awareness: Layering Movement into use of Row Your Boat with parents showing rhythms and HOH with child; Trust: Child engages with movement; imitating it while MUTX sings/plays song; Independence: Incorporate body parts with “rowing” motion while singing song; Responsibility: Child independently or with family or MUTX will move and sing song together.
Listening: Awareness: Try singing Row your Boat slowly, backwards, in high or low timbres and show parents how this effects the child’s responses. Trust: Child will make eye contact, reach, or turn towards music being provided; Independence: Child will match Row Your Boat movement of MUTX or parent; Control: If child leaves room and Row Your Boat can be sung as “Row row row your>>>>> (wait)<<<<< for response to see if child responds; Responsibility: child will listen to music of MUTX, parent, group, teacher taking turns.
May 21, 2014 at 12:53 am
in reply to: How have you used these four music experiences in your practice?
ParticipantSinging: Greetings, names, mimicking simple melodies or tunes, many infant and child- age appropriate songs.
Playing Instruments: Given children instruments to play for songs that have action verbs to incorporate
Movement: Shaking, stomping, singing, waving..etc.
Listening: I use flute, soft guitar and/or parents singing to help encourage soothing (when appropriate) I also pair story books with music ex: Puff Magic Dragon, 10 Ladybugs, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom…etc.May 14, 2014 at 4:16 pm
in reply to: Sing and learn some of the songs presented in the video. Share with the board your experiences using these songs.
ParticipantHey,
I tried the following today: Goodmorning, Buckle-Up, Bonding with Slow-Fast as well as Do You Want To Make Music?
And what a great day it was. The kids, siblings and parents all loved these songs. I loved being able to explain more detail about development and was able to adapt some bonding songs for the little girl with Joubert’s Syndrome. Guess what? No arching backwards, she was thoroughly engaged with her daddy’s singing and she was vocalizing more than he said he’s seen her outside of eating.
I did forget the first song and ended up coaching one parent about combining singing and slow-fast lap/bonding songs. It was all very well received.
Hope you are all having as much fun with this as I am!May 14, 2014 at 4:05 pmParticipantMay 14, 2014 at 12:15 am
in reply to: Sing and learn some of the songs presented in the video. Share with the board your experiences using these songs.
May 14, 2014 at 12:13 amParticipantHey,
I’m working with a little girl with Joubert’s Syndrome in EI. Meredith mentioned during the Awareness Level, the ‘audible breath’ and I can’t stop thinking about this great kid. The awareness or arousal levels can vary depending on the diseases or conditions our clients may have. I’ve attached a link to Genetics Reference page for the syndrome.During each session, I try and leave space for her to respond/sing/breathe in the music. Her parent is persistently pushing for the “right response”. It can be a juggle to promote an open space where she has time, her time, to respond.
Many times she is doing that audible breath. Now I can continue encourage more response time and educate the family not only about the breath but about encouraging simplicity and repetition when they are singing with her.
I encourage the family to sit, sing and/or watch youtube with her during the week in a relaxed way without a right or wrong way to do it. She loves it when her parent and grandparent sing to her in sessions. Encouraging them to engage with her and to promote these experiences for bonding and trust. We use roughly all the same pieces of music: simple nursery rhymes and Dad sings Piano Man by Billy Joel in a lullaby-like voice. I used the movie example of Three Men and a Baby when Tom Selleck is reading about a prize fight in a sing-song voice to lull the baby to sleep and says to someone, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”.
Another final piece to I’ve observed is that when this kid is overwhelmed, she arches back forcefully. I believe it is the syndrome and a key piece for all of her music experiences. She appears to do it when there is too many timbres and/or complex rhythms or percussive sounds ex: Dad and MUTX singing with guitar=bad-(arching)…where Dad and guitar=good (appears relaxed and engaged). I tried playing a cedar flute as well to try a different timbre. Short melodies were great offering orienting responses and listening; an extended melody (1-3min) caused her to arch suddenly and be overwhelming.
If anyone has resources or experience with this syndrome- please contact me!! Thanks!
May 13, 2014 at 11:28 pm
in reply to: Discuss with the board the traditional and cultural music in your home community.
ParticipantHi Everyone,
Bernadette, Paige Robbins Elwafi has done great work with presenting information about Islam and Music Therapy. I’ve actually hired her as a supervisor when I needed to learn more about the arab muslim approach with music for a private client a couple of years ago. She is a fantastic resource and I highly recommend her. I have some information as well that I can share either here or privately! FYI: Actively music making is considered forbidden for some….ask first!!!My home community is metro-west Boston where the heritage is predominantly Irish and Italian. I’ve had the good fortune to live in New Orleans as well as New York and those cities gave me a great deal of experience with so many cultures.
My favorite experiences are from New Orleans.
ParticipantI found the use of the scarf as VERY helpful in breaking down the age-ranges. I learn well by doing and giving me something to use, touch and visualize was incredible. I’m finding that I can remember each section because of the movement of the scarf. The reminder to use simple directions, songs and melodies is very helpful in my work this week!
Is the book part of the course?
Beth, I love your voice!!May 6, 2014 at 2:55 pmParticipantGreat information! I feel that the amount of information presented will help me reassure, engage and inform parents and family about development and growth. This will definitely enhance each experience.
A great deal of my work life, at times, has been with moderately to profoundly effected children. I’ve found that it’s not always about developmental level but about providing a sensory environment that does not harm the child. An example of this would be a child with seizure disorder that is triggered by auditory/visual or other environmental stimuli.
I have worked with a few families where there are varying degrees of this with other affected children in the home. The effected children are the ones receiving all the care and treatment. The siblings are also in need of services and attention and I always include them in sessions to help facilitate as much social play as possible. It can be a LOT to juggle. These interventions with the right training, experience and developmental and social-emotional toolbox, a great A+ experience. This training is providing just that.
ParticipantHi,
My name is Sarah Gagnon and I’ve been MT-BC since fall 2004. I’m a graduate of Loyola University, New Orleans and BIMC, NYC internship. I plan on attending Radford University this fall as a full time graduate student. My clinical supervisor, Dr. Kathy Murphy suggested I buy your book Beth! I’m super busy trying to get ready and transition my life and clients. Currently took a pt position with South Shore ARC as a music therapist. I love it and want to learn everything I can about EI. Am working to advocate about MT and want to do so with the very best information available.Had some technical difficulties last night but I’m here today!
I have worked closely with MCS and PVS clients for the last 5 years.
My number is: 508-369-1730
Looking forward to talking to you all!
Warmly,
Sarah G. -
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