[Sarah jane Mason]

Here’s a blog post I shared recently about a song simply called “The Tambourine song”.
http://liferhythmmusic.com/blog/music-tools-the-tambourine-song-for-improving-gross-motor-an.html

It is a hit with my little ones from infant to toddler. The basic idea is just to present the tambourine for the child to hit once. With the infants it has been fun to watch them go from a bit hesitant with some startle response to sitting up tall and ready for the anticipation and excitement to get to “play”. I start going in order, and then the second round mix it up so they are learning to not only take turns, but also wait their turn.
For the toddlers we play standing with each child on their color square. We utilize reaching high and low, cross body midline, one hand or two, and only right or left. This has become a much anticipated song in my groups, and I hope it can bring some fun to yours too!

(Has anyone heard this song before? I learned it in school but don’t know its origin.)

[Sarah jane Mason]

It seems that the start of the year is a good time to raise prices. You could give notice a few weeks ahead and post it on your website. It seems pretty normal to me to read new prices with a new year. I will probably be raising mine to $109 for 6 weeks, but offering an early bird discount of $99.

Another question…. Do yall charge a registration fee? How much? I am not currently but for all the ground work I do to get people in the class, signed up and paid it would be nice to have a bit of compensation there.

[Sarah jane Mason]

Thanks for your shared wisdom through blogging, Beth! I love reading yours and learning new songs to share.
I recently started a video blog designed to share Music tools and tips for early childhood and kids with special needs.
Here’s the site…. http://www.LifeRhythmMusic.com/blog

I featured one of Beth’s songs and my parents’ favorite in SM classes, wiggly Jiggly Car, for my first ever try at it. I’m still learning and experimenting with format, editing, songs, and structure, but I figured I could learn as I go. I stalled for many months with a lot of self doubt about the technical aspects of it all, but finally I just decided to see what happens and go with it! My goal is to keep the language simple and conversational for caregivers, educators, and other therapists. I am trying to convey a persona of a mom to mom chat.

Let me know what you think! I would honestly love any constructive criticism I could grow from.
Here’s the link to sign up directly….
http://liferhythmmusic.us9.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=34ea2778e13e285a32e8f1018&id=0dd89577fb

And another link to a fun tambourine song that you might find helpful in your SM classes too!
http://liferhythmmusic.com/blog/music-tools-the-tambourine-song-for-improving-gross-motor-an.html

Thanks yall!
Sarah jane

[Sarah jane Mason]

I am in a pretty blue collar town so I am charging $99 for 6 classes. Instead of an early bird discount I opted to do a one time $15 off your 1st session.

[Sarah jane Mason]

Erika, I’m on my third business set up in a new town. If I can ever help, let me know and I’ll do my best!

[Sarah jane Mason]

Hi Erin! I don’t think I am much help, but I am also having the same questions. I proposed a SM class to our local library, but am not sure how that would work with payment. The library offers free classes, so I would be paid but families would come for free at the library? Yet other families not coming to the library would pay for classes? More questions.

As for weeks to run in a session, Meredith had previously recommended a 6 week, rather than 10. As a mom I can understand that as a 6 week commitment seems more likely for me to sign up for with our family personally.

I’ve had several families ask me about drop in classes, which I don’t think is a good idea for my business. After so many parents asking I am considering a “punch card” type plan as in buy 6 weeks and have 8-10 to use them. (Probably 8) I have been surprised at how wishy washy moms have been about a 6 week commitment actually.

So that’s my two cents, but I am not an up and running SM business yet. I had a first round of demo classes with 3 families, 1 registered. I am having another round next week and the week after so we will see how that goes. Good luck to you and keep me posted on how it’s going with the community music school!
Good luck!

[Sarah jane Mason]

Is anyone else super frustrated at the business side of running a business?! Why can’t I just do music that I am really good at? Current frustration is trying to set up registration and online payments through my website. I’m pulling my hair out about it when really I should be focusing on the structure of what I’m going to be doing in my groups for demos next week.

[Sarah jane Mason]

Hello! I’m Sarah jane, MT-BC, had a private practice part-time for about 6 years, and looking to expand my service offerings with SM, and starting demo classes next week. It’s been slow moving in this blue collar town of Buffalo, NY as I try to earn “what I’m worth”. There’s a music together program in town that charges about what I am when the discounts I am advertising are reflected. Even with a “$15 off your 1st session” I’m not getting many replies. OH! And I set up google forms for my registration on my website. DO NOT USE GOOGLE FORMS! They don’t show up on iphones (not sure about other mobile devices). So I ran a social media ad campaign and finally someone told me about it not showing up on their iphone. Yes, I should have tested all methods first. I’m not sure how many registrations I missed for my demo class but analytics on my website showed over 30 people going to the page and some going back to it to try again within a minute. In this day and age unfortunately it’s all in the blink of an eye and if you miss the chance you do. Seems like I might have with a few families. The issue is now resolved and I am working on setting up online registration and payment through my website now.

Speaking of registration…. I am researching options for registration on my site and the ability to take credit card payments. Does anyone have low cost, reliable suggestions for both?

Question for Meredith and Beth… Does Sprouting Melodies see in its future more provider tools on their website in this area? For example Kindermusik has pages like this: http://www.kindermusik.com/kids-music-classes/class-details/-10928/yyyy/ and also offers registration for a specific demo class on their website. My understanding is that those are provided at no charge to the teacher as well. What is on the horizon for additional provider services? As I am pricing out registration costs it seems that at $39 a month that might be included as feature for providers.

Fingers crossed for next week’s demos. I am optimistic that the long term will be successful!
Sj

[Sarah jane Mason]

I am very grateful for the training as a MT to improve my understanding of childhood development from 0-5. This is an age group that I really feel connected to and think my personality fits best with. From here I plan to start becoming a SM provider, marketing my classes, and my goal is to have have 4 full classes by fall. I have struggled with trying to have a MT practice full time and I feel like with this community based music therapy enrichment opportunity, this is a great step in the right direction to full time. If I can get MT clients and music lesson students in the afternoons after school, and establish my early childhood programs in the morning I feel like I will be on my way to becoming a full time MT. It’s been my dream for over 6 years and I feel like SM is a big key to make it happen. As we discussed before, broadening the reach of MT is so important and providing this community based service hopefully will bring more families to know and understand about Music Therapy. Thank you, Beth and Meredith!

[Sarah jane Mason]

I cannot wait to share this information with other MT’s, preschools, non profits, and parents in my community! Ever since I took a long session with Beth at St. Charles conference I have been hooked on her songs and the opportunity to learn from such a dedicated professional MT in this age group. I have been really holding my tongue from speaking about it yet because of the need to be official in my SM provider status, but when I do I plan a full marketing campaign to promote. My goal is to have 4 full classes by Fall and I plan to promote and market them through local preschools, library programs, social media, and the personal connections I make from going to family events with my 2 year old son.

[Sarah jane Mason]

I am most looking forward to becoming a SM provider because I LOVE this age group! Watching my toddler son grow up has shown me first hand what amazing development occurs from 0-5, and being a part of facilitating that development for the child and for the families is very exciting for me. After a few years of having my own program, no real name for the class or marketing plan, I am also excited for a built in program, similar to KinderMusik and Music Together, but specifically for Mt’s and supported by a network of MT’s. I feel like toddlers are a strong point for me, and I have enjoyed learning how to also incorporate and support developmental classes for little little’s 0-12 months too. I know I have been behind the rest of the group, but I have taken in all the forum responses and videos, watched them several times to make sure your expertise sticks in my mind, and am very grateful for the encouragement and learning!

[Sarah jane Mason]

I agree that you really need to understand each child in your group, where they’re level is, how far they have come, and where they’re going developmentally. Asking choices is a great way to bring them in, with my groups and with my toddler. Watching for eye contact and checking back in can show me they’re still being an active participant even though they’re aren’t being active at that moment. Often times the music can help bring them in, and let the parents know that it’s ok for them to be in the corner exploring for a while before coming back to the group focus. Say their name. Bring them in.

[Sarah jane Mason]

I agree that most of the challenges are planning! As Mt’s we have a tool box of songs and music experiences to pull from and I think that really sets us apart from other music classes. Other challenges are trying to balance encouraging the new found creative independence of toddlers with being conscious of not startling the little littles.

[Sarah jane Mason]

Music for skill building is music learning for performance. Music for development is about the process, not the performance. It’s about working through each developmental level of the child in their time, when they’re ready.

[Sarah jane Mason]

Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 3.<br /><br />
Deliberate, creative independence, intentional, emotional, push and pull</p><br />
<p>Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Family Sprouts.<br /><br />
Connections, supporting, helping, working together, sharing</p><br />
<p><br>Create a plan for songs and music experiences to use in a Family Sprouts session:<br /><br />
<br>Gathering/Greeting: Sit Down with Me with knee patting, but softer dynamic, and slower tempo.<br /><br />
<br>Bonding: Wiggly jiggly Car because it seems like a favorite that works for SM1, but also is still fun for SM3.<br /><br />
<br>Songs about me: All of This is Me. It provides an opportunity for parents and toddlers to point out body parts for little littles. It also has the quick part at the end to encourage SM3’s rhythmically, but still quieter for littles.<br /><br />
<br>Instrument: I like this song is a great selection. It uses simple language but has cool color chords.<br /><br />
<br>Movement: I Can Move Around, acapella but more percussive. Now that we’ve moved into the middle of the class it seems more appropriate to add in a stronger beat here. Also can be a continuation of instrument exploration.<br /><br />
<br>Goodbye: I like the idea of keepign the goodbye song the same for consistency, but also really liked It’s Time to Say Goodbye. With this minor key and calming finish you please the SM2-3’s with their independent use of scarves and the SM1’s by the parent using the scarf for their infants. </p><br />
<p><br>Create a plan for songs and music experiences to use in a Sprouting Melodies 3 class:<br /><br />
<br>Gathering/Greeting: I have a song I do called “It’s Music Time”. I didn’t write it, but it fits well with this age group. “It’s music time and it’s time to say hello. It’s music time and it’s time to say hello. Say hello, say hello, say hello.” And then “Johnny’s here and it’s time to say hello. Rachel’s here and it’s time to say hello. Say hello say hello say hello.” I like the individual attention it brings to each child and and I encourage the other kids to wave or greet the child we are singing about.<br /><br />
<br>Bonding: As we move into more sharing and reciprocal communication I like “My Brand New Friend” for SM3’s. Holding the scarf together with parents helping by modeling.<br /><br />
Songs about Me: Where is the Music? A great way to bring out the toddler’s voices at the end and let them know it’s ok to use a bigger voice in class sometimes.<br /><br />
<br>Instrument: I picked up a wonderful song from my professor Julie Berghoffer at CSUN. “What are we doing? What are we doing: What are we doing today? We’re taking turns on the tambourine, taking turns today. Julie can play, Sarah can play, and Joseph can plaaaaaaaay. We’re taking turns on the tambourine. 1-2-3.” It allows for taking turns with an individual session or a group, but also encouraging waiting your turn.<br /><br />
<br>Movement: Scarves are a great way to get the kids moving! The Leaves are Down is great, and I also have a few other scarf songs I use depending on the season.<br /><br />
<br>Goodbye: Again I like the consistency of using the same goodbye song, whatever it is, through the progression of classes SM1-SM3.

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