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December 16, 2013 at 4:15 pm
in reply to: Where will you go from here? How will this training impact your work as a music therapist?
ParticipantI’m excited to start providing SM classes for Meredith’s business this January. I think this training has helped to broaden my knowledge and understanding of development for young children, and helped me to understand some ways in which I can support the parents within the classes and in the community. I’m very excited that Roman Music Therapy is focused upon community support and families, as I’ve felt very strongly that this aspect was missing from my previous clinical experiences. Being that I just moved to this area, I’m excited for the opportunity that these classes provide me to become a valued member of this community.
December 16, 2013 at 4:09 pm
in reply to: How are you planning on sharing this information with colleagues, administrators and families?
ParticipantI’m excited to share information with my music therapy friends back in NY, and plan on letting my professors know about the coursework, and how I think it could be beneficial to them and their students.
December 16, 2013 at 3:15 pm
in reply to: Share what you are most looking forward to as you become a Sprouting Melodies provider.
ParticipantI’m looking forward to being a resource to the parents in ways that may help them to bond and play with their child, as well as practical ways they can use music in their homes to improve the lives of their families. And of course, I’m really looking forward to having fun making music with the little ones!
December 16, 2013 at 3:10 pm
in reply to: Share some strategies you have used to assure every child in your groups is successful.
ParticipantIn addition to adequate preparation, flexibility, and communication, I feel reflection plays a large part in assuring each child is successful. Taking a moment after each session to say, “what worked, what didn’t work, and why did it work for this child but not that one” can be really beneficial for each of those individual children, as well as for us as professionals. I find that thinking about what happened, and how I approached it this time vs. how I might approach a similar situation next time has been a strategy which has been very helpful for me.
December 12, 2013 at 5:07 pm
in reply to: Share how you can explain to parents the difference between music for development and music for skill building.
ParticipantI agree with all earlier posts, although that was not where my brain went when I first read the question. I always thought of music for skill-building vs. music for development as being along the same track of the music education vs. music therapy debate. I view skill-building as having the outward goal being musical in nature, whereas music for development is non-musical in nature. I think it is important to educate parents about the difference, as SM will often be the first experience that parents have with music therapy and music therapists. If we don’t inform our consumers about the differences between music therapy and music education, they may not truly understand what informs our decision-making process in the design of our sessions, and the underlying goals we are trying to accomplish. It can help them to understand that our goal in a start/stop play with the maraca is not that the child will start and stop on cue (skill-based goal), but that the child will move around, socialize, and enjoy the music (developmental goal).
December 12, 2013 at 4:57 pm
in reply to: Share some thoughts about the challenges of providing multi-age groupings.
ParticipantI agree that the most challenging part of multi-age groups is ensuring that you meet the needs of all participants. Stacy made a great point that older children are not only great helpers, but they really enjoy being helpers. Luckily for all of us, music is so flexible that it really does allow you to adapt to these challenges as they present themselves to you. Subtle alterations to tempo, dynamics, and timbre allow us to engage children within all of the developmental levels.
December 12, 2013 at 4:51 pmParticipantSM3: Joyful, creative, changing, control, playful
Hello Everybody, My Brand New Friend, That All Makes up Me, All Night All Day, Can You Follow, Music Time is OverFamily Sprouts: Togetherness, love, flexible, cooperation, helping
Let’s Make Some Music, Row it Faster, You Have Two Eyes, I Like this Song, I Can Move Around, Goodbye EverybodyDecember 6, 2013 at 3:05 pm
in reply to: Share your thoughts with the board on how much stimulation is enough? How much stimulation is too much?
ParticipantI also feel that it is so important to be present and observant in our sessions. I like that you all emphasized that some children may not respond the same way as others when they are over- or under-stimulated.
December 5, 2013 at 5:46 pm
in reply to: What kind and brand of instruments are you using in your groups with children of this developmental level?
ParticipantI also really love Remo. I’ve also used music is elementary at musiciselementary.com. They have a section for early childhood instruments, as well as a music therapy category.
December 5, 2013 at 5:39 pmParticipant5 words: exploring, engaging, exciting, anticipation, Independence
It’s okay if your child doesn’t stop and go, or even play at all. They’re still processing the music.
If your child is ready to jump or stomp, you can press their feet into the floor for them or simply tap the bottoms of their feet.
Getting to midline can be difficult for babies at this age, so as you’re sitting, scoop your arms underneath theirs when we’re clapping. They may just watch, or they’ll clap along with you.
Feel free to let your child explore the room! They’ll come back to you when they’re ready.
Don’t be afraid if your child explores the instruments with their mouths. Developmentally, that’s what we expect. All of our instruments are cleaned in between every session.It’s time for music, hello everybody, ride the big red fire truck, Head hands knees and feet, sit with me and shake, come and play with me, bye-bye music time is done.
(Sorry if the formatting/capitalization is weird. I had to use my phone for this today)
November 22, 2013 at 8:16 amParticipant5 words: Bonding, Intimacy, Love, Explore, Wonder
1) Don’t be afraid to sing to your baby at home, too! Your baby LOVES to her YOUR voice. 2) Sitting with your knees up and your baby in your lap is perfect. It places them at just the right distance to be able to see your face while their vision is developing. 3) Babies typically respond best to high pitches. Feel free to explore your voice here as well as at home. 4) Placing your hand on your baby’s chest when you sing his/her name can help them to increase their awareness. 5) All of the songs and instruments we will be using today have been specifically selected with your babies development in mind.
Session Plan 1) Let’s play today. 2) Hello (NR) 3) Just Like Me 4) Row it Faster 5) Something to shake 6) I can Move My Feet 7) Baby Mine 8) Goodbye
November 22, 2013 at 7:48 am
in reply to: Share some of your experiences with children of this age and level.
ParticipantMost of my experience with young children has been with kids aged 3+ through a Headstart program where I completed my practicum experience. I volunteered for a short time at a pediatric ward, where I spent some time with infants with RSV. Generally the intent was to calm the infant, so lullabies, softer timbre, stringed instruments and the iso-principal were all vital. As Keeley said, the benefit to the parents as well as the infant was evident. More of my experience with very young infants has been with my sister’s twins, a boy and a girl who are almost two. She very recently had another daughter, and I’m excited to get to try some musical observations now that I understand a bit more about the awareness stage when they come for a visit this Thanksgiving.
November 17, 2013 at 11:48 am
in reply to: Share your thoughts with the board members on the role of music therapy in community based settings.
ParticipantI also have not participated in a conversation quite like this. I, for one, love the “grey area”… In my previous experience as a music educator, I always looked for opportunities to sneak my students their “vegetables” – learning concepts in a way that was so fun, they didn’t know they were learning. I look at music therapy based services in a similar way; we are providing the opportunity for therapeutic growth and development without the narrow focus of the clinical setting, allowing more flexibility in the way we design the musical experience. I feel that this allows us as clinicians to focus on specific goals and objectives when it is appropriate, but also allows us to be more present. We are not so much worried about whether Michael can hit the drum 5 times, but rather living in the moment with the families, enriching their lives and ours simultaneously. Community based settings are also extremely beneficial to our profession as a whole, allowing us to shine a spotlight on our practice and answer the question we are asked most often in a way which is memorable and meaningful. “What is music therapy? Using the power of music to facilitate growth.” (PS – Meredith, I hope you know that I will be using the tagline from Sprouting Melodies whenever I get asked that question from now on…)
November 17, 2013 at 9:46 am
in reply to: Sing and learn some of the songs presented in the video. Share with the board your experiences using these songs.
November 17, 2013 at 9:42 amParticipantThe families I will be working with need all of the things mentioned by the group: support, empathy, success, joy. They deserve a time to spend together, in experiences which they can enjoy together. My previous clinical experience was notably absent of the critical component of the family. I have only ever had the opportunity to work with the children, and unfortunately was not allowed much contact with the family. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to help these families to enjoy each other and their lives together more fully.
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