Forum Replies Created
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June 12, 2018 at 2:03 pm
in reply to: How are you planning on sharing this information with colleagues, administrators and families?
ParticipantOne way I feel that this course has benefitted me the most is by giving me simple, specific language to use with families who attend my groups. I’m looking forward to using these techniques to integrate information into the session and to speak more precisely with families before and after sessions!
ParticipantI’m looking forward to using the knowledge I’ve gained from this training to bring variety into the services I already offer. It has been so great to read all of the feedback from different therapists and see lots of views on the same material. I hope that after having this training, my clients will truly benefit from what I can bring to sessions!
Alyssa – Lysol makes a safe, gentle sanitizing spray that I like because it doesn’t smell like strong disinfectant.
ParticipantOne thing I think is important to assure that every child is successful is to reassure parents that what their kids are doing is alright. By encouraging parents to let the child participant in a wide variety of ways it changes what “success” looks like and leaves room to let the kids act the way that feels best to them. Then, if a behavior isn’t successful, as a therapist redirecting it with all of the tools that have already been listed (instruments, dynamics, tempo, music choices).
ParticipantI am most looking forward to diversifying the services I can already provide. I feel that this course has allowed me to take a step back and look at what I’ve been doing as a music therapist and has provided me with lots of new ways to make my practice even better!
May 24, 2018 at 1:59 pm
in reply to: Share how you can explain to parents the difference between music for development and music for skill building.
ParticipantI think it makes sense to explain music for development in the sense of the whole child. To explain this, I’d say that music is supporting the child’s overall well-being and enhancing how children typically develop. To explain music for skill building, I would explain it as a more specific experience. For example, during this intervention we’re working on the child’s ability to share.
May 24, 2018 at 1:54 pm
in reply to: Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 3.
ParticipantSM3
5 words: Character, Inventive, Give and Take, Methodical, Dynamic
Gathering – I’m Glad You’re Here Today
Bonding – Swimming Together
Songs About Me – Where Is the Music?
Instrument – You Play a Little
Movement – Jumping Up and Jumping Down
Goodbye – Time to Go
Family Sprouts
5 Words: Joyful, Teamwork, Personality, Involvement, Encouragement
Gathering – Come On Let’s Make Some Music
Bonding – Hold On Tight
Songs About Me – All of This is Me
Instrument – Music is the Way
Movement – Can You Follow?
Goodbye – Music Time is Over
ParticipantI have a decent amount of experience providing groups for a wide range of ages. Most recently, I had a family group with a child two years old, a child 10 years old, and everything in the between. I personally love these groups, I think they’re an excellent way to get the whole family involved. I think one of the biggest challenges is making the group stimulating for all the ages. My favorite way to combat this problem is to have older children be “helpers” throughout the session. I find that the older kids love this and it gives them a sense of importance in the group.
ParticipantI have the remo stacking drums, but I don’t really like the sound the mallet they came with gets – does anyone have suggestions for a mallet that won’t be so abrasive? I have remo kid’s djembe which is always a big hit (pun intended :)). I have a lot of egg shakers but definitely want to expand my maraca/chiquita collection. I’m having a hard time finding tambourines that have a good sound but are also small enough for little hands.
May 23, 2018 at 8:46 pm
in reply to: Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 2.
Participant5 Words: Developing, Independence, Flexible, Exciting, Exploring
5 Sentences: 1) Feel free to let your child explore the instruments however they’d like! We make sure to clean all of our instruments between each group. 2) Your child might want to share their mom’s lap with another kiddo, it is perfectly alright to let the children meet all the adults in the room! 3) It’s alright if your child isn’t singing or playing along, each child needs a different amount of time to process everything that’s happening. 4) Be sure to match your child’s speed – try to go just as fast as they go! 5) Your child might not be looking at you the whole time, go ahead and let me explore and take in everything that is happening around them.
Hello/Gathering: Hey Hey Come and Play!
Bonding Songs: Row It Faster (more anticipation, more surprises)
Songs About Me: All of This is MeInstrument Play: In My Little Hand (wider dynamic range)
Movement: March with My Baby
Goodbye: Music Time is Over
ParticipantMaryellen – I also have not yet had a group of this age range and I agree with all you said about the challenges in matching each child’s level.
When in a group, if kiddos have found something else in the room more engaging than the music then I will increase stimulation. Alternatively, a way to tell if children are over stimulated would be to watch how they react to the expected surprises. If they appear overwhelmed then the range of tempos/timbres/songs being used could be too wide.
May 23, 2018 at 6:35 pm
in reply to: Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 1.
Participant5 Words: Gentle, Closeness, Bonding, Accepting, Loving
5 Sentences: 1) Your baby loves your voice the most, go ahead and sing along! 2)This is a place where you never need to say, ‘I’m Sorry,’ do whatever your baby needs you to do. 3) Everybody’s baby might react differently; this is perfectly alright! 4) Let your baby explore the instruments how they’re comfortable, if they’re having some trouble, tickle their palm to activate their grasp reflex. 5) Don’t be afraid to get close to your baby!
SM1 Session:
Recorded music gently in the background as families enter
Hello/Gathering – “Hello”
Percussion – “Come On Let’s Make Some Music”
Lap Ride – “Row It Faster”
Songs About Me – “Just Like Me”
Instrument Song – “I Can Play With You”
Goodbye Song – “Music Time is Over”
May 23, 2018 at 6:20 pm
in reply to: Share some of your experiences with children of this age and level.
ParticipantMy experience with children 0-9 months is minimal. I’ve interacted with children this age on a personal level (children of family and friends). However, I have never had the opportunity to lead a music group/therapy session with this age group! After watching the videos for this week, I am hopeful to have the opportunity.
May 22, 2018 at 2:38 pm
in reply to: Share your thoughts with the board members on the role of music therapy in community based settings.
ParticipantI agree with what everyone is saying – it is definitely a struggle to define “volunteer” versus “music therapist.” In my opinion, music therapists can help strengthen the community. I feel that we can provide inclusive settings in a way a lot of other groups can’t or don’t. One thing I try to work diligently at is to explain in kind and simple terms the differences between clinical music therapy and community-based music therapy. Sometimes I think when we start to defend our profession it can come off as rude or overly defensive so it is really important to me to make sure I am clear while still being polite.
ParticipantRight now I get to lead a weekly session at an all-inclusive kid’s gym. In the few months that I’ve been leading this group, I’ve had multiple parents tell me horror stories about their children getting kicked out of previous music groups! So, the families I work with really need an inclusive environment. A place where they never need to say, “sorry.” I think the families also need validation that bringing their kids to the group is good for them! Just like in this weeks video, sometimes the kiddos seem restless or just want to dance the whole time or only want to play on specific instrument, and I’ve spent a lot of time reassuring parents that these behaviors are more than okay and that they don’t mean the kids aren’t getting anything out of the group.
May 8, 2018 at 5:36 pm
in reply to: What value do music therapists bring to families of young children?
ParticipantAlyssa – I definitely understand the fear of being “compared” to a previous music group leader!
After passing my certification exam I looked a lot for therapy jobs in the area where my husband was already working and didn’t have a lot of luck. So, I began teaching a preschool (4-5 year olds) class at a local daycare facility. They have a music teacher who comes every other week to teach each age group (infants to 4-5 year olds) a music lesson. It wasn’t until I began observing her classes that I realized how much a music therapist brings to a group that a music teacher does not. Our training makes us SO knowledgable about what is appropriate for different children and how to best reinforce developmental goals for the children. For me, it was easy to forget how much good stuff we pack into such a short amount of time until I watched someone lead a group who came from a very different background than music therapists do. I’ve mentioned before that I do tend to have a hard time having the confidence to talk to parents from a place of authority and it is very validating to have clients and families recognize how much we do for our groups!
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