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November 13, 2013 at 6:39 pm
in reply to: How are you planning on sharing this information with colleagues, administrators and families?
ParticipantKeely, so excited for you! Good Luck! If my job was not full time I would follow your lead. I can see this taking off in areas around here. At this point, I will share this information with colleagues!
November 13, 2013 at 6:36 pm
in reply to: Where will you go from here? How will this training impact your work as a music therapist?
ParticipantKeely, I agree with your excitement! I feel more confident and knowledgeable from this course. I am already implementing what I have learned and have ideas as to what I would like to do in future groups. I feel well informed about Sprouting Melodies and can spread the word about the quality level of the program. I will also encourage other MT’s to take this training. Your (Beth and Meredith) passion is contagious and I am so glad you are sharing it!
November 13, 2013 at 5:11 pm
in reply to: Share how you can explain to parents the difference between music for development and music for skill building.
ParticipantMusic for development is looking at the child globally and music for skill building is narrowing down the scope. I agree with the above statements that they compliment each other. Perhaps the group is using drums to increase awareness of others (music for development) and the skill is learning a specific technique (wiggle fingers, use whole hand)on the drum so that have better control over the drum and therefore can communicate at a higher level.
November 13, 2013 at 4:48 pm
in reply to: Share some of your experiences with children of this age and level.
ParticipantAs my parent/ child group is 0-3 I have had both babies that were apart of the program and babies that were siblings of the student in the “Early On” program. Parents will often bring blankets, bottles…whatever they need. In addition to giving info on how to adapt the activity to meet their babies needs we talk about how they use music as home and what the possibilities are. This is a great time for the group to bond – with the parents of older children sharing their experience with the parents of the littlest ones!
November 6, 2013 at 7:06 pm
in reply to: Share what you are most looking forward to as you become a Sprouting Melodies provider.
ParticipantMy job is full time so I will not be pursuing the Sprouting Melodies provider status now, but who knows what the future holds!? What I would look forward to, if I became a provider, is the age divisions. It would be nice to be able to narrow the focus down! The online group would be another aspect that sounds enticing. MT’s to share ideas, ask questions, and bond!
November 6, 2013 at 6:51 pm
in reply to: Share some strategies you have used to assure every child in your groups is successful.
ParticipantPlanning is so important in regards to this! For example when using a book (my groups are run with an SLP, ages 0-3) we make sure that we have available: visuals, the actual items for the children to hold on to, ACC devices- what ever we need so that each child/parent group can participate and feel apart of the experience. Using a variety of communication supports has been beneficial for parents to see that there are many ways to communicate. Knowing your group, planning, being comfortable with the music so you can adapt on the spot are keys for me!
November 2, 2013 at 3:54 pmParticipantSprouting Melodies 3: 5 Words: active, contribute, charged, growth, personality
Plan: Gathering: Sit Down with Me (EKS) – like the options of this song, Bonding: My Brand New Friend (EKS) – am going to try this one this week, Songs About Me: Watch me Go (EKS), Instrument Sons: Music is the Way (EKS) – love this sound and the opportunity for parents, Movement Songs: The Leaves Go Down (EKS), Goodbye: Time to Go (EKS)November 2, 2013 at 3:08 pm
in reply to: Share some thoughts about the challenges of providing multi-age groupings.
ParticipantMy family group consists of children ages 0-3 with some type of impairment and their siblings, friends or cousins (ages from 0-10)! It’s “a dance” to make sure that the multiply imparied child that exhibits very little external expression/movement is getting as much out the music experience as the 5 year old typically developing child. Thank goodness for music! Typically developing kids (siblings,friends) are excellent helpers (passing out instruments, demonstrating actions…). There are so many great things (muscially, socially) that can happen when you have a mixed group. These mixed groups probably represent what many of our MT groups (children, teens, adults) look like in terms of develpomental/social levels. I think what separates the family group is the importance of feedback given to the parents.
November 2, 2013 at 2:37 pmParticipantFamily Sprouts: 5 words: bonding, exploration, fun, multi-level, working together (two words -oops!)
Session: Gathering: Hey Everybody (EKS) – am looking forward to trying this chant! Bonding Song: Hold On Tight (EKS)- Like the idea of the older sib closest to parent and the younger in front. Songs About Me: Who’s That (EKS) Instrument Songs: Dancing In The Middle (EKS) Movement: I Really Gotta Jump (EKS) -good multi-level. Goodbye: Thank You Very Much (EKS)October 27, 2013 at 3:54 pmParticipant5 words: exciting, exploration, suprise!, observation, impromtu
5 ideas to share with parents: 1: Postion your child so they are facing the group! Have them seated with your arms under their shoulders so when they need to they can touch you! 2. Some children will stay on their parents laps and others will move about the room. Both are ok – everyone is progressing at their own rate. 3. Feet are a great way for children to take in information. When they are sitting on your lap and stomping their feet or jumping make sure that the bottoms of their feet are making solid contact with the floor. 4. It’s ok when your child would rather move around the room then sit with you. They are not rejecting you but rather developing their own identity. 5. It’s ok if your child does not follow specific song directions (up/down) it’s more important that they are making music independently!
Gathering/welcoming: Can you see me (EKS), Instrument: Sit with me and Shake (MRP)..love this tune! , Movement: March With My Baby (MRP)- looking forward to trying this one! I like the transition from the instrument song and keeping the instrument for the movement song. Goodbye: Thank You Very Much (EKS) – Love the social aspect of this one.
October 27, 2013 at 1:50 pm
in reply to: What kind and brand of instruments are you using in your groups with children of this developmental level?
ParticipantI buy most everything from West Muisc. I use the Remo gathering drums, Hohner kids baby shaker (jingle bell encased with handle) and chiquitas to name a few. I would love a one stop shop for recommended, tried and true instruments for this age. I usually buy one of something and then see how it sounds and works and then decided if I am going to buy more!
October 27, 2013 at 1:42 pm
in reply to: Share your thoughts with the board on how much stimulation is enough? How much stimulation is too much?
ParticipantWell said Lauren and Coleen! I love the Sprouting Melodies group age break down! My group is ages 0-3 and stimulation needs vary, but the music holds us together. As mentioned above, I also observe reactions of the children and adjust my intervention as needed. It’s always a plus to have your tried and true activities in your pocket to bring the group back!
October 21, 2013 at 8:23 pmParticipant5 words: supportive, warm, inviting, engaging, loving
When talking to parents: 1. It is your voice that is most important! 2. Get close to your baby -12″-18″ is a great guide. 3. Gently rub the center of your babies hand with the maraca (instrument) -they will grasp it! 3. It is important at this stage to focus on more on expressing yourself through movement and keep the singing volume at a lower level during the songs. 4. You may notice your baby becoming more fidgety and wanting to move more – they may want to stand. They are moving from awareness to the trust stage! 5. You may want to touch your baby gently but firmly when we sing their name – this encourages awareness!
I wrote this and then looked at yours Collen…very nice – I would like your class!
Hello- incorporate all names
Bonding- Round and Round the Garden (Not remembering at the moment who wrote this) – Use a finger to circle on baby’s stomach, follow rest of song using touch
Songs about me- Just Like Me!(EKS) – Tried this out with a few groups loved it!
Instrument song-Shake the maracas all night! Song I made up ….sometimes it feels like that as a parent!
Movement-Scarf song (can’t remember specific name) – (Lynn Kleiner)
Goodbye – I would like to add the deep breath pause that you did in the video to mine. It felt right.How long are the groups?
October 20, 2013 at 10:59 pm
in reply to: Share your thoughts with the board members on the role of music therapy in community based settings.
ParticipantI have never really had a conversation about clinical MT and MT based community programs! I have been in a center-based special education school for 15 years and use to be on many IEP’s. Now, in the last few years I am considered “part of the curriculum” and they prefer me not to be on IEP’s. So currently I do not do formal assessments or the paperwork that follows that but I still continually assess, implement, adjust so that my students can reach their potential. I think that regardless of what environment (clinical or community) an MT is in they will always follow those steps -it’s what we do. I think their is a valid place for MT in both places. I do think it’s important to clarify what role the MT will play and what the MT “experience” may look like in the community vs. the clinical context. Keeley said it well when she talked about the “key distinction” being the “focus”. Coleen also mentioned needing the “specialty of the therapist”- this speaks to the quality of the program the community will receive. If we limit our profession to “clinical only” think of all the opportunities that would be missed. As I read this over that sounds dramatic but really…..
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