[Tabatha Tillman]

I think that the hardest part of multi-age groupings is the different abilities and needs that all of the kids have. I’ve been doing some money and me music classes with kids up to 3 and one of the hardest things for me has been the differences between the ages. Some kids can walk and some can’t, so having to adapt on the spot to figure out how to adapt the activities for those that can’t walk yet. Then having some kids that are excited and other kids that are freaking out and don’t want to be near other kids. Older kids are typically a little more willing to jump in head first while younger kids typically tend to be a little more hesitant. You don’t know how the kids will act until you get them in there and then you’re having to make all of these changes due all of the different needs.

[Tabatha Tillman]

Plan with Titles
Hello/Gathering Song: Good Morning- creating a warm and welcoming environment for the child
Bonding Song: Wiggly Jiggly Car- An intentional time to connect and support the child
Songs about Me: Where is my Face- a time to help parents understand their child and communicate with them
Instrument Song: In my Little Hand- helps parents interact with children
Movement Song: As Big as Can Be-Supporting the child helping them move
Goodbye: Goodbye-leaving with a better understanding of where their child is.

[Tabatha Tillman]

Billie,
I love what you said about the kids being able to tell you what they need. I have a favorite quote from Carl Rogers that says something similar! “IT is the client who knows what hurts, what direction to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.

[Tabatha Tillman]

Brooke,
I didn’t know that Target has instruments! I need to check that out!

[Tabatha Tillman]

Brooke, I like that you used the words stimulating and interactive! I also love the intentionality of how a parent should position their child to encourage interaction!

[Tabatha Tillman]

1. Exploratory: This is a very exploratory age for kids, so it’s very important to allow them chances to go off on their own and experience instruments, movements, and what others are doing.
2. Energetic: It’s important to be energetic during the group to help keep your child engaged.
3. Internal: Children will experience a lot of internal changes during this time as they slowly move away from you as a parent and figure out new things about themselves.
4. Encouraging: It’s very important for you as a parent to be encouraging to your child as they develop and experience new things.
5. Moving: Children at this age love to move, so it’s important that we move along with them an support their movements.

Gathering/Greeting Song: Hey Hey Come play (used to bring the kids in and make them feel welcome)
Bonding Song: Jingle Up, Jingle Down (allowing kids to feel safe with their parents)
Songs About Me: Just like me (helps kids see similarities while also acknowledging things about themselves)
Instrument Songs: Sit with Me and Shake (Allows kids time to explore instruments and music)
Movement Songs: Can You Follow (allows for a structured exploration of movement)
Goodbye Song: Goodbye (a closer to allow closure for the session ending and an opportunity to calm down)

[Tabatha Tillman]

I don’t really stick with specific brands of instruments. I have some egg shakers that I got off of Amazon, I use colored handbells, movement scarves, frame drums, maracas, bells, and tambourines. I order instruments from music is elementary, sweetwater, guitar center, woodwindbrasswind, and my local music store. Honestly before I buy anything I check multiple websites to see where I can get the best bang for my buck. It’s hard to invest in instruments when you’re on your own in a private practice, so I try to stretch my money as much as I can!

[Tabatha Tillman]

I think that the idea of how much stimulation is enough and how much is too much is very difficult. Each group will need a different amount of stimulation and each individual child will need a different amount. Some children might need more stimulation than others and I think this really plays into Sprouting melodies 1 where you really become aware of the child and their needs that way in sprouting melodies 2 you can be more aware of how much stimulation they require. I also think this is such a great thing about this training being for music therapist because we can more easily identify over or under stimulation for children. I think in this setting I would show the families the activities for stimulation and then communicate with the parents during the activity to let them know if there is an over or under stimulation. I would show them the identifiers and what changes to make to their current activity.

[Tabatha Tillman]

Stephanie thanks for sharing that insight! I’m going to go read up on that work!

[Tabatha Tillman]

I love that so many of yall are parents and you are being to add a completely different perspective through that lens!

[Tabatha Tillman]

I love that everyone made sure to emphasize the bonding and connections being made!

[Tabatha Tillman]

I think that music therapy can be difficult in community settings. I contract with a community in my setting and the lady that heads it loves to tell people that I’m a music therapist and I think people expect me to be doing a lot of therapeutic interventions in the groups that I run. When I do community groups I do them to interact with the community and help music reach places that it normally wouldn’t. I think music therapy has a place in the community, but you have to be very specific with how you market it. If you don’t have an assessment and goals that are actively being worked on, then it shouldn’t be marketed as music therapy. It’s fine to say that you’re a music therapist running a group, but it’s important to be very careful not to say that you’re doing therapy when you aren’t.

[Tabatha Tillman]

I don’t really have any experience with this age group. The earliest I’ve worked with was a child around 10 months old, but it was really cool going into that family situation because the little girl really trusted her mom and always looked to her for help with things and to make sure that what she was doing was ok!

[Tabatha Tillman]

5 words: intentional, support, warmth, understanding, Interaction
1. Sprouting melodies 1 is all about parents being intentional with your child and trying to better understand them. 2. Sprouting Melodies 1 will help you find the best way to support your child as they grow. 3. During development children love warm sounds and environments and Sprouting Melodies will show you how to achieve that. 4. Sprouting melodies 1 is really important in helping parents understand their child and helping the children help their parents understand through their actions. 5. Sprouting Melodies is all about helping you to have the most effective interactions with your child.

Hello/Gathering Song: creating a warm and welcoming environment for the child
Bonding Song: An intention time to connect and support the child
Songs about Me: a time to help parents understand their child and communicate with them
Instrument Song: helps parents interact with children
Cool Down: Supporting the child and bonding as the group comes to a close
Goodbye: leaving with a better understanding of where their child is.

[Tabatha Tillman]

Shannon I love what you said about having a purpose behind everything activity. Sometimes it’s difficult to explain this to parents especially when it isn’t showing the results if should at the rate that they think it should.

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