[Shannon Laine]

Maura, I think you hit the nail on the head with your description!! Every child is so different, and every day is so different that the amount of stimulation they need and crave varies day to day and moment to moment. Additionally, every child is so different with how much stimulation they need, and how they get their input, that our most important role is to be aware. As therapists and leaders of the group it is our job to be aware of how much stimulation is appropriate at any given time for the group, and to be on the lookout for signs of overstimulation so that we can help bring the group back down.

I’ve also seen on many occasions how some children are quite responsive, so when one child becomes overstimulated others seem to follow that lead.

[Shannon Laine]

As I’m just getting back into the field, I haven’t really built up my supply of instruments yet! When I was working before, a lot of the instruments were from the Kids Remo percussion line. I loved them for their great sounds, durability and ease of cleaning. I’d love to get a set of frame drums, ocean drum (one of my favorites!!), gathering drum, a variety of shakers/maracas, bells and tambourines.

[Shannon Laine]

Skye, it amazed me too! Looking back, he was exposed to music in utero for my entire pregnancy (I was working full-time as a music therapist at that point), so he heard and felt the vibrations of music for 9 whole months! It was small intervals, almost sounding like a very wide vocal vibrato. Usually major whole-steps, mostly ascending but also sometimes descending. Lower notes (but I don’t remember which!!!), but right before he’d fall asleep he’d ascend in both pitch and volume! It was the most amazing thing to listen to! And to this day he hums, especially when intently engaged in an activity. He plays violin and has an amazing ear for music.

[Shannon Laine]

Jordyn and Skye I agree with both of you! I think the bottom line is being open and honest, both with yourself and whomever you’re working with/talking to. Music therapy is a really special and unique field, and our training provides us with many unique insights that might not be available elsewhere. THAT’S where, even if we’re not 100% providing music therapy (but something like Sprouting Melodies), our music therapy training and background comes into play and is important.

[Shannon Laine]

I have two kids and have (obviously) experienced first-hand babies going through the developmental levels of Awareness and Trust. My son (who is now 7) was an extremely musical baby, in fact, he used music to self soothe! I remember the first time he did it that I noticed: he was about one week old and I was going to a New Mom’s group for the first time. He was in the backseat humming to himself. At first I had no idea what he was doing. As a new mom, I was still learning! I knew his diaper had been changed, he was fed, and he seemed content. It was clear he wasn’t crying or upset and yet the vocalizing became louder and louder. Suddenly it stopped! When we got to our destination I realized that my son was asleep. After a few more experiences like this I realized that my son was singing himself to sleep. Once I realized this, I found myself humming with my son, especially if he were upset or crying. It would frequently calm him down quickly.

Now that he’s older, my son will often hum to himself when he’s engaged in an activity. He’s also extremely musical!

[Shannon Laine]

I really like the idea, at least initially, of exploring the use of the suggested session format. I feel like once I establish a routine, get to know the families in the groups, I’ll be able to formulate my own format that works for my groups. Sitting down to write this session plan makes me realize how LONG it’s been since I’ve actually written one of these! I hope this is ok, it really got me thinking about this… I feel like, because it’s been so long since I’ve actually written a session plan, I found a lot of great ideas in the You and Me Makes…We songbook. I feel like it is a great starting point and I hope to get my creative juices flowing as I begin to lead some groups.

Hello/Gathering: Good Morning Song (From the You and Me Makes…We songbook)
Gathering: Hey! Hey! Come and Play (From the You and Me Makes…We songbook)
Lap Ride: Bouncing Up and Down in a Little Red Wagon
Song About Me: Five Fingers (Nordoff-Robbins song)
Instrument Song: All Night! All Day! (From the You and Me Makes…We songbook)
Gross Motor Movement: I Can Move Around (From the You and Me Makes…We songbook)
Cool Down: What’ll We Do with the Baby? Lullaby
Goodbye: Own Goodbye song

[Shannon Laine]

5 sentences you can use when speaking with parents about musical responses of children in SM1 (I found it hard to stick to one sentence sometimes!):
1) Given the flexible flow of the Sprouting Melodies 1 class, any response is observed, encouraged, and appropriate from the baby. From crying to smiling, all responses are welcome.
2) The songs in Sprouting Melodies 1 are often repeated multiple times to allow the baby to learn to trust in the structure and predictability of the music. The repetition also allows for you (the parent) to learn the songs in order to sing them with Baby outside of the music class.
3) In Sprouting Melodies 1, we will use some engaging and playful songs to facilitate bonding with your little one.
4) I encourage you to watch your baby, listen to your baby, take in their facial expressions throughout the class to learn how your child is taking in the music and musical experience. There is no wrong response! This class is all about learning with your child, through your child, and exploring new musical experiences together.
5) You might observe that the music is calm and quiet throughout the class. Babies often take in everything in their environment and if the music is too loud or boisterous this might overwhelm them.

[Shannon Laine]

5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 1:
Flexible, mild, relaxed, volume, fluid

[Shannon Laine]

Jennifer I agree! Elizabeth and Meredith stressed that in the video too: sometimes it’s simply about getting out of the house. It doesn’t matter of Baby fell asleep on the way to music group, it matters that the parent packed up, got out of the house, and is experiencing face to face, genuine interactions. I struggled with PPD after my first born and getting out of the house was one of the most difficult things, but I always felt better afterwards. Looking back, having a music group to look forward to would’ve helped a lot…

[Shannon Laine]

Before I took time off to have/raise my kids I worked at a community music school. I established and grew a music therapy program that was the first of its’ kind in the state. The program evolved to meet the needs of the community in so many different ways.

We offered typical individual and group music therapy sessions, both at the music school and at local schools. These were often IEP-based or complimenting the goals found on IEPs. Some individuals, however, had the goal to learn how to play an instrument, regardless of any limitations that might be present. Honestly, these were my favorite experiences: I often taught guitar or piano adaptive lessons with great success. I feel strongly that it was a great experience for me (both as a musician and as a music therapist- thinking outside the box!!) as well as for the individual I was working with.

I would also consult with typical lesson teachers to provide support/ideas on including students successfully in group and individual lessons. Oftentimes these teachers taught music at area schools and would approach with a question about inclusion/promoting inclusion in their music classrooms. I would also promote inclusion in the music school’s ensembles, finding ways for students with identified needs to successfully participate in the children’s choir, orchestra or band.

I LOVED working at the community music school, and hope to have an opportunity to work in this setting again. To me, music therapy in a community-based setting is all-inclusive: it really embraces and celebrates every person/child’s unique personality with the music weaving everyone together. Music serves as the common ground, a place where anyone can unite, regardless of their background.

[Shannon Laine]

Maura, Jordyn, Caroline, and Marcie I agree with everything you’ve said! It takes a special person to become a music therapist, someone who understands and has a special relationship with music, someone who understands and embraces the whole person, and someone who is sensitive enough to meet their client(s) where they are at, even if it means foregoing session plans.

A music therapist’s understanding of human development (and specifically of a Sprouting Melodies provider of fully understanding child development) gives us the opportunity to be fully present in the moment, changing the music, crafting the music to emulate what our clients are giving us. We are able to see both sides of the coin: the musical development as well as every other facet of development. This is what sets us apart and truly helps us bring value to families with young children.

[Shannon Laine]

Caroline it’s great that you’re already able to incorporate the education part into your work! It’s so important for music therapists to educate, but I feel like Sprouting Melodies gives specific and extra knowledge that’s easy to relay to parents, encouraging them and reinforcing the need for the quality music groups.

[Shannon Laine]

I’m currently not running groups/working as a music therapist, but I am a parent actively involved in my local community. I’ve been able to observe and assess the needs of the families in my area. Unfortunately, there aren’t many quality music experiences for children where I live!! There’s a lady who runs some amazing Music Together groups, which are strikingly different from Sprouting Melodies, but that’s about it.

When I was taking my oldest son to a music group, I found a lady who ran a developmentally appropriate music group based on Gordon’s Music Learning Theory. I fell in love because the approach was developmentally appropriate!!! Fast forward 5 years and those groups are no longer running. Since starting the Sprouting Melodies training, I’ve seen a lot of similarities in how these music groups were run and the Sprouting Melodies approach.

I’m excited to start offering the Sprouting Melodies groups because I feel like it will fill in the need for a quality, developmentally appropriate music group in the area. In mentioning it to some “mom friends” they’ve all been receptive about the start of the groups, citing that they also notice a need for more music groups being offered in the area.

The one part that always felt missing from when I took my son to music group was the explanation. I feel that the knowledge we music therapists possess is important to pass on to the parents, and I am excited to fill in this part of the need in music groups as well.

[Shannon Laine]

Maureen- when I was working with young children I also found that they had a variety of responses. It’s great to adjust expectations/approaches based on the responses you’re getting. I find this training very useful in that it’s giving me more in-depth knowledge/understanding of the developmental levels so that I will be able to observe even more responses once I start running groups again.

[Shannon Laine]

Stephanie, I also look at body language for reactions to the music in my clients, especially if they’re non-verbal. Music is a whole-body experience so it simply makes sense that a change in body language would be present during a music-making experience!

It’s also exciting that you’ll get the experience of using the songs at camp! Are the kids at camp typically developmening or have delays? Can’t wait to hear how it goes!

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