Creating Effective Preschool Groups

More than a Sing Along: Creating Effective Groups in Preschool Music Therapy

A Course with Raising Harmony Co-Founders Elizabeth K. Schwartz, MA. LCAT, MT-BC and Meredith R. Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Join Beth and Meredith for this online training which provides an opportunity for music therapists working in pre-school and early elementary settings to learn and create music for effective group therapy interventions.  Practical ideas based on best practices, research and extensive experience will be presented. Participants will sing, play and learn music material that they can use immediately.

Earn 3 CMTE Credits by watching the video presentation and then solidify the information through listening to the PowerPoint.

When you register, you will receive

• Access to the video and audio material
• A downloadable file with all of the slides and documents to accompany the course

According to the 2014 AMTA Member Survey & Workforce Analysis 14% of members report working in children’s setting or schools – greater than the percentage who reported working in geriatric, medical or mental health facilities.  Twelve percent of survey respondents reported serving a population composed primarily of infants and children. Informal polling of music therapists working with children also indicate that at least part or all of their practice is with groups. This course will provide an opportunity for those music therapists working in pre-school and early elementary settings to learn and create music interventions that promote effective group practice. The focus will be on practical, clinical ideas and strategies based on best practices, research and extensive experience.  The session will offer newly created and adapted songs; research based interventions; and strategies and resources for use in a variety of pre-school and elementary groupings. Topics to be covered will include effective music interventions for small and large therapeutic groups as well as inclusive settings.

Song material will be organized in a manner that allows the therapist to target goal areas common in group work: group functioning; self-regulation; social communication; peer to peer learning; and relationship building.  Music will include songs for gathering; songs for mutual music making; transition songs; songs embedded into play and routine; songs to promote peer to peer social interaction and self-regulation.  The music shared during the session will be specially composed or adapted to meet specific therapeutic or developmental needs. Course members will have the chance to sing, play and move as they learn new therapeutic music material that can be applied immediately to their own practice.

A Great Value for Our Raising Harmony Community

Learning Objectives

• Participants will describe how to create a developmentally appropriate music space for pre-school music therapy groups (BCD 2020 / II.D.8.).
• Participants will identify key features of group process in pre-school music therapy groups (BCD 2020 / III.A.1.g).
• Participants will learn and create music created specifically for therapeutic use in pre-school music therapy groups (BCD 2020 / III.A.5.e).
• Participants will learn and describe key components of selecting developmentally appropriate instruments and instrument experiences for therapeutic use in pre-school music therapy groups (BCD 2020 / II.D.11).

Updated 5/2023

Evaluation: All course participants must complete and return a course evaluation form. In addition, participants will be asked to complete a short fill-in-the-blank test on course content and scan or email a copy to info@RaisingHarmony.com.. Course certificates will be issued once both test and evaluation are received.

Presenters:
Elizabeth K. Schwartz, MA, LCAT, MT-BC, Co-Founder of Raising Harmony™, practices early childhood music therapy in New York and is an adjunct instructor at Molloy College. She is the author of Music, Therapy, and Early Childhood: A Developmental Approach and You and Me Makes…We, A Growing Together Songbook.

Meredith R. Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC is Owner and Executive Director of Roman Music Therapy Services, LLC, a vibrant music therapy agency in Eastern Massachusetts. She developed Sprouting Melodies, a community early childhood music program which is deeply grounded in music therapy principles and strategies.

Prerequisites: Participants must be a Board Certified Music Therapist or music therapy student interested in expanding their practice into early childhood. Music therapy students will not receive continuing education credits for taking the course but may participate in the training.

International Music Therapists: Music therapists practicing in other countries are welcome to complete Raising Harmony™ Trainings. All music therapists must have required credentials to practice in their country and must contact us directly to register by emailing info@RaisingHarmony.com.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: We are confident that once you enter into the world of early childhood music therapy with Raising Harmony™, you won’t want to cancel! If you do need to cancel and let us know at least 10 days before the course begins, you will receive a credit for a future CMTE through Raising Harmony. Need to cancel 10 days or less before a class begins? You can receive a credit for half of your course fee towards future CMTE’s through Raising Harmony.

More than a Sing Along: Creating Effective Groups in Preschool Music Therapy is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for a total of 3 Continuing Music Therapy Education credits. The Provider, Roman Music Therapy Services, LLC, P-118, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.

Do you still have questions? Email us at info@RaisingHarmony.com.