Somehow the round green wreaths on the front doors of houses in my community have morphed into red or pink heart shapes.  Even when they are covered with snow, the colors and shapes of these decorations send the message that love is in the air.

I’ve been so lucky as a daughter and a wife and a mother to love and to be loved.  I’ve been fortunate also in my work with young children to feel a different kind of love for the little ones and for their families. As a music therapist and an educator I have examined the idea of love and affection and bonding from all different kinds of perspectives – developmental, biological, neurological, behavioral, social and emotional.  What this research and clinical experience has shown me is that one of the most important things that can happen for a parent and child making music together is to experience a feeling of love.  [Read more…]