As a music therapist, I am trained in how to use musical improvisation in the moment to meet my client’s needs. And really, that’s one of the main things that sets a music therapist apart from a performer or educator–our training helps us be aware of needs and adjust our “plans” accordingly. I remember learning..
Music therapy can help special needs children learn to identify, express, and control their emotions. I was recently presenting at a conference and had a parent ask whether I can use music to help with emotional regulation for special needs children. I figured I could share my response here as well for any other parents..
Understanding what can go wrong with sensory integration is crucial in Autism treatment. Here is a simple explanation. My previous post on this topic focused on defining two senses which are often overlooked: proprioceptive and vestibular. The hope in defining those essential senses is that you as a parent or practitioner will have a more concrete view..
A fun and engaging song to use in early childhood settings! This is one of my absolute favorite finger play songs to use in early childhood (it’s tied with the Monkey and Alligator game:), and kids absolutely love it! I first found it on songsforteaching.com as recorded by Jim Rule (find the recording here) and I..
Anyone providing Autism treatment must be aware of sensory processing that occurs beyond the five basic senses. Learning about the proprioceptive and vestibular senses makes all the difference! We all grow up learning about the 5 senses: taste, touch, smell, sight and sound. I remember seeing fun little diagrams with pictures of a hand with..
Early childhood is a critical time for learning and growth. Parents can help their children develop by using music with them at home. Here are some ideas! One of the most important parts of my job is giving parents practical ideas on how to use music in the home to help their children progress in..
I like to start out my children’s groups with movement songs (after the hello song) in order to help my clients get out some energy, connect with each other, and jump right in to working on their goals. I’ve included my top ten favorites below. A lot of the goals I work on with these..
Communication is a common need for special education students. Here is one example of how a music therapist can help! I wrote this Thank You Song several years ago to address one of my student’s signing goals in special education. Since then it has become a favorite and is a great way to teach the concept of saying thank..
Having the right knowledge and tools is essential for parents to effectively advocate music therapy for their child in special education. Here is what you need: In Utah we are just beginning to open doors for music therapy services in the public school system. For many years we have had 3 music therapists working in center-based..