Over the past few weeks, I’ve shared how I use pop songs in a therapeutic way with my middle and high school students:

To practice affirmations through rap with Bow Wizzle.

To work on attention and perception skills using songs by Imagine Dragons and OneRepublic.

To move and groove using songs by BTS and AJR.

And, to engage in lyric analysis and songwriting to an incredible song by Sia.

Using popular and client preferred music is the KEY to engagement. That’s why it’s a primary focus in my Attention & Perception E-Course (which is opening for enrollment next Monday, May 15th).

The goal of the E-Course is to offer a thorough overview of attention and perception, and share a multitude of creative intervention ideas for targeting auditory perception, listening skills, and attention. For each intervention you’ll learn how to implement them using popular and client preferred music.

There are three packages to choose from, ranging from 5-15 CMTE credits, which are pre-approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).

Throughout the course, you’ll learn creative musical experiences, new original songs, and strategies for maintaining your clients’ attention throughout a session. You’ll also have access to sheet music, colorful visuals, pop song rhythm sheets, listening guides, dance break MP3s, and creativity worksheets.

Each and every intervention can be facilitated via teletherapy or in person. There are more than 30 demonstration videos included in the course, so you can see what the techniques look like in action during actual music therapy sessions (this is one of the most raved about features!)

Here’s a brief spotlight on some of the creative, grab-and-go ideas you’ll find in the E-Course:

Pop Song Rhythms – Did you ever think you could use songs by Bruno Mars, Beyonce, and Drake to work on therapeutic goals? It is 100% possible. In the course, you’ll learn how to do that AND integrate your clients’ favorite songs to work on auditory perception skills in a way that is super engaging and fun.

Auditory Discrimination Games – See how you can integrate unique instruments like the rain stick, gong, electric guitar, chimes, canary stick, or oboe into your sessions to facilitate work on auditory discrimination skills (which are critical for speech and language development).

Music & Movement With Your Primary Instrument – Watch multiple videos where you’ll see demonstrations of how I use my clarinet to work on auditory discrimination skills (you will not believe some of the responses from the children!)

Themed Rhythmic Combos – Learn how to incorporate pizza toppings, favorite ice cream flavors, superheros, sports teams, and Disney princesses in a musical experience to give your clients practice with pattern imitation.

I Spy/I Hear – Learn how to facilitate a patriotic-themed I Spy/I Hear musical experience – this one is perfect for Memorial Day and Fourth of July.

Form a Band – Do you have a student who wants to sing or rap? What about drummers? Maraca players? Learn how to set up a band to engage your students in developing different kinds of attention. In the Course Docs, you’ll get sample scores, rhythm sheets, and blank score templates.

Pop Songs – See how I incorporate songs by Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, and Ariana Grande in my sessions in a variety of ways. You’ll learn how to incorporate your clients’ favorite music into these experiences too. They’ll be having so much fun they won’t even know they’re developing sustained, selective, and divided attention skills.

Listening Guides – Learn how you can incorporate listening guides as a way to not only work on developing your clients’ attention skills, but also to introduce them to a wide variety of music. Pop on over to the Course Documents to download PDF Listening Guides for Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the Nutcracker Suite, and Spooky Halloween Music. And, you’ll learn how to create your own Listening Guides that are tailored to your students’ and clients’ musical interests.

Jazz Up Your Instrument Playing Activities – Learn creative ways to jazz up a bland instrument playing activity so your clients are more engaged and better able to meet their attention goals.

This is just a small sampling of what you’ll learn in the course.

All the ideas shared are considered “cool” by my school-age and teen clients (which is a plus if we want them engaging in the experiences to work toward their goals).

And, they’ll give your clients multiple opportunities to refine their auditory perception skills (which are KEY for being able to listen in the classroom and in social situations).

Although the ideas in the course are designed for school-age clients (Grades K-8) and teens, they are easily adaptable for older or younger populations.

If these ideas piqued your interest, then you’ll be glad to know that the doors for The Attention & Perception E-Course will be opening next week, on Monday, May 15th.

Join the waitlist by entering your name and email below, so you don’t miss when the doors for enrollment are open.

When you join the waitlist, you’ll hear about special discounts and promotions so you can access all those CMTEs at a discounted rate, and get access to free bonus material.

You’ll get a Pop Song Rhythms freebie right away when you hop on the waitlist, so you can get a sneak peek of the materials you’ll get inside the course.

More than 400 music therapists, educators, and professionals have taken Wholesome Harmonies E-Courses and successfully put the ideas into use in their sessions and classrooms.

Sarah Jarvis, a music therapy intern, had this to say about the course:

“Would I recommend the course to others? Oh, absolutely. Your voice is easy to listen to, your videos are excellently edited, and your material is succinct and straightforward. For someone with ADD, this was AWESOME and so simple to stay attentive. The edited videos of client interventions seamlessly fit into the instruction videos. It made it so easy to mentally jump from what a therapist can do to use this information and these techniques. Thank you for making it a fun learning experience!”

And Kaitlyn Southgate, a music teacher, said:

“I found that everything was clearly explained and loved the examples that followed. I would definitely recommend the course to others. I personally feel much more prepared to work with these young clients and feel that this course would provide anyone with fantastic new approaches. Thank you for another wonderful course!”

If you’re interested in learning more about the E-Course, be sure to hop on the wait list now!