Whenever I survey my clients about their favorite singers, I inevitably hear names like Drake, Future, Travis Scott, and Bad Bunny.

I’ll be honest though, most of the time I have to Google these rappers so I can be up to speed on who they are.

But since I know that rap and hip hop are a favorite of my clients, especially the middle and high school students, I try to find as many ways as possible to incorporate this genre into my sessions (even though my comfort zone is Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift!)

Here are a few simple ways I incorporate rap and hip hop music and artists into my music therapy sessions:

  • Add the rappers and songs into Music Jeopardy categories (For example – “What is Drake’s birth name?”)
  • Add the rapper into a game of Guess Who (Example – I’m a Puerto Rican rapper and singer known as the King of Latin Trap. Who am I?)
  • Facilitate rapping with a simple prompt or sentence starter like “I know I can _________.”
  • Facilitate beat making on GarageBand (this is such a great way to target executive function and social communication skills in group settings!)
  • Lead a brief song discussion about the song “I Can” by Nas. End by asking your clients want they to be and what steps they can take to get there.
  • Hip Hop versus Classical – instructions for the game I created here
  • And, my personal favorite: The Affirmations Rap by Snoop Dogg

These are simple ways to incorporate rap and hip hop into your music therapy sessions with teens to engage them, and communicate that you hear them, you see them, and their preferences matter.

If you would like more ideas that are cool and engaging for middle and high schoolers, then stay tuned for what’s coming next week.

I’ve decided to put the Tune Into Teens and Attention & Perception E-Courses on HIATUS for the foreseeable future.

As a continuing ed provider for CBMT, I pay to be a provider and for each and every course offering I have. I am going to be placing my efforts on new projects, like the Elevate Email Idea Subscription. So, I have decided to no longer offer the Tune In To Teens and Attention & Perception Courses.

Before I pull them, I am going to offer them one last time at a discounted rate, starting the week of January 15, 2023. When you purchase, you will have the full 3 or 6 months (depending on the package you choose) to complete the course.

So, if you’ve been on the fence and eyeing these E-Courses, it is definitely the time to act before these courses go away for good.

Stay tuned to your email and socials for all the details!