Here at Wholesome Harmonies we love, love, LOVE the library!
We have been partnering with the Miami-Dade Public Library System since 2010 to offer Baby Rock, Toddler Rock, and Rockin’ & Readin’ at the Library.
Now that I’ve moved up north to Pennsylvania, I’m partnering with the Adams County Library System to offer these same programs.
It’s a dream come true to facilitate these sessions in the same place where I checked out Babysitters Club and Goosebumps books as a kid!
I’ve had a great time facilitating themed Rockin’ & Readin’ sessions at various library branches, and facilitating Baby & Toddler Rock during storytime.
Our summer program at Carroll Valley Library had 65 attendees surfing to songs by the Beach Boys, singing and making ocean waves with the parachute, doing an ocean animal freeze dance, playing the ocean drum, shaking maracas to “Under the Sea,” and enjoying the singable story “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell.”
I loved hearing those little voices singing along with me, and watching the joy on the faces of their caregivers.
In case you were wondering…
Baby Rock & Toddler Rock are developmental music classes for babies (ages 0-2) and toddlers (ages 2-4), and their caregivers. Classes are designed to provide musical experiences that enrich development.
In our sessions, we utilize developmentally appropriate songs and activities to encourage interaction between caregivers and their little ones and to work on basic developmental skills.
Little ones explore a variety of musical instruments and props such as scarves, parachute, stretchy band, and puppets. We sing songs in English and Spanish, enjoy singable stories, and move to music to work on growth in the areas of social, communication, physical, and emotional development.
In our sessions, we use both original and familiar songs so caregivers are singing along in no time! Live musical accompaniment is provided on guitar, keyboard, and omnichord, and we utilize a variety of musical styles like samba, country and rock and roll!
Rockin’ and Readin’ at the Library is a music therapy program designed for children of ALL abilities, including those with autism and related disabilities.
In the music therapy sessions, children have the opportunity to participate in musical experiences to work on goals that are non-musical. For example:
- Singing an original song to the book “Head To Toe” by Eric Carle to work on expressive language skills (identifying animals) and motor skills (moving like the animal)
- Playing rhythm instruments with stop and go cues to work on attention skills and impulse control
- Moving rainbow colored scarves to work on academic skills (identifying colors), motor skills, and direction following (“Move your scarf in a circle! Now move it side to side!”)
- Taking turns to play the xylophone or rain stick to work on social skills and impulse control
A special focus is placed on songs and singable stories that promote literacy.
We also have some exciting NEW programs scheduled with the Miami-Dade Public Library System – Holidays with Wholesome Harmonies.
Holidays with Wholesome Harmonies is a festive holiday sing-a-long that encourages participants to sing, play instruments, and celebrate. The program is open to individuals of all ages and abilities, and is designed to bring together family members and community members.
A board-certified music therapist leads families in singing holiday songs in English and Spanish. Everyone receives an instrument to play as we sing and dance together.
We can facilitate the program for any of the following holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter holidays, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter/springtime, and patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July.
We love making music at the library and look forward to keeping these partnerships strong!
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