It's not always easy to find songs that are: a) considered "cool" by the teens I work and b) able to be used therapeutically. I know because this year I've spent countless hours listening to songs and watching videos on YouTube. Sometimes it's slim pickings. But, a few weeks ago I came back to a song [...]
Did you grab your FREEBIES yet? I'm talking about the Rap Track MP3 & PDF of the Friendship Rap that you can use in your sessions with elementary or middle school students, or with teens. I love sharing the new ideas that I come up with and test out in my sessions. What I love [...]
I always look forward to Mondays. On Mondays I have a full day of sessions and lessons, ranging from mommy & me groups with babies and toddlers to adapted guitar lessons with teens on the autism spectrum. I also facilitate a music therapy group called Sing, Speak & Socialize. This group is specifically designed for children on [...]
It can be TOUGH to find pop songs that are "appropriate" for our teen music therapy sessions. I get it. There are drug references, sexual innuendos and curse words in many of the new songs out now. When I'm looking for songs that are "appropriate," I'm looking for songs that are free of inappropriate language and [...]
Valentine's Day will be here in just a few days! (Click here for some VDay intervention ideas!) While this makes me excited, I know that for some of the teen clients I work with this holiday can bring up mixed emotions. They feel a lot of pressure to have a boyfriend or girlfriend and if they [...]
Winter in Miami is palm trees, 75 degree weather and tank tops. It's pretty blissful. But I have to admit I get a little envious when I see people on Facebook posting their pictures of the snow falling at night lit up by the street lights or kids playing outside in the snow. Because we don't [...]
I'll admit firsthand that I've been a little hesitant to incorporate improvisation into my sessions. I never knew quite where to start or how to musically support my clients. Also, my clients (who are mostly on the autism spectrum) need a lot of structure, so I didn't know how they would handle the "musical freedom," [...]
On Monday, I did something that I've never done before. I forgot my entire bag of instruments and props. All of it. Maracas, bells, scarves, stretchy band, letter cards, books, microphones, animal pictures, bubbles, kazoos, and a drum. Yep. In my private practice, I have a variety of music therapy sessions scheduled on Mondays with [...]
Happy new year! This holiday season has truly been wonderful. It was full of family, friends, cooking, traveling, and music - all the things I love and cherish. With the holiday season coming to a close and the new year unfolding before me, I wanted to be sure to take time to start the year right [...]
Happy Holiday season! I'm so happy to be writing this post with the lights from our Christmas tree twinkling next to me. While brainstorming new ideas for my sessions with young children, I came up with this simple little song about Santa. It's an echo song and the melody is repetitive, so kids will be [...]
