When it comes to looking at goals and areas of need for my teen clients, creativity and self-expression continually come to the top of my list, in terms of importance. With the upheaval that teens have experienced due to the pandemic, promoting creativity and giving them opportunities for self-expression seem more important now than ever [...]
As music therapists and educators, we know the importance of using client-preferred music in our sessions, especially when working with teens. Teens have a very personal relationship with the music that speaks to them. And when we show acceptance for our clients' music, what we're communicating is that we accept them. Using client-preferred music engages [...]
I vividly remember the first time I led a music therapy session with a group of teen clients. I remember thinking it would be easy to build group cohesion among 30 adolescents that didn't know each other, and that we'd be songwriting and rapping in no time. Well, that wasn't exactly the case. It took [...]
Earlier this week, I walked out of my virtual music therapy sessions glowing. The sessions had been great, the group of teens I worked with were totally engaged in our experiences, and it almost felt like there was no "online" barrier. I felt the same connection I feel when we're "in-person" together. It was pretty [...]
Since our usual morning rush has lightened up significantly now that we’re staying home, I started incorporating a new practice into my girls’ routine. Each morning, they choose a mindful card from our Mindful Kids pack. It’s a pack of 50 cards with mindful activities for kindness, focus, and calm. The activities are short and simple, [...]
Are you getting into the swing of these virtual music therapy sessions? I feel like it's exercising a whole new part of my brain and is stretching my creativity (which is something I really like). It took me a while to get the "wheels turning," but once they did, I found a whole new set [...]
Have you been doing any virtual music therapy sessions? I've been doing virtual adapted lessons, but just had my first virtual music therapy session with a group of teens last week. I have to tell you - it was so good to see those faces on Zoom. I am really missing everyone, especially because we [...]
It's finally time: the doors for the Tune In To Teens E-Course are now open (but just for a short while)! This week only, March 9 - 13th, 2020, the course is open for enrollment (so everyone can progress through the course at the same time). Following that, the doors close and I don't really [...]
Over the past few weeks, I've given you a little sneak peak into the Tune In To Teens E-Course: how the course helps you with organizing all your music therapy materials, and teaches you social skills interventions (and raps!), motor skills interventions and how to make looped hip hop beats, and how to find music [...]
One question I'm asked more than any other is this: "What music should I use with my teen clients and students?" I get it, because it stumps me sometimes, too. First, it's hard to find songs that are: a) appropriate (lyrics and content-wise), b) able to be used therapeutically, and c) considered cool by your [...]
