When working with tweens and teens, I try to incorporate popular and client preferred music into my sessions as much as possible.

This immediately helps engage them and gets them excited about the musical experience.

In this post and this post, I highlight how I make my movement experiences totally age appropriate for my teen clients, and share songs that have been working well to get them up and moving!

Below are the songs I’ve been using in 2024. Incorporate the ideas from the blog posts shared above and you’ll be good to go!

“Houdini” by Dua Lipa

“Friends” by Giulo Cercato

“As It Was” by Harry Styles

“The Man” (clean version) by Aloe Blacc

“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran

“Believer” by Imagine Dragons

“D.R.E.A.M.” by JoJo Siwa

“Dance the Night Away” by Dua Lipa

“Head and Heart” – Joel Corry & MNEK (my new fave!)

“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

And if you need more ideas for how to infuse creativity and FUN into your music therapy sessions and music classes with middle and high schoolers, check out the Elevate Email Idea Subscription. It’s now approved by CBMT for 10 continuing education credits per package (previously it was 7)!

The post Cool Movement Songs for Tweens & Teens in Music Therapy appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m learning new music therapy techniques, I love to see them IN ACTION.

It’s one thing to read about techniques in a book or hear about them in class, and it’s another to see them being implemented in an actual session with clients.

That’s why I created a Music Therapy in Action Page on my site (all shared with permission from the client families).

This page is for parents and administrators to see what music therapy could look like for their children or students.

And it’s for music therapists to get new ideas and see how they might implement techniques with their own clients and students.

I always get inspired and invigorated when I watch videos of music therapy in action.

On the Music Therapy in Action page, you can check out examples in the following areas (click on each picture below):

You’ll watch videos showing:

• An original song with gross motor MOVEMENT around the room to teach shapes (one of my faves!)
• An original song with MOVEMENT to teach -AT words
• An original song and colorful file folder activity to work on matching numeral to quantity
• A singable story about mixing colors
• And, two attention & perception techniques implemented in a fun, creative way

You’ll watch videos showing:

• Musical Sensory Orientation Training with the cabasa to provide tactile stimulation
• Several music therapy experiences to work on sensory integration (one with the therapy ball, one with paint brushes used during a singable story, one with the trampoline, and one with the gathering drum used for spinning) – all used for my clients on the autism spectrum and with sensory processing disorders

Here, you’ll watch videos showing:

• How I use my primary instrument from college, the clarinet, to facilitate on gross motor movements

There’s plenty more to see on the Music Therapy in Action Page, so be sure to check it out and let me know which techniques you’ll be implementing this week!

The post Music Therapy in ACTION! appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

We are movin’ and groovin’ right along into Week 3 of the Tune In To Teens spotlight series, where I give you a little peek into the E-Course.

So far, we’ve spotlighted two features of Tune In To Teens – you’ll learn how to organize ALL those music therapy materials and learn the Be Flexible Rap & other social skills interventions.

Today, we’re going to look at how the course prepares you to target motor skills with your teen students and clients.

In the E-Course, which is approved for 5 CMTE credits, I share goals that can be addressed in the motor/physical domain (like improving fine motor skills and increasing range of motion), as well as a variety of original creative interventions that can target those goals.

The intervention ideas are not just age-appropriate, they are cool (according to my clients)!

Here’s a sampling of some of the grab-and-go ideas you’ll find in the Motor Skills section of the E-Course:

Rhythmic Movement Combos – Learn how to use rap tracks (looped hip hop beats) and prompt clients to create movement patterns and sequences.

Pop Singer Movement Combos – See how to incorporate your clients’ favorite musical artists into the intervention above. (Side note: I get more requests for this musical experience than ANY OTHER. So, you know that means my clients are actively engaged and practicing their objective behaviors during this experience!)

Moving to different genres – See how you can get your students and clients out of their pop/hip hop/rap obsession and into some different styles of music. (Hint: it is possible). I’m talking bluegrass, Latin, Irish, classical, reggae, and funk. You’ll learn exactly where to find this music and how to use it in ways that are therapeutic and cool.

Dance steps – Learn some simple ways to teach hip hop, rhumba, salsa, and samba dance steps, even if you’ve never danced before.

Movement with props – Learn age-appropriate ways to incorporate streamers, scarves, the stretchy band, and parachute into your sessions. (One of them involves “Happy” by Pharrell). You’ll see how you can create movement experiences for a group with mixed abilities. (I know this can be a challenge).

After you learn these interventions, you’ll watch a mini tutorial to see how the rap track/hip hop beat holds it all together and can turn a song from childish and cheesy to creative and cool.

No one wants to be cheesy in their sessions with teens, am I right?

You’ll learn how to easily find pre-made rap tracks and how to create your own, and you’ll see how they can be used in musical experiences in a variety of domains.

These are just a few of the musical experiences in the Tune In To Teens E-Course. You’ll also learn a variety of creative ideas that target social skills, attention, creativity & self-expression, and relaxation. Stay tuned to the blog as I share more.

Enrollment for the E-Course is currently closed, but will be opening up in early March 2020. Yes!

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

When you join the waitlist, you’ll hear about special discounts and promotions, and how you can access free bonus material.

Plus, if the idea of using rap trakcs piqued your interest, you’ll be happy to hear that when you join the wait list, you’ll get this freebie right away: Yo’ Guide To Rapping With Confidence. A step-by-step procedure for how to create meaningful raps with your teen clients and students.

Over the next few weeks on the blog, I’ll continue to highlight some of the special features of Tune In To Teens that make it stand out from other continuing education courses.

More than 100 music therapists, educators, and professionals have taken the E-Course and successfully put the ideas into use in their sessions and classrooms.

John Kneip, MT-BC said this about the course: “I think this was the most organized and clearly presented online music therapy course I have ever taken. Thank you for so much valuable and useful information. I really appreciated the amount of specific, practical, and useful ideas.”

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

The post (TUNE IN TO TEENS SPOTLIGHT} Motor Skills & Rap Tracks appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

It’s Back to School Time!

Hooray? Some say yes, some say no.

However you feel about this season, it’s here, there is no question about it. I’m feeling it because my daughter started PreK 4 today (!!) AND I’m gearing up to start sessions again at the school where I work with children with special needs.

I’ve worked with young kiddos for a long time. I’ve also supervised many practicum students and interns.

One thing I found is that practicum students and interns were often unclear about what they wanted the children to do during each musical experience in a session.

So, I would prompt them to ask themselves this one question for each activity they planned:

“What are the children going to DO during this musical experience?”

I ask myself this question every time I session plan. Very rarely will I have children just sit there and listen to me.

This is especially important if it’s a musical experience like listening to a singeable story or listening to a song that teaches an academic concept (where it IS important that they’re listening to the song).

In those cases, I’ll prompt the children to do movements that pair with the story (like marching as they’re “Going On a Bear Hunt” or painting their body parts as they listen to “Ain’t Gonna Paint No More.”)

If they’re listening to a song about an academic concept, I’ll prompt them to simply pat their knees or sway side to side to the beat of the music.

Movement engages children, wakes up the body and brain, and helps them “tune in” to what you’re teaching them in the song.

I always want the children to be doing something during our activites. And that something needs to be clearly explained to them.

Here are two video examples of how I use movement to engage children in learning academic concepts:

Movin’ & Groovin’ in Music Therapy ~ Part 1: Shapes, Shapes

Movin’ & Groovin’ in Music Therapy ~ Part 2: -AT Words

I could have had each child sit in a chair and work on shapes and -AT word identification. That would have been effective. But by choosing specific actions for them to take, I’m actively engaging them in the learning process. This gets oxygen flowing to key areas of the brain and enhances learning.

Even if it’s as simple as stomping feet along with your song, always be thinking – what are the children going to be doing during this activity?

Try it out and leave a comment below to let me know how it goes!

The post The One Question I Ask Myself Every Time I Session Plan for Kids appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Before you read any further, make sure you catch up the previous posts:

Watch video of how I combine movement with learning shapes

Watch video of how I incorporate movement into an activity to teach -AT words

Learn some of my original movement songs that you can use in your sessions today

Feeling inspired? I hope so!

I have one more video to share. This one incorporates my clarinet! I had to dust it off and brush up on my skills a bit because it’s been quite a while since I played in the orchestra and wind ensemble!

People always ask how I incorporate my clarinet into my sessions.

Watch this video to see:

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series and that it’s inspired you to add even more movement to your sessions with kids. I think you’ll see some amazing results, and hey, you don’t have to feel so bad about skipping the gym once in a while!

The post Movin’ and Groovin’ in Music Therapy ~ Part 4 appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Sometimes I think I’ll never need a gym membership because of all the stomping, spinning, hopping, jumping, and dancing I do in my sessions!

If you’re not caught up already, watch this video and this video for some ideas you can use in your sessions right away.

Today I want to share some original movement songs and ideas I use to start out each session.

In my session structure when working with kids, I typically begin with a hello song and greeting song to orient the clients to the session and their peers around them.

Then without going any further in the session we go right into a movement song. This is a song that prompts clients to clap, stomp, hop, jump, or bounce as the song directs. Sometimes we move within the circle, sometimes we march around the room; sometimes we move like jungle animals, sometimes we move like ocean animals; sometimes we move with rainbow streamers, sometimes we move with the stretchy band. The possibilities are endless and there is so much room for creativity!

Have a listen to a few of my original movement songs:

“Feet, Feet” ~ great for working on identification of body parts and movement. The children always like how the song starts out slow and then gets really, really fast!

“I Am An Elephant” ~ I incorporate this movement song into my jungle themed sessions. We pretend to move like an elephant by stomping our feet and a few other things…

“We Are Spiders” ~ This song was originally written for our Halloween Musical at UCP. But, I’ve gotten a lot of use out of it during my Halloween themed sessions.

I hope you enjoyed these ideas!

If you would like to purchase the sheet music for any of these songs, click on the button below. Sheet music is only $1 a piece.

Oh and be sure you’re on the Wholesome Harmonies newsletter list! I’ll be sending out a little treat for FREE to help you get started in adding these movement songs into your sessions right away. Click here to sign up.

The post Movin’ and Groovin’ in Music Therapy ~ Part 3 appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Check out that video here – we’re working on identification of shapes.

Today, I want to share a video that incorporates movement into an individual session where we’re working on identification of -AT words. (You know, words that end in -AT, like cat, hat, bat, and mat.)

I incorporated a few things here that get this little guy up out of his chair and moving around: hopping, stop and go movement, bending over, and reaching.

Watch the video now to see:

As you can see in the video, the -AT word cards are placed on the floor for him to bend over, pick up and read. On the wall are pictures of the -AT words. He must reach to place the -AT word card on the corresponding picture.

Hopping, along with the stop and go cued by the music, provide opportunities to work on direction following, attention skills, and impulse control.

It’s pretty cool that we can address so many things within one short intervention.

So, why is it so important to incorporate movement into this intervention?

Why didn’t I just sit him across from me in a chair and sing the song about -AT words, prompting him to read each card?

Research has shown a connection between physical activity, movement, energizing activities, and improved cognition. When children move, more oxygen goes to key brain areas. Thus, movement can be an effective strategy to strengthen learning, improve memory and enhance motivation.

Try it out!

Would you like the sheet music for “-AT Words” so you can use the song your sessions? Click below to purchase for just $1!

The post Movin’ & Groovin’ in Music Therapy ~ Part 2 appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Movement is so important when children are learning – it wakes up the body and the brain and actively engages children in the learning process.

In the video below, I am working on shape identification with a client. Correctly identifying five basic shapes was one of her IEP goals and one of the goals we were addressing in music therapy.

Rather than having her sit in a chair and drill shape and after shape, I decided to get us up and moving!

Watch and see:

This simple step of going from learning in a chair to learning on her feet resulted in a child who was more engaged and a child who was able to attend for a longer period of time. This in turn helped facilitate the achievement of the goal we were working on.

Would you like the sheet music for “Shapes, Shapes” so you can use the song your sessions? Click below to purchase for just $1!

Be sure to tune in next week as I continue the series on how to incorporate movement into your sessions with kids. I have an excellent video to share that I think you’re really going to like!

The post Movin’ & Groovin’ in Music Therapy ~ Part 1 appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Last summer, I created a summer blog series on how to incorporate Sensational (or sensory-based) Activities into your music therapy sessions with children with autism.

The series was a hit!

Check out the videos and blog posts if you haven’t already (or revisit them again!) and see what you can incorporate into your sessions this week:

Sensational Ideas for working with children with autism ~ Part 1 (therapy ball)

Sensational Ideas for working with children with autism ~ Part 2 (book + tactile stimulation with paint brushes)

Sensational Ideas for working with children with autism ~ Part 3 (gathering drum)

Sensational Ideas for working with children with autism ~ Part 4 (trampoline)

This summer I’ve been brainstorming what new series I can create!

One of my favorite things to do is to incorporate MOVEMENT into my music therapy sessions, especially when working on academic concepts. Movement engages the body and the brain in the learning. So, starting next week, I’ll be blogging on how to incorporate movement – moving and grooving, if you will – into your music therapy sessions!

I have videos, sheet music, and songs to share.

BUT you need to be signed up for the newsletter email list to get access to all the resources I’ll be sharing. Click here to sign up – it’s FREE!

See you next week when I share my first video!

Image courtesy of pat138241 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Move & Groove in Your Summer Sessions appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

This song is a crowd favorite for the children I work with! They love, love, love pretending to be animals. So, I wrote this song to allow them to be a quite large one – the elephant. Each verse of the song has them move a certain way like an elephant does. Have a listen…

Image courtesy of [africa] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Sing Your Heart Out: I Am An Elephant appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.