Regardless of whether your clients are doing homeschooling, distance learning, or in-person learning, we can all agree that this school year is going to look different than what we're used to. While sitting outside in the backyard watching my girls play and thinking about this, a song about this topic just came to me. [...]
When I was a kid, I LOVED back to school time. I loved shopping for new school supplies (Lisa Frank notebooks and Bic pens were my thing!) and was always so excited for the first day of school. I try to bring some of that same excitement into my music therapy sessions on the [...]
I know it can be tricky composing songs for clients. We want the songs to be therapeutic and goal-oriented, but also catchy and engaging. (At least that's what I'm thinking of when I'm composing for kids!) Here are a few tips to get you started with writing songs for your clients: Repetition, repetition, repetition. When it comes [...]
The ink has barely dried on my Beach Themed blog posts and already I'm realizing people are posting first day of school pics of their kids. That can only mean one thing - it's back to school time! Looks like it's time to shift gears. I'm excited, though, because at the end of August I'll be [...]
In last week's blog post, I shared about how I'm using any summer "down time" I can find to get a head start on session planning for the Fall. If you're in the same frame of mine I am and are need of some musical experiences that address academic concepts with kids, you're in luck! Below is [...]
Monday mornings are my favorite. I know that doesn't sound believable, but it's true! On Mondays I spend my morning making music with babies and their parents or caregivers. I do in home individual sessions and then a large group session at the Brockway Memorial Library in Miami Shores. I love leading sessions for [...]
Happy Thanksgiving Eve!! Thanksgiving is my new favorite holiday. I do my very best to go about my day in a state of gratitude and thankfulness, so this holiday is a perfect fit for me. (Oh and I LOVE turkey and apple pie! :) In today's blog, I want to share one of my favorite original [...]
I've really been enjoying being able to share my ideas for how to incorporate more movement into our music therapy sessions with kids! 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 [...]
Sensory-based interventions are some of my favorite to incorporate into my music therapy sessions. Many of the children I work with who have special needs are also sensory-based learners. This means they learn about their world through their senses - sight, touch, hearing, even taste! Here is an original song I wrote to use in my sensory sessions [...]
What a difference a week can make! Last Wednesday, I was wrapping up my time at United Cerebral Palsy and saying goodbye to my co-worker family that I'd been with for 7 years. This Wednesday, I'm organizing my office at University of Miami, attending new faculty orientation, and meeting the new students who'll be starting in the music [...]
