It's that time of year again! Time for an update of Tuneful Teens 1 and 2 where I add in all the new, hot, fresh pop songs that the teens are playing on their ipods these days. I know it can be hard to keep up with latest trends in music and the newest singers, [...]
Bravery - This is a theme that's reappeared quite frequently in the last year or two....in Disney movies and in songs. I think this theme is very relevant to teens and so I decided to incorporate it into my music therapy sessions last week. These are sessions for teens with autism and other special needs and [...]
Last week, I shared some of my favorite St. Paddy's Day session ideas for my middle school and teen music therapy groups. Check that post out HERE! Today I want to share a few more ideas. I always love having a theme or holiday to inspire my session planning! Movement to an Irish Jig There [...]
St. Paddy's Day is almost here! I am very excited - I always love having a holiday that I can use as a theme to base my sessions around. What could be more creatively stimulating than a holiday filled with leprechauns, rainbows, and shamrocks? Today I'm going to share some ideas I have for my [...]
Did you catch my two big announcements? One HERE and one HERE? I have to say I'm pretty excited about both! In preparation for the launch of Tuneful Teens 2 on February 1st, I'm going to share an activity I use with my teen groups that can be adapted in various ways depending on the [...]
Well hello there! I wasn't able to blog last Wednesday because I was out "in the field," so to speak, observing my practicum students. I had the opportunity to visit the Debbie Institute, the Veteran's Administration Hospital, and back to United Cerebral Palsy! It was exciting to see the students working in the field and [...]
Sometimes I wish I was an octopus. There are times when I am going into a session carrying my guitar, a keyboard, a gathering drum, AND a bag of instruments....and eight arms would really be helpful! (Who needs the gym when you have sessions all day long, right?) I have found that there is one [...]
Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Today I am at work at UCP when most other people seem to have off, but it is A-Okay because I absolutely love my job. I'll be home by 6:45pm tonight after seeing private clients and will be ready to start preparing some side dishes for tomorrow! Today I want to share a super [...]
I am pretty excited that Halloween is right around the corner. There's something about the pumpkins, the candy, and the costumes that makes me feel like a kid again. (Or maybe that's just because I work at a preschool!) Last Sunday one of my favorite programs, Friendship Circle, started up again. I facilitate music therapy groups for [...]
Empathy. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of empathy is: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner. I decided to explore this [...]
