It can be tough to find songs to use with our teen clients, I totally get it.

Some songs have questionable content or lyrics, and some have videos that may not be appropriate for our clients to see.

I am always on the hunt for songs that are appropriate, ones that can be used in a therapeutic manner, and ones that are uplifting.

I’m excited, because I recently found a few that match that criteria!

“Born To Fight” by Imagine Dragons and Sia 

This one would be awesome for instrument playing, followed by lyric analysis and song discussion.

Check out these lyrics –

“But I’m still not backing down,
even when my heart is weak.
Even when I’m out of breath,
I haven’t given up yet.”

“I was born to fight.
Through the fire and the pain,
through the storm through the rain,
through the voices in my brain.
If I fall a thousand times,
I will stand a thousand more
because this is who I am.”

I plan to use this in an upcoming session with a classroom of high school teens with autism. Teens can pick out lyrics that stand out and are powerful to them. They can create artwork with those lyrics that can be put up in their locker or bedroom, as a reminder of how strong they are.

Imagine Dragons are always a fan favorite with my teen clients, so I know they will be open to listening to and exploring this song.

“Love Wins” by Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood is another favorite with my clients. Her song “Love Wins” also has some beautiful lyrics that lend themselves well to lyric analysis, song discussion, and artwork to highlight meaningful lines.

“I hold onto hope and I won’t let go cause
I, I believe you and me are sisters and brothers,
And I, I believe we’re made to be here for each other.
We’ll never fall if we walk hand in hand.
Put a world that seems broken together again.
Yeah I, I believe in the end love wins.”

I hope this gives you a little burst of creativity and some new ideas for how you might use these songs therapeutically in your sessions.

Did this idea spark something for you?

Keep that spark alive! Check out the Elevate Email Idea Subscription.

It’s a resource that is designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & other developmental disabilities.

You’ll earn 10 pre-approved continuing ed credits per package. With five individual packages to choose from, you can earn up to 50 credits (these are CMTEs for music therapists and professional development credits for educators).

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Fall.

There are packages in each of the following categories: ideas for Teens, ideas that target Attention/Perception, and ideas for Holidays & Themes (which is the most fun, in my opinion!)

With each of the packages, you’ll receive brand new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months, creativity worksheets to brainstorm goals, objectives, and ideas for your unique clients, and unlimited, personalized instructor support by your truly.

You can learn more here. Be sure to mark your calendar, because from August 24-30, 2026, each Elevate Package will be available at 50% off, and with added bonus material.

This is the way to get the school year started off right!

The post Powerful, Positive Songs to use in Music Therapy with Teens appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Spring has just about Sprung!

Are you feeling a burst of creative energy like I am?

Because of the great feedback we’ve received, plus multiple requests, I’ve put together Round 2 subscriptions for the Teen and Attention Elevate Packages.

This means MORE creative ideas + MORE CMTEs.

The Round 2 Teen Package includes so many goodies:

• The Soundtrack of Your Life…this one is always a crowd favorite
• Song Exploration & Discussion…multiple examples and ideas for extension are included
• Accordion Poetry & Songwriting…this one is so cool
• Creative Movement Cards
• Auditory Perception Training with Pop Songs…THIS is where you can easily incorporate any and all of your clients’ favorite songs to engage them
• Rap Writing & Rapping…step by step instructions are included to walk you through the process, as well as ideas to get the creativity flowing

The Round 2 Attention Package does too:

• Creative Listening Experiences…with an added art component
• Pop Song Listening Guides
• Music & Relaxation Experiences…with suggestions for exactly which pop songs to use
• Music & Movement Ideas…choreography provided, as well as multiple holiday & theme ideas
• Auditory Sequencing with Pop Song Ideas…a great way to incorporate movement into your auditory attention & perception experiences
• Themed Rhythmic Combos…THIS is how you incorporate your clients’ preferences into your musical activities, whether it’s video games, Star Wars, baseball, or Taylor Swift

The Round 2 Combo Pack (most popular!) =
Round 2 Teen Package + Round 2 Attention Package

All the ideas are brand NEW, plus you can earn 10 CMTEs per individual package; 20 for the Combo Pack.

The rate for each package will be discounted through next Tuesday, March 31, 2026!

If you’re on the fence –

Here’s what Bri Walstra, MT-BC had to say about Elevate –

“I thought the email portion was helpful! I actually really like the creativity worksheets because it forces me to sit down and think about the six ways to adapt one intervention. I think as music therapists we often get so busy and we read about intervention ideas but never figure out how we can implement them best.”

And Ashley Lewis, MT-BC shared this with me:

“I, of course love your resources and I think you are brilliant. Your work needs to be celebrated and I’ve told my friends about your website and how awesome your resources are.

The support I get from your resources makes my planning so much easier and less stressful. I am huge fan of yours and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next bc I will be buying it! I can’t wait for the next E-Book, keep crushing it over there!!”

The post MORE Creative Ideas + MORE CMTEs appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I just love St. Patrick’s Day, and finding ways to incorporate that theme into my music therapy sessions with children with autism and adults with developmental disabilities.

There are so many fun ways to work leprechauns, shamrocks, and Irish music into our sessions to target therapeutic goals.

Check out this post, creatively titled “St. Paddy’s Day Session Ideas,” to learn how to play the crowd favorite game I created called “Irish…or Not Irish?” There is a FREEBIE in that post, so you can download the materials and use this game in your sessions right away! In this post you’ll also learn how to “play a rainbow” using your rainbow colored instrument sets.

In the also cleverly-titled post, “MORE St. Paddy’s Day Session Ideas,” you will get just what it says – more creative ideas to implement this week and next. You’ll learn how to incorporate Irish music into your sessions – both up tempo jigs and more mellow piano tunes.

In addition, I share about my FAVORITE instrument to use to enhance my St. Paddy’s Day Sessions.

It is the oh so versatile…..

Duck quacker.

I use the duck quacker to be the sound of the leprechaun laughing! This instrument has been, across the board, for the past 20 years, one of the most engaging instruments for my clients.

Any time they hear the sound, they stop what they’re doing, perk up, and listen.

So, I use the novelty and interesting sound of the instrument to engage my clients so they can work on their therapeutic goals.

In the post, you’ll learn about the game I play called “Where is the leprechaun?“, how I utilize the canary stick, and what goals can be targeted.

And if you want even more creative inspiration, check out Elevate.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities.

You’ll earn 10 pre-approved CMTE credits per package.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Spring.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, the Holidays & Themes Package, and the popular Combo Pack.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Check everything that’s included in Elevate HERE.

The post Use This Fun Instrument to Enhance Your St. Patrick’s Day Sessions appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I am on a mission!

A mission to figure out how to use those “not-so-therapeutic” client-preferred songs and artists purposefully in our sessions.

So far, I’ve shared how you could use those songs during Name That Tune with a Twist and during Pop Music Relaxation experiences.

Today, I’m sharing an idea I came up with during covid when all my sessions were virtual.

I had to figure out how to connect with my tween and teen clients across the computer screen.

So, I started coming up with Mini Musical Bios and turned them into a game of Guess Who.

I started with a list of a few of my clients’ favorite singers and bands.

For each one, I created a PDF with pictures and factoids about that singer or band – one factoid and picture per page.

I made them large and colorful and visually appealing.

Each factoid was a clue to see if my clients could guess who the singer or band was.

I tried to include a mix of basic info, such as “I am a singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and former professional surfer” and little known facts that might stump even the biggest fans, such as “I’m an environmentalist and care deeply about the world’s oceans.”

At the end of the PDF, I’d ask my clients to try to guess who the singer or band was.

Click here to download a FREE PDF Mini Musical Bio for Meghan Trainor!

This was a great way to encourage communication skills amongst my clients.

Following this, we would move into a musical experience that included a song by that singer or band. It could be music and movement, singing, instrument playing, etc – the possibilities are endless!

This was a great way to keep my middle and high school music therapy clients engaged and excited about coming to our sessions.

Did this idea help or spark something for you?

Keep that spark alive! Now through August 31, 2025, you can sign up for Elevate at a discounted rate AND with some awesome bonus material.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities. You’ll earn 10 pre-approved CMTE credits per package.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Fall.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, or The Holidays & Themes Package.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Click here to sign up for Elevate now through August 31st, so you can take advantage of the discounted rate AND bonus material: Keeping Things Cool for Your Teen Clients in Music Therapy.

In this bonus PDF, you’ll get:

• Where to hang out to find new music for teens
• Great pop songs for movement with teens (2025 edition!)
• How to keep things age appropriate and cool
• Why & how to use client preferred music

The post Using Not-So-Therapeutic Songs Therapeutically: Mini Musical Bios (+ FREEBIE!) appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I am on a mission to figure out how to use “not so therapeutic” songs therapeutically.

I know for me, it is really tough when my clients or students like songs that are not necessarily “appropriate” for school, or seem to me to have little therapeutic value due to the content and lyrics.

But it’s important to me to learn how to use these songs in our sessions as a way to: a) validate my clients’ musical taste (therefore validating THEM!), and b) better engage them to work on their goals and objectives.

My brain LOVES this creative challenge, so I am sharing what I’ve come up with in this blog series.

In last week’s post, I shared how to facilitate Name That Tune with a Twist – it’s a simple way to work in those songs that you don’t know how to otherwise use purposefully.

(And to work on attention perception skills).

Today, I’m sharing another way to use not-so -therapeutic songs therapeutically: use them in relaxation experiences.

I play most of the music used in my sessions live, but for relaxation experiences I’ll often use recorded music. This way, my hands are free to model movements.

Here are some of my favorite songs to use during relaxation experiences:

• “A Thousand Years” from Twilight – Piano Guys version
• “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran – Conkarah Reggae cover
• “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha on violin
• “Someday” from Disney’s Zombies ballad or reprise  – karaoke track
• “Bird Song” by The Wailin’ Jennys (I use this in my Spring-themed sessions)
• “America the Beautiful” (for my patriotic-themed sessions)
• “Buchanan Mist” by Paul Machlis (for St. Paddy’s day sessions)
• “Wintersong” by Ingrid Michaelson & Sarah Bareilles (for winter-themed sessions)

These songs are familiar to my tween and teen clients, so there is instant engagement, but they also lend themselves to stretching, breathing, and winding down at the end of a session.

Here’s how to make this super customized for YOUR unique clients:

Search for the instrumental versions of their favorite songs (like “Meant to Be” on violin) or the karaoke track of their favorite songs (like “Someday” karaoke).

If this idea has helped or sparked something for you, keep that spark alive! Now through August 31, 2025, you can sign up for Elevate at a discounted rate AND with some awesome bonus material.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities. You’ll earn 10 pre-approved CMTE credits per package.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Fall.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, or The Holidays & Themes Package.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Click here to sign up for Elevate now through August 31st, so you can take advantage of the discounted rate AND bonus material: Keeping Things Cool for Your Teen Clients in Music Therapy.

In this bonus PDF, you’ll get:

• Where to hang out to find new music for teens
• Great pop songs for movement with teens (2025 edition!)
• How to keep things age appropriate and cool
• Why & how to use client preferred music

The post Using Not-So-Therapeutic Songs Therapeutically: Pop Music Relaxation appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

We are just about to roll into the new school year.

(How is that even possible when it feels like summer was just starting?!)

Nevertheless, a new school year is right around the corner.

So, I wanted to share some fresh ideas for your music therapy sessions and classes with school-age children and teens.

But not just any ideas!

Ideas for how to use not-so-therapeutic songs therapeutically. 

Many of the songs that are popular now have content and lyrics that aren’t appropriate for use in our sessions (due to restrictions from a school or facility) or that make it difficult to figure out how to possibly use them in a therapeutic manner.

But client preferred music is the gold standard, right?

So what do we do when our clients prefer music that has inappropriate language or content?

I am here to share several ways you can use client-preferred and popular music in a therapeutic way, even if that may seem impossible at first.

This is a creative challenge that my brain LOVES, so I put together a little mini-series on the topic.

First up – Name That Tune with a Twist.

The twist is playing the song on your primary instrument or a symphonic instrument (which for me is clarinet!)

You could also pull up a recorded version on YouTube such as “Havana” by Camila Cabello on flute or “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish on saxophone.

These exist – look them up for yourself!

I prefer to present using live music, but YouTube does have some very creative options.

Name That Tune is a great musical game to work on social communication skills in a group setting or auditory perception and listening skills in a one-on-one setting.

And, to the point of this blog post, it’s a great way to work some of those not-so-therapeutic songs into your sessions.

When your client recognizes a song by their favorite artist, it will light them up, excite, and engage them. It lets them know that you value them and their musical preferences.

So, they are more likely to participate for the duration of the musical experience, and more likely meet their goals and objectives.

If this idea has helped or sparked something for you, keep that spark alive! Now through August 31, 2025, you can sign up for Elevate at a discounted rate AND with some awesome bonus material.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Fall.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, or The Holidays & Themes Package.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Click here to sign up for Elevate now through August 31st, so you can take advantage of the discounted rate AND bonus material: Keeping Things Cool for Your Teen Clients in Music Therapy.

In this bonus PDF, you’ll get:

• Where to hang out to find new music for teens
• Great pop songs for movement with teens (2025 edition!)
• How to keep things age appropriate and cool
• Why & how to use client preferred music

The post Using Not-So-Therapeutic Songs Therapeutically: Name That Tune with a Twist appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Summer is in full swing!

My kids and I just returned home from an amazing trip to Colorado (it was our first time!)

We went on horseback rides with the Rockies as our back drop, rock climbed in the Arapaho National Forest, and tried archery for the first time.

We made some incredible memories, and now I’m back home catching up on emails and writing (even though I was able to keep up with a fair amount of work virtually).

Today I want to share a songwriting experience that I facilitated for teen students in the autistic support classroom of one of our nearby high schools.

One of the class periods I saw them happened to fall on Valentine’s Day, which can be a sensitive time for students who have mixed feelings about the holiday.

I decided to bring in the song “Nice To Have a Friend” by Taylor Swift and focus on friendships and the other non-romantic relationships we have.

Here’s how I facilitated this experience:

1. First, I handed out lyric sheets and we sang through the song together.
2. On the second page of the lyric sheet, I had a blank box where students, depending on their level, could write or draw things they like to do with their friends.
3. Next, we turned the ideas from the box into song lyrics for a Verse 3. We’ve done songwriting from scratch in the past, so we focused on the use of “rich language,” and the teachers and I helped the students craft lyrics using as much rich language as possible.
4. If each student was comfortable, we then took a turn singing through their Verse 3. They could sing it alone, or I could join with them.
5. Then, the whole group finished by singing the chorus together.

For students who didn’t feel comfortable singing, I offered egg shakers to softly play along with the music. This way, everyone could participate at their comfort level.

The song worked perfectly because it was simple and easy to learn, even if students had never heard it before. And, the structure of the song lent itself nicely to this type of songwriting.

Do you have Swifties in your music therapy groups or music classes too? Looking for more ways to use her songs therapeutically?

Check out this blog post with a Session Sneak Peak into how I use Taylor Swift’s songs and other pop songs in a goal-oriented way with my teen clients.

Here’s how I use “Trouble” by Taylor Swift to work on attention goals,

And, here’s how you can create an entire T. Swift-themed music therapy session!

For even more ways to infuse CREATIVITY and FUN into your sessions and classes, check out Elevate. It’s subscription where you receive music therapy session ideas for school-age students (Grades K-12) straight to your inbox each month!

You can choose from the Teen Package, the Attention Package, or the Holidays & Seasons Package (my personal favorite!) Each package is pre-approved by CBMT for 10 continuing education credits.

The post Songwriting with Taylor Swift in Music Therapy appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Spring has sprung here in Pennsylvania!

When I lived in Miami, it was hard to tell the difference between the “seasons.” It was either hot or hotter, rainy or more rainy.

I am thoroughly enjoying watching the transformation of Winter into Spring as I take my morning walks now, and love incorporating Spring-y vibes into my music therapy sessions and classes.

If you would like to do the same, I have some resources for you!

With inspiration from the sights, sounds, and scents of Spring, I created the Spring Music Therapy Session Planning Pack.

In the E-Book, you’ll learn creative musical experiences that are designed for school-age and teens clients, and are effective in helping you connect (really connect!) with them.

(And it’s on SALE from today through next Thursday, April 10th!)

Each of the experiences and the complementary materials has a Spring theme, to keep things interesting and engaging for both you and your students.

If you’re feeling in a creative rut, or are lacking time when it comes to planning, I’ve got you covered.

Nell Miller, MT-BC calls the E-Book  “creative and wonderful” and says “I appreciate your ideas. You’ve helped me think of more varied things to try.”

In the E-Book, you’ll learn: musical game ideas, instrument activities, and creative movement experiences; how to use listening guides; and some brand new ideas that I’ve just recently created.

Along with the E-Book, you’ll get: beautiful visuals, colorful picture cards, a musical game template, sample listening guide, and sample mini musical bios, as well as a looped hip hop beat MP4.

Everything you need to implement the ideas in your sessions right away!

Ashley Lewis, MM, MT-BC says of the Spring Session Planning E-Book “I of course love your resources and I think you are brilliant. Your visuals are the best I’ve ever seen! I’m a huge fan of yours and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next because I will be buying it.”

You could also get a jump start on Summer session planning with the Spring & Summer E-Book Combo Pack! They’re on SALE from today through next Thursday, April 10th!

In addition to the E-Book offerings, there is lots of great Spring content on the blog.

Sense-ational Activities – So Many Scents –  See how you can use seasonal scents like peach candles, flowery room spray, and mangoes to provide olfactory stimulation. (And hear my original song to go with the experience!)

Sense-ational Activities – Spring Sounds – Learn how you can use various instruments to mimic the sounds you hear outside your window.

A Spring Session Idea to Reengage Young Clients –  Check out the post to see what this might be….

The post Spring Has Sprung! appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

This winter, it feels like my kids have had more snow days and snow delays than they have full days of school!

We’ve been embracing it, though. Yesterday we went snow tubing, and we’ve been enjoying ice skating and lots of sledding in our backyard.

All of my sessions with kids this month and last month have been infused with a winter theme, especially my Rockin’ and Readin’ sessions at the library.

Because the focus of these sessions is on literacy, I always make sure to include a singable story.

Last Friday, I was rockin’ and readin’ at the Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville, Pennsylvania. We did the singable story “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?” by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle.

This gave children the opportunity to work on receptive and expressive communication skills. They followed directions to put their hand to their ear when I sang the repeated phrase “What do you hear?” and then sang the phrase along with me.

I also included the singable story “The First Day of Winter” by Denise Fleming in my recent virtual music therapy sessions with afterschool programs in South Florida. This story can be sung to the tune of “The 12 Days of Christmas,” so it’s easy for students to catch on, it has lots of repetition, and has opportunities for movements so students stay engaged.

While browsing the library shelves recently with my own kids, I found several NEW winter-themed singable stories and wanted to share them with you.

“Walking in a Winter Wonderland” by Richard B. Smith and Felix Bernard pairs perfectly with the song we are all familiar with, and has beautiful illustrations.

“If It’s Snowy and You Know It Clap Your Paws” by Kim Norman is based on the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” but gives it a winter-y twist. Again, this is perfect for early childhood classes and library sessions because the children and caregivers are already familiar with the tune and can easily sing along.

I hope these singable story recommendations give you some creative ideas for a musical experience you can add to your sessions this winter, or to cozy up and read at home!

The post Winter Singable Stories for Kids appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Have you had a chance to catch up on the last two Session Idea Blasts?

The first was about a Musical Game called Music Man that allows you to easily insert your clients’ and students’ preferred singers, bands, and songs into it (leads to instant engagement!)

The second was a Pop Song Listening Game. This one is super fun to plan and facilitate – it allows you to incorporate your clients’ and students’ musical faves as well.

Today’s post is about how you can incorporate Popular Music and Art into your sessions, to facilitate creativity and self-expression.

The Tune In To Teens and Attention & Perception E-Courses are open for enrollment this week only, at a discounted rate AND with some incredible bonus material included:

The Ultimate Pop Song Bonus is a 12-page creativity pack with tons of ideas for how to use current pop songs by Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Jason Aldean, Miley Cyrus, Imagine Dragons, and many more, therapeutically.

In it, you’ll learn how to use one of Taylor Swift’s popular songs, along with an arts experience, to promote self-expression, increase self-esteem, and increase communication skills.

You’ll learn how to facilitate a lyric analysis for Kacey Musgraves’ beautiful song “Rainbow,” and create artwork that promotes communication and self-expression in your clients and students.

You’ll also learn my favorite song to use at the beginning of each year to get my students dreaming about their goals and plans for the year ahead. It involves a song discussion and art project that incorporates meaningful lyrics from the song.

The Ultimate Pop Song Bonus includes tons of other musical experience ideas that target speech and language, attention, executive function, and relaxation goals in ways that are engaging and cool for your teen clients.

It’s valued at $25, and is included FREE when you enroll in Tune In To Teens or The Attention & Perception E-Course by Sunday, January 19th.

Following that, the courses will no longer be available for purchase, as I will be focusing on other projects and offerings.

If you’re on the fence, hop off and enroll now!

The post Session Idea Blast for Tweens & Teens – Music & Art with Pop Songs appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.