The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 2nd Issue | страница 17

The Benefits of Music Therapy Social-Emotional Social skill development Behavioral Music therapists write personalized songs to teach a child how to identify feelings and how to use coping strategies when they feel overwhelmed. Social stories put to music are also an effective way to address these goals. During individual sessions and music therapy groups, children practice greetings, turn taking, eye contact, requesting, self-expression, collaboration, etc. through musical activities. For example, a music therapist might lead a turn-taking song that involves each child taking a turn with a special instrument and then handing it to another child. Captivating music is used to help a child sustain attention to an activity. Musical social stories can be used to address inappropriate behaviors and to teach a child positive alternatives. Speech and communication A music therapist will write personalized songs to sing with a client. These fun and motivating songs isolate speech sounds and have lots of repetition built into them, i.e. “Big Bear Takes a Bubble Bath.” Musical activities and instruments are used to motivate the use of verbal language, i.e. “I want the drum.” Augmentative and alternative communication methods and devices can be used to improve non-verbal communication, i.e. using sign language or a communication app to make choices between songs and instruments. Academic Fine and gross motor Self-care skills Academic information can be put into a song format so that recall is improved. A classic example of this is the “ABC” song. Percussive instruments, like maracas and shakers, are used to practice fine and gross motor skills. Movement-based musical activities are used to motivate a child to practice sitting up, crawling, walking, jumping, etc. Personalized songs and musical stories are used to help a child remember the sequence of skills such as dressing or toilet training. “It is all about using music to help children learn and improve developmental skills such as motor or speech/ communication skills.” SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine, Spring 2014 by Ryan Judd of TheRhythmTree.com