The best part about play is that there is no right or wrong way. Sometimes aid or assistance try to help by saying things like, “You were supposed to…”, but play is devoid of perfection. This means anyone can do it and it is all okay. This week, as the group of musically untrained emotionally… Read more »
Year: 2013
Playing, Freeing the Mind, and Being Oneself
This week, even the typically developing teens with whom I work demonstrated they’re very best through play. Their up and down turbulence took a detour but stayed on a path with direction. These teens did so freely, together, and when they were done were able to recognize their own accomplishments through their play. I think… Read more »
First Words Through Play
The boy is now more motivated than ever. The structure of the predictable repeated tune holds his attention as he sees what else HE can do with it. Now his attention to the world around him absorbs him. There is a need or him to be heard. Over time, the boy begins pointing adamantly, as… Read more »
To Play: The Process and Progress
Play is literally defined as “without seriousness, to take part or engage in a game” (dictionary.com), the operative phrase being “to take part or engage.” When an unstructured 2 or 3-year-old enters the Music Therapy room with no direction and wanders from thing to thing, moving about like a whirlwind, leaves behind a path of… Read more »
Play, Imagination, and Critical Thinking
Currently, in most academic fields with young children, the emphasis on “academics” has increased. It is a very good thing that we can now see the capabilities of very young children and can begin when a child is young with the right approach to point a lifetime attitude towards learning into a much more positive… Read more »
Responsibility and Freedom Look a lot Like Sensory Integration
My kids grew up on the phrase “Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand.” Throughout their teen years, they probably heard this more than they cared to. It was a great measure for me when it came to decisions of “Should I let them do this, should I give them money for that, or should… Read more »
The Missing Developmental Milestones, the Ability to Self-Regulate and … Wait
I was talking with my teenage daughter this week as she had just finishing purchasing a purse that she bidded on on ebay. As she was excitedly reflecting, I said to her “You know what is fun when you order on line? Waiting for it to come.” She said excitedly, “I love to wait –… Read more »
Going Through to the Other Side
Most all the time the clients that come to my studio are excited to come, smiling as they enter, and often run down the hallway to the Music Therapy room. I like the facilitation of development to occur naturally, unstressed, and to flow ahead. However, there are times whens smiling, excited faces don’t happen, when… Read more »
Validating Through Music – Part 3
Sometimes part of the process of helping a child progress is validating that they are okay right where they are presently, even though where they are may be seen by statistics, norms, or by others as below the bar. Sometimes a child that hugs the safety of the known needs a little nudging. Other times,… Read more »
Validating Through Music: Part 2
Last week’s example of validating through music is vastly different from this week’s. Last week, validation was done at a sensory level, where that child is presently. This week’s examples are initially made at verbal, cognitive, and emotional levels, backed up and made more alive through music. In working with a group of performing teens,… Read more »