Often those on the autism spectrum present behaviors which may seem odd, antisocial, or nonsensical to us. In order to help these individuals, the well-meaning urge for many to correct these behaviors comes to the forefront. Today I would like to delve slightly deeper into why correcting these behaviors instead of accepting and relating to… Read more »
Year: 2013
Asking Why And Honoring All That One Can Give
I have written many articles on subjects such as developing children’s strengths https://backmountainmusictherapy.com/2013/03/the-amazing-power-of-building-on-a-childs-strength/ , achieving regulation, https://backmountainmusictherapy.com/2012/11/part-4-achieving-self-regulation/ , significance in an individual’s development https://backmountainmusictherapy.com/2012/04/recognizing-development-and-its-significance-in-each-individual/ , and sensory integration https://backmountainmusictherapy.com/2011/11/sensory-integration-meeting-the-need/ . On a day-to-day basis in my professional work, I have frequently been complimented on the degree of patience others have noticed. Most times, I truly have… Read more »
The Amazing Power of Building on a Child’s Strength
As I reflected on my busy and varied week, working with kids of all ages, I stopped to think what theme pervaded my week. The children displayed many strengths, but often, as adults, we don’t look beyond the tip of the iceberg, and just see them disguised as weaknesses. Why do we do that? I… Read more »
Play and Shutting Down the Critical-Thinking Mind through Music
In observing some of my newer clients and reflecting on some of my older clients this week, I saw the importance of coming in the back door, or shutting off the critically thinking mind, even in adults. This is when some productive, and more importantly, more permanent learning can evolve. Don’t get me wrong; there… Read more »
Rhythm as a Healing Element
Last week I talked about rhythm – the most basic element of music – and how we are born to live rhythmically. We are born with a basic beat, a heartbeat, and live our lives at regular intervals, minute to minute, hour by hour, day and night, month to month, year to year. Rhythm sets… Read more »
Rhythm: The Element of Movement
After taking a coarse from Christine Stevens entitled “Music Medicine”, one of the concepts brought up in her coarse specifically, I had begun to look at , ignited reflection on the work I do, the concept of rhythm. Rhythm- the measurement of pulse, a regular scheduled timing of continuous sound and silence, movement and rest…. Read more »
The Importance of the “Rest”
Recently, I have been concerned with my client “Frankie.” Concerned because I haven’t been seeing outward growth behavior demonstrated. “Frankie” is so intensely connected to the music that after sixty minutes, when I put the guitar away, he runs screeching because it is being put down. I see progress, then often no outward demonstrating behaviors,… Read more »
The Benefits of Drumming
The wonderful thing about a drum is that there are no wrong notes. This makes playing successful to anyone who tries it. Who would ever think that giving some drums to a small group of chaotic, unfocused, hyper children could actually pull their attention together and help increase their social skills. Knowing that children automatically… Read more »
Music and Visuals, A Key to Success with Speech Difficulties
Think about it. What happens if I sing “A, B, C, D, E, F… ?’ What do you do in your head if I play seven notes of a scale ” Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti… ,” and I leave out the last note? Do you not fill it in in your head?… Read more »
Why I Love Music Therapy
Many things happened on this quiet snowy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. My husband left for work, and my oldest son for college. My younger son was still sleeping, not yet starting his schedule of activities, and my daughter at an overnight. I had the choice today to start out and go to my first… Read more »