I am always looking for new ways to use music to optimize articulation and fluency skills with my students. I have always found drumming to be a great place to start because of the rhythmic connections one can make with the body and speech production. See a previous post, “Drumming to Foster Fluency in Speech”
For the last several years I have always taken the time in September to write a new opening/greeting song. In the past, I would create the new song and then share it with my music therapy faculty at our first departmental meeting. This time I started the song in G Mixolydian, and later added moved it
“Follow the News” is a fun song to connect students with news events in their community, their county, and the world. Simply look up current stories related to each of these areas. I use a Powerpoint or Keynote slideshow to highlight the lyrics and to provide visuals for each news event. For students who bring an
The weather in the Rochester area of New York state is a crazy mix of temperatures and weather conditions in early Spring. Often we experience a gorgeousness day in the 70's followed by plummeting temperatures and snow flurries the next. I wanted to incorporate a songwriting experience into one of my group sessions to explore
This song is can address body awareness and fine motor skills. I love adding my ladybug castanets into the music play experience, or sometime I bring in my ladybug puppet. The glove of the puppet are the ladybug's legs. The kids love this one! I also have other puppets and animal castanets, so I have
For one of the school district classrooms I consult with, the classroom teacher requested a song to assist her students in remembering, and understanding, the basic rules of the classroom. I created a song and video for the teacher to use in the classroom, and we also outlined some basic movements that could be used
1. Guitar Lullaby- Ricardo Cobo This relaxing guitar CD is sophisticated and calming. I often use it in movement warm-ups or as a recommendation for clients to unwind and prepare for rest/sleep. It is one of my go-to CD’s when I need a whole CD of tranquil tracks to relax to myself. 2. Classic Williams:
Several years ago I provided a series of drumming workshops for teachers and counselors at a local school district. Near the end of the series, they requested a session on learning simple but sophisticated drum patterns that they could present to some of their students in a music appreciation festival. I felt that it would be helpful to
The drum has always been an inexhaustible tool for the music therapist to use in countless ways. When working with students with speech disorders and related issues, I find that drumming coordinates the mind, body, and voice! The timing, sensory motor involvement, and feedback provided during drum play makes it an invaluable tool to build
While working on calendar skills and social questions, I composed a song to work on both. I isolated three days on the calendar, to work on labeling yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I found that isolating these three days helped students learn the concept faster. I created a simple board to use as a visual support,
