A relaxation exercise that focuses on tensing your muscles and then releasing them for decreased feelings of stress and tension within your body. Often times we keep our muscles tense without realizing it; this exercise will help you feel the difference between this tension and relaxation.
Here is a playlist of songs to start your day with! Listen for encouragement, energy, and/or support!
Join Natasha for a fun music session!
“Hello Song”- Appropriate greetings, speech
“Egg Shaker Song Choice”- Spelling, color identification
“3 Little Pigs”- Counting, socialization, following directions, breathing
“BINGO”- Spelling, counting, following directions, recognition
“If I Can Say it, I Can Play it”- Gross motor, rhythm, counting, syllables, speech
“Purple Scarf”- Emotional regulation, cool-down, visual tracking
“Goodbye Song”- Appropriate goodbye, recall of activities, speech.
Join me to learn how to make shakers at home using things you may already have in your pantry! They can be used to play music along with me!
Music therapy is defined by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) as:
… The clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.
AMTA, https://www.musictherapy.org/
In simpler terms, music therapy is the use of music and music-based interventions to meet clinical goals by a board certified music therapist.
The field of Music Therapy has been around since World Wars I and II, when amateur and professional musicians began visiting Veterans hospitals and providing live music. Patient response was so notable that doctors and nurses began requesting musician visits. Due to the sensitive nature of medical work, it was clear that training was necessary for musicians and college programs began to open in the 1940’s.
Music therapists today must obtain a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy where they study clinical music, musicianship, and science/psychology. While training, music therapists engage in various practicum training to gain experience in implementing music interventions with a variety of populations. When all coursework is complete, music therapists then fulfill 1,200 hours of clinical work through an internship. When done, the student can then sit for the CBMT (Certification Board for Music Therapists) exam to finally obtain their MT-BC (Music Therapist- Board Certified) credentials.
Practicing MT-BC’s can be found almost everywhere. You can find music therapists at schools working with various childhood development goals, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, medical facilities, and just about any location where there are clinical and therapeutic needs.
Probably the most public case of music therapy in action is in that of congresswoman Gabby Giffords who survived a gunshot wound to the head in 2011 that changed her life completely:
Congresswoman Giffords’ life will never be the same, but it is clear that music therapy had a strong impact on her ability to regain speech since her injury.
Music therapists all over the world are working hard to help people meet their clinical goals, whether they be large undertakings such as regaining of speech, or smaller-scale needs, such as decreased isolation for those who are hospitalized. The field has much supportive research demonstrating the profound impact music has on human processing in all domains, and the breadth of knowledge continues to grow. It is clear that music is a powerful non-pharmacological tool when utilized by a credentialed professional that can greatly improve the lives of patients and clients throughout the world.
We are a duo Massage Therapist (LMT) and Music Therapist (MT-BC) working to provide various support and relaxation resources to the medical and caregiver community! We will be posting with updates as we are able. Thank you for visiting and please be patient as we get things started!