I’m thrilled to share that my PhD research has been published in the renowned ‘Arts in Psychotherapy’ journal, a leading publication in the field of therapeutic arts. In this article, I explore how families of children with disabilities can be empowered to independently create music with their child at home, offering practical strategies and insightsContinue reading “PhD Research Published: Empowering Families Through Music Therapy”
Tag Archives: Downs
Success of Online Music Therapy: Ajay’s Impact
Since 2020, Ajay has been leading group music therapy online in New Zealand, collaborating with IHC to support disabled children and their families. He has conducted over 200 successful sessions, with 5-20 participants each, and is now offering these sessions in Australia. Ajay is also known as Ahjay Stelino.
It takes time
Building a therapeutic relationship with a person takes time. I find that it takes about 8 weeks of regular weekly sessions before the relationship builds. During this initial time, it can seem like the person isn’t even aware that I am there, or indicates that he or she doesn’t want me there. During these firstContinue reading “It takes time”
Best Microphones for Kids: Enhance Creativity & Confidence
Microphones are effective tools in music therapy for neurodiverse children, enhancing their motivation to produce sounds and boosting their confidence in singing. Two recommended microphones are the Hape Mighty Echo Microphone, a battery-free option, and the Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone, which allows for wireless music play. Both make excellent gifts.
Difference between a Music Therapist and a Music Teacher
A music teacher focuses on teaching the elements of music. The elements of music are pitch (high and low), rhythm (the beat), timbre (the instrument), expression (loud and soft), etc. A music therapist focuses on using music to help people with their emotional, physical, social and cognitive (thinking) needs. Thus a music therapist focuses onContinue reading “Difference between a Music Therapist and a Music Teacher”
Encouraging Speech Through Music: Tips for Parents
Songs can effectively motivate speech development in children, especially through the use of melody and rhythm. For children with complex neurodiverse needs, focusing on vowel sounds, which are the first produced by infants, is often more beneficial than introducing various speech sounds. A suggested song emphasizes this approach.
Top 3 Instruments with Water Sounds for Children
Children love water! Children love music! So children love…. Instruments that make water sounds! Here are some instruments I frequently use in music therapy which have water sounds. Ocean drum An ocean drum recreates the sound of rolling and crashing waves. Children move to move it around and listen to the sounds and feel theContinue reading “Top 3 Instruments with Water Sounds for Children”
Effective Transition Strategies for Neurodiverse Children
Transitioning from one activity to another can be challenging for many children, especially those with neurodiverse needs. These transitions often require additional support, as children thrive on familiarity, and sudden changes can feel daunting. Musical Cues One effective strategy is the use of songs. In music therapy sessions, we often use start and end songsContinue reading “Effective Transition Strategies for Neurodiverse Children”
Encouraging Flexibility in Learning Spaces for Neurodiverse Children
Generally, pre-school education encourages children to sit on the floor and the school age education encourages sitting on a chair. For neurodiverse children and young people, they often use a lot more of their senses. For example, sitting on a floor can allow them to feel the vibrations of a drum. Therefore, follow the youngContinue reading “Encouraging Flexibility in Learning Spaces for Neurodiverse Children”
Best Music for Neurodiverse Children: Balancing Age and Preferences
It is a balancing act between a child’s physical and functioning age. Do you allow older neurodiverse children to listen to nursery rhymes or provide them with age appropriate music? What if they prefer nursery rhymes? I found it is useful to allow children to listen to music that they like, as their functioning ageContinue reading “Best Music for Neurodiverse Children: Balancing Age and Preferences”
Feel Better Music Therapy 