|
Gainesville Music Therapy |
|
Using Music to Change Lives |
|
SPOTLIGHT: Communicating Through Music! |
|
How does music therapy help with language development and socialization? This is a frequent question from new parents at the clinic. What does music mean to you? Every piece of music expresses something, reminds someone of a particular moment, evokes a feeling. Music therapists are trained to create music and musical experiences that engage the client in working towards expressiveness, relationship, and communication— all the qualities inherent to music. Children love to MAKE music. In music therapy, music is more than just a sing-along song. It is actually a musical conversation– involving all of the aspects of communication. Using improvised music, the music becomes a live, in-the-moment interaction rather than a pre-rehearsed memorized song. These interactions help to bring the child into relationship with the therapist, develop expressive skills, and communicate! For a child with Autism, who tends to isolate him/herself, playing the drum with another person leads to connection with that person, and a desire to be in relationship. For a child with ADHD, waiting for that one musical “cue” in which therapist and child sing “EEEEeeeeee!” builds listening skills, as well as self-confidence. |
|
For details on enrollment, or for information on bringing Gainesville Music Therapy to your facility, email: Abigail@GainesvilleMusicTherapy.com , or call (352) 376-6012 |
|
Gainesville Music Therapy is dedicated to empowering families, through education:
· Weekly emails to parents contain news articles with research on autism, down syndrome, ADHD, etc. · Parent meetings during the clinical year with video excerpts of child’s progress. · Periodic parent emails with conference and workshop information for the local area. · New in 2006: Information binder available to parents with information on music therapy and local resources for therapy, family advocacy, and education. If you provide services to individuals with special needs in the Gainesville area and would like your information to be included in the Gainesville Music Therapy information binder, please contact Abigail Yeh. |
|
Gainesville Music Therapy: DEDICATION TO PARENT EDUCATION |
|
Newsletter Volume III; December 2005 |
|
Click here for back issues |
|
Happy Holidays! from Gainesville Music Therapy! |
|
“John loves coming to music each week. Since coming, I’ve noticed that he plays with his siblings more and uses words more appropriately to ask for what he wants.” - Parent of a boy with Autism. |
