As we enter our 20th year at Roman Music Therapy Services (RMTS), we’re pausing to celebrate the communities we’ve had the privilege of growing alongside. To mark this milestone, we’re sharing stories that reflect the real, human impact of music therapy across Massachusetts. One of the organizations we are proud to work with is The Community Group, a childcare organization in Lawrence, MA.
Joy, Curiosity, and a Little Bit of Peace
Staff members at The Community Group consistently speak about the happiness music therapy brings into their centers. Kathleen McDonough, the Manager of Community Building and Employee Relations at The Community Group, describes it this way: “There is such a level of enjoyment, joy, and curiosity.” Students quickly recognize their therapists the moment they enter the classroom, greeting them with visible excitement. That joy, she notes, naturally leads to increased participation and meaningful skill building.
Katherine Averill, Director of Curriculum and Coaching, captures something quieter underneath the energy, expressing that, “There is such a peacefulness in the joy that I think we were all seeking.” Together, staff describe sessions that are not only energetic and engaging but also grounding and calm.
Relationships Built Quicky, Felt Deeply
Beyond joy, The Community Group has been deeply impressed by how quickly the RMTS clinicians build genuine relationships with the children they serve. Kathleen noted, “[The clinicians] are seeing so many children over the two weeks, and they know their names.”
Staff also speak to the team’s commitment to bilingual engagement. Even clinicians who are not fluent in Spanish make intentional efforts to learn songs and interventions in Spanish, ensuring children feel seen, heard, and included. Katherine adds that the connection extends beyond clinician and child – as Katherine put it, the clinicians “are supporting engagement between the children… they are all engaged together.” Music becomes a shared experience that strengthens peer relationships and builds classroom community.
Growth That Stays in the Room
The impact of music therapy at The Community Group goes far beyond the session itself. Staff observe meaningful growth in classroom skills such as listening, turn-taking, sharing, and overall confidence. Kathleen also shared how meaningful it is to watch children develop a genuine love of music. As Katherine put it, “They are already beginning to see themselves as musical.”
Teachers and students look forward to each session, often wishing they could have music therapy more often. Staff describe it as a true community-building experience, one that transforms not only student engagement but the overall classroom dynamic.
What They’d Tell Another Organization
When asked what they would say to another organization considering a partnership with RMTS, staff at The Community Group responded simply, “You will not be disappointed.”
As Janet Moro, Senior Director of Quality and Operations, shared, “Right from the start we wanted a hands-on approach, and that’s exactly what we’re getting.” Katherine Averill added that she thinks music brings an exuberance and playfulness that can sometimes get lost in busy childcare settings.
At Roman Music Therapy Services, we deeply value our partnership with The Community Group. We are proud to serve our community and create meaningful impacts through music.
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Meredith: In a typical individual music therapy session, the music therapist and client will engage in a variety of musical experiences including:
Meredith: One on One music therapy sessions are a great way to target and increase skills in the following areas:
I said it again this month at the Melrose Public Library program during a music therapy session.
It took me years of experience and learning about early childhood development and music, but now I know that if I’m still getting that deer in the headlights look, I need to do the song again, and again, and again, until the young children who are participating in my music groups are no longer in panic mode. Once their facial expressions relax and they begin to look at me with the expression that says, “Oh, okay…tell me more,” then I know we are ready for more music making. I assure you, as adults we will tire of a song much more quickly than our babies will. But our babies are not bored!
Roman Music Therapy Services is announcing that we have teamed up with Papa Gino’s to offer a brand new option for Birthday Parties for children. Here’s a fun way to celebrate your child’s birthday in developmentally and age appropriate ways in which the kids and grown ups all have a blast!
After this stage of development will come a new area for growth in which the child will learn how to engage in music making with others and will be ready to participate in group music making.
There is nothing like sharing in the simplicity of music making with a child. As a newborn, music is a profound experience that causes the baby to stop and look around, waiting and watching. As children age, they become more and more aware of the environment and still attend to music as if it is a huge presence in the room. I learn a lot from their experience of music.
There is a closeness in making music with your child that goes beyond a song. It is our common understanding that songs and lullabies create intimate shared moments for babies and caregivers. With repetition, those shared musical moments create meaningful bonds.