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.
Cecilia’s & Kristina’s Story
When Cecilia was born in December 2020, the world looked very different. Like many families welcoming a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cecilia’s early months were quiet and isolating – staying home, being cautious, and, for Kristina, navigating what it meant to raise her first newborn during a time of such uncertainty. But even in that isolation, there was one thing Kristina knew she wanted to bring into Cecilia’s life from the very beginning: music.
As a musician herself, music has always been a central part of Kristina’s identity. She understood not only the joy music can bring, but also its deeper impact. “I knew that at an early age, music can be really transformative,” Kristina said. The challenge for her was figuring out how to introduce that experience in a world that had shutdown.
Discovering Music & Community
That’s when she kept seeing the same, familiar name come up: Roman Music Therapy Services. She had previously seen the impact of Roman Music Therapy Servies through a family friend whose son had participated in different programs. “It brought him so much
joy,” Kristina recalled. “So when I saw the name again, it was kind of a no-brainer.” Soon after, Cecilia was enrolled in her very first Sprouting Melodies class.
Cecilia’s first music therapy session looked a little different than what our families may see today. Masks were still required, and precautions were still high. The world was still adjusting back to a new normal. But even within those limitations, something meaningful began to take shape. Their first music therapist, KT, made a lasting impression. “They were such a bright light,” Kristina said. Despite the physical barriers at the time, the sessions created space for connection through rhythm, movement, and shared musical experiences.
A Saturday Morning Ritual
Over time, Sprouting Melodies became a cornerstone of Cecilia’s early childhood. Week after week, Kristina and Cecilia returned, eventually continuing all the way until Cecilia turned five. What stood out to
them wasn’t just the music, but the consistency, they joy, and the sense of belonging. “It became my safe space on Saturday mornings,” Kristina shared.
Each class followed a familiar rhythm: sitting together in a circle, singing, moving, and engaging with other families. But just as important were the moments after the class ended. Families stayed. Children played. Parents talked. “It helped me to bond with other families,” Kristina said. “We would sit and chat while the kids played. It became something I really looked forward to.” In a time when connection felt limited, those small, consistent gatherings became deeply meaningful.
More Than Music
Through Sprouting Melodies, Cecilia wasn’t just being introduced to music. She was building relationships, exploring her environment, and growing alongside her peers. And for Kristina, the experience extended beyond Cecilia’s development. It was about community, shared understanding, and finding other parents navigating similar stages of life during an unprecedented time. The connections formed in those classes didn’t end when the sessions did. Many of the families stayed in touch, turning weekly music therapy sessions into lasting friendships. What began as simple music became something so much bigger: a support system.
The Lasting Impact of Music Therapy
As Cecilia grew, so did her journey. By the time she turned five, she had aged out of the Sprouting Melodies program, a natural transition but not an easy one. “I sort of miss it,” Kristina expressed. That feeling speaks to something deeper than just enjoying an activity. It reflects the role the program played during a formative time, not only in Cecilia’s life, but in Kristina as a parent. Sprouting Melodies wasn’t just a class they attended, but it was a place they belonged.
Cecilia’s story is a reminder that music therapy doesn’t just support development. It creates spaces where connection can thrive. In early childhood, that might look like learning through rhythm and song. For parents, it might mean finding community, support, and shared joy. For families navigating uncertain or isolating times, it can mean everything. As Kristina reflects on their experience, what stands out the most isn’t just the music itself, but rather what it made possible. “It was something we could look forward to every week,” she said. “It gave us connection during a time when that was really hard to find.”
As Roman Music Therapy Services celebrates 20 years of service, Cecilia’s story highlights the many ways music therapy reaches beyond the session itself. Over the past two decades, Roman Music Therapy Services has created spaces where individuals and families can come together, whether in moments of transition, growth, or uncertainty. For Cecilia and Kristina, that space was found a in a music circle on Saturday mornings. A place where music sparked connection. Where community took root. And where, even during the most isolating times, joy could still be shared. Sometimes the impact of music therapy isn’t just the music. It’s in the relationships, the routines, and the sense of belonging that stay with families long after the final song ends.
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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.