A Co-op’s Post: Taking a Closer Look at Music Therapy
Written by Britney McNeilly, Northeastern Co-op Student at RMTS
Today I had the pleasure of witnessing my first music therapy session. Though I have read numerous books and studied cases in which music is used as a therapeutic tool, I have never actually been present during a session; this was both an exciting and reaffirming experience for me. As the new Northeastern Co-op student assisting at Roman Music Therapy Services, I am going to be sitting in on sessions led by Board Certified Music Therapists and assisting them with their programs during the next six months.
On Tuesdays at 2:00pm, Roman Music Therapy Services hosts a group session called “Music Makers,” (Drop-Off Program) which works with young children ages three to six, with or without disabilities. This is the first Drop-Off class as part of “Sprouting Melodies,” the children’s program at Roman Music Therapy Services. Music is used to help them express themselves, develop social skills, and learn how to positively interact with others. The session I took part in was with two children. Despite their differences, I witnessed both reap the benefits of music therapy.
The session started with us all (including Meredith and Kari, the two music therapists in charge) sitting in a circle, each with our own hand drum. Varying in sizes, the drums were used to bang along to a melody that Meredith sang to introduce the class and get the children involved. Whether it was quiet and slow or fast and loud, each of the children clearly demonstrated their personality through their playing technique and preferences. Next we sang along as Kari played the guitar. Meredith has developed a catalog of songs that get the children moving and hold their attention, which is crucial when working with young kids. Passing a drum around, the kids learned how to share, take turns (and accept when their turn was over!), make eye contact, and call each member of the circle by name. They also were learning musical concepts– how to maintain a steady beat, how to improvise, and the sonority of various musical instruments. The second to last song used scarfs as props, an idea that I found quite creative. Kari sang “I See Colors All Around” (written by one of our music therapists, Holly) and the children waved their colored scarfs in the air.
After forty-five minutes, the session ended with a goodbye song, and the children moved to the next room where they were greeted by their parents. Joyful, they said their goodbyes and left RMTS. I was happy, knowing that they had enjoyed themselves and were a step closer to achieving their goals. Even in this brief session, I was provided with proof that music therapy can indeed help children grow.