Scenes from Summer Break

Scenes from Summer Break | Listen & Learn Music

Believe it or not, we are already over a week into summer break at my house! Parker’s last day of kindergarten was May 22, and we’ve been filling our days with summer fun ever since.

Luckily, my husband Zach and I were able to enjoy a week of rest and relaxation in Hawaii (check out my story highlights on Instagram) right before the end-of-school madness set it, which was great because life has been moving like a freight train from the moment we returned home.

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How To Teach Turn-Taking & Sharing

How to Teach Turn-Taking & Sharing | Listen & Learn Music

Taking turns is one of the most challenging tasks for students in my music therapy groups and music classes. Although it can also be a challenge for the music therapist or teacher to facilitate and manage sharing opportunities, there are many factors that can influence the success of songs that feature turn-taking.

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And Then She Was 4

Mia Belle Turns 4 | Listen & Learn Music

It seems impossible, but my girl turned 4 this week! We celebrated by playing hooky from preschool, baking a homemade cake (with pink frosting, of course), and having our family over for pizza and presents.

Since she was born, Mia Belle has been my “Velcro baby” — stuck to me 24/7. And although she’s still a mama’s girl through and through, at 4 she is finally open to letting go of me in favor of her daddy, who takes her to ballet class and “Chikolay” (Chik-Fil-A) every week.

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Spring into Summer Break

Spring Into Summer Break | Listen & Learn Music

The countdown to summer break is on! For many of my music therapy sessions and music classes, we only have a few weeks left before we’ll part ways for the summer. Although most therapists and teachers who work with school-aged children look forward to summer break, it can be a challenging time for our clients and students.

Endings are never easy, and although we might continue working with the same kiddos next year, there are still a lot of changes happening for them. Between schedule changes and weather changes, the prospect of new classrooms, new teachers, and classmates can be totally overwhelming.

As a music therapist, it’s easy for me to present these challenging topics and transitions in a fun and upbeat way. Below, I’ve featured two songs that I’ll be using to help my clients and students transition to summer break!

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Creating Adaptations to Suit Your Needs

Creating Adaptations to Suit Your Needs | Listen & Learn Music

One thing that I love about working with lots of different kiddos is the opportunity to create adaptations! These allow me to use the same songs with many different students and clients, all of whom have unique strengths and needs. Being a music therapist has made me even more creative; I am constantly inspired not only by my kiddos, but also by their teachers, therapists and parents.

I have been approached countless times by those I work with to incorporate different themes or important topics into my music therapy sessions or music classes. Often times, I will use a song that I already know, and adapt it to accommodate other goals.

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