imagine

Stephan Betz, Ph. D., MT-BC and Josef Held, M.Ed, GCFP This thoughtful audio podcast presents a new music therapy assessment tool for toddlers and children with special needs created by the authors that focuses on positive psychology and building the child’s strengths to succeed in life. Resources: Achor, S. (2010). The happiness advantage. New York, NY: […] The post The Betz-Held Strengths...

Matthew Logan, MA, MT-BC In this experiential audio podcast, the author shares musical and clinical skills essential for interns and new professionals when working with young children with disabilities in various settings. Resource: Adamek, M. S., & Darrow, A. (2010). Music in special education. (2 ed.). Silver Spring: The American Music Therapy Association, Inc. Hanson-Abromeit, […] The...

Kamile Geist, MA, MT-BC An informative audio podcast that introduces Stephanie, an early childhood educator who offered to be the test person for the Keep a Beat™ (KaB) training model. Resources: Arends, R. I., & Kilcher, A. (2010). Teaching for student learning: Becoming an accomplished teacher. New York, NY: Routledge. Gall, M. D. & Acheson, […] The post Keep a Beat™: A Music Enric...

Laurel Rosen-Weatherford M.M., MT-BC This musical audio podcast provides an example of a collaborative project bringing together families through a sing-along story performance including various therapeutic goals and generalization strategies. Resources: All song introduced can be found on the Polar Express Sound Track at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/polar-express-soundtrack-from/id27560427 S...

Kayla C. Daly, MA, MT-BC A case description and series of song interventions designed to enhance specific skills in a child with rigid tendencies are discussed in this musically enriched audio podcast. Resources: Amir, D. (1990). A song is born: Discovering meaning in improvised songs through a phenomenological analysis of two music therapy sessions with […] The post Itty Bitty Steps: Indivi...

Julia Beth Kowaleski, MTA Instruments such as shakers can be used in many different ways and for various therapeutic purposes with young children, which will be demonstrated in this joyful audio podcast. Resources: Docherty, T. (2008). The Little Boat. Surrey. UK: Templar Publishing. Ritholz, M., & Robbins, C. (1999). Themes for Therapy. New York, NY: […] The post Five Practical and Crea...

Ronna Kaplan, M.A., MT-BC Listen to reflections on early childhood music therapy. How far we have come with our network, newsletter, online magazine, other internet presence, research and publications, conference sessions, our workforce and our possible roles in many settings! And the sky’s the limit for where we can go next… Resources: Edwards, J. (Ed.) […] The post Reflections on Music The...

Beth McLaughlin, LCAT, MSE, MT-BC In this podcast, the author describes how she became acquainted with six young boys with autism spectrum disorder through their behaviors and developed a successful music therapy program that included the behavioral principles of discreet trial teaching. With input from families and the entire educational team, a learning environment was created […] The post...

Debbie Benkovitz, LSW, MT-BC Studies demonstrate that music therapy improves the quality of life of seriously ill patients and their families by relieving pain and anxiety, helping patients and families communicate, and providing spiritual support. This podcast briefly reviews how music therapy impacts young, seriously ill patients, using case studies to exemplify main points. Resources: […]...

Matt Logan, MT-BC In this podcast, Matt Logan interviews Cynthia Briggs, a music therapist and psychologist who directs the music therapy program at Maryville University. She lectures and presents on the topic of music and infant attachment. In this interview, the speakers explain the theory of infant attachment, identify music’s role in the process, and […] The post The Role of Music in Dev...

Laura Rosen Anderson, MT-BC and Rebecca Vaudreuil, MT-BC Resounding Joy staff music therapists Rebecca Vaudreuil and Laura Anderson share their experience providing music-centered wellness for children with multiple disabilities in Southern and Northern India. A total of 13 music therapists and trained volunteers traveled to India. Resounding Joy is a California 501(c)3 non-profit organization who...

Jennifer W. Puckett, MT-BC Do you as a music therapist feel like you are constantly singing the same songs over and over again? If so, it’s important to keep in mind that the simplest tunes can provide a big boom in development by using a interdisciplinary approach in early intervention. Resources: Therabeat at www.therabeat.com In […] The post A Little Tune With a Big Boom! first appeared o...

Kalani Das, MT-BC Humor and laughter both have a role in music therapy from helping clients feel more at ease to creating interpersonal connections and serving as a catalyst for emotional release. This podcast identifies the primary types and uses of humor and laughter and explains the roles they play in music therapy practice with […] The post Laughter in Music Therapy and With Young Childr...

Dorothy Denton, BM, MT-BC This podcast is an invitation to join the growing number of early childhood music & movement professionals encouraged by collaborative efforts to produce a broad knowledge base in the field. The author introduces music therapy to the Early Childhood Music & Movement Association and makes a case for engagement, informal and […] The post Seed Pod: Collaboratio...

Cathy Knoll, MA, MT-BC Many traditional children’s songs focus on farmers, animal sounds, and imaginary topics, e.g. an “old woman who swallows a cow.” This podcast moves beyond sing-alongs in early childhood, providing examples of reality-based, customized songs created by music therapists to address specific goals and to assist individual preschoolers learn and practice new […] The post Mo...

Elizabeth K. Schwartz, LCAT, MT-BC This podcast presents lessons learned by the author during a two year music therapy project in a K-12 school and discusses the role of music therapy in preparing young children to succeed throughout their entire educational career in the least restrictive environment of inclusive, public schools. Resources: Adamek, M.S., & […] The post Lessons Learned i...

Christine A. Barton, M.M., MT-BC How does constructing meaning affect a child’s path to literacy? This podcast attempts to meld music schemas with the constructivist theories surrounding literacy development and examine where meaning in text and music lies and how children with hearing loss might benefit from such ideas. Resources: Anderson, R. C. (1977). The […] The post Constructing...

Matt Logan, MT-BC In this podcast, Matt Logan interviews Kim Hawkins, an experienced NICU Music Therapist who provides services in a highly-rated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the United States. In the interview, the speakers address current approaches to treatment, including a NICU layout, common goals and objectives as well as music therapy interventions. Resources: […] The post Practici...

Amy Robertson, MM, MT-BC At the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children, the music therapy team has started rounding with NICU physicians and other staff which has improved communication as well as orders for music therapy services. In this podcast, the current protocol for receiving music therapy orders is discussed as well as […] The post Rounding With Medical Staff to Increa...

Rachel Rambach, M.M., MT-BC This podcast spotlights the author’s perspective on a new technological medium, video blogging. Through the use of a weekly video blog on her website, the author has been able to reach her clients in an exciting and personal way. Client testimonials and personal reflections reveal the great potential of this medium. […] The post Sunday Sing-Along: A Video Series f...

Betsy Blachly-Chapin, MS, MT-BC, AVP This podcast offers reflective insights on the author’s experience of starting a music therapy program at a homeless shelter in the Bronx. She explores the journey toward finding her own identity as a part-time music therapist, working with families and classroom teachers at the shelter, both during structured ‘music time’ […] The post Music Therapy at a...