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The Power of Participation: Making Music Therapy More Meaningful for Families Dr. Deanna Hanson-Abromeit brings over 30 years of experience to this engaging podcast on parent involvement in early childhood music therapy. She emphasizes the importance of family-centered practices, coaching parents, and adapting interventions to each family’s unique needs and context. Dr. Hanson-Abromeit discusses s...

The Gift of Music for Fostering Connection and Joy Dr. Anne Meeker Watson, founder of sing.play.love., shares her expertise as an early childhood consultant and content creator. She discusses how music- and play-based programming helps parents connect deeply with their young children, setting the stage for collaboration with music therapists to support developmental outcomes. Dr. […] The pos...

It Takes a Village: Leaning into Parent Engagement in Early Childhood Music Therapy Amy Dacuag, a licensed music therapist and parent educator, shares her passion for supporting young children and their families through music. She emphasizes the power of parent involvement, collaboration, and a strength-based, neuroaffirming approach. Amy encourages parents to trust themselves, advocate for [&#823...

Parent Involvement is Everything: The Key to Effective Therapy Angela Adams explores the profound impact of parent involvement in therapy—not just for children, but for parents themselves. She emphasizes the importance of parents advocating for their own well-being alongside their child’s, empowering them to actively shape the therapeutic process. Angie discusses practical ways parents can [&#8230...

Music Therapy: Strengthening Our Bond Through What My Child Loves Megan shares her deeply personal journey of using music therapy to support her son, Carter, during his extended NICU stay and beyond. She reflects on the emotional challenges of balancing medical care, family life, and self-care while staying actively involved in therapy. Megan highlights the […] The post Music Therapy: Streng...

Music as Bridge: A Parent Being a Child’s Most Trusted Caregiver Stephanie Leavell brings a unique perspective to this conversation, blending her experiences as a music therapist in medical settings with her expertise as a songwriter for children. In this episode, she explores how music therapists can facilitate parent-child interaction, sometimes leading the way and other […] The post Music...

Active Participation: How Parents Help Shape the Music Therapy Journey Music therapy in early childhood is not just a journey for the child—it’s an experience for parents as well. In this episode, Rose Anzel shares her insights on the essential role parents play in the therapeutic process. She discusses how active participation during sessions enhances both […] The post Active Participation...

Communication Through Music: An Accessible Tool for Parent-Child Connection Parent involvement in music therapy extends far beyond supporting a child’s developmental goals—it strengthens the parent-child relationship through meaningful musical interactions. In this episode, Cindy Kraus, shares her experiences working in a Head Start program and how music can be a powerful, accessible tool for fost...

Gentle Beginnings: Empowering Parents in the NICU Through Music Therapy Dr. Friederike Haslbeck shares her powerful work with preterm infants and their families in neonatal intensive care. With over 20 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience, Dr. Haslbeck discusses how music therapy can create space for bonding, intimacy, and healing during fragile beginnings. She […] The post G...

Side by Side: Partnering with Parents in Early Childhood Music Therapy Dr. Kirsi Tuomi shares her rich experience as a music therapist, researcher, and attachment-focused family therapist, highlighting the essential role of parents in early childhood music therapy. She reflects on attunement, secure relationships, and empowering parents as co-experts. Dr. Tuomi emphasizes culturally sensitive prac...

This episode features Dr. Jayne Standley’s responses to the following questions: Can you describe the major initiatives of the National Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy and the unique role of a NICU-MT Fellow? What key learning objectives are addressed in the NICU-MT certificate training program? What are the steps one must take […] The post NICU-MT and Institute Overview...

This episode features Dr. Jayne Standley’s responses to the following questions: How do you define evidence-based practice? Are there any possible adverse effects of music therapy in a delicate environment such as the NICU? What specific styles of music are most suitable for fostering neurologic development in the NICU? Are there any concerns regarding vocal […] The post Evidence-Based Pract...

This episode features Dr. Jayne Standley’s responses to the following questions: What is the first step to crafting a persuasive program proposal? Can you share your best advice for effectively developing a program proposal? When drafting a schedule, what key factors are most important in the decision-making process? What are some effective avenues for securing […] The post Program Proposal...

This episode features Dr. Jayne Standley’s responses to the following questions: Could you provide a comprehensive overview of the complexities surrounding NICU-MT reimbursement? Why is it imperative to consider reimbursement when developing a program? What is the potential cost-benefit analysis of implementing billing practices for NICU-MT services? What are your hopes for the future regarding [&...

This episode features Dr. Jayne Standley’s responses to the following questions: How does NICU-MT contribute to mitigating stress levels in neonates? What role does NICU-MT play in maintaining or enhancing oxygen saturation levels? How does NICU-MT influence parental well-being and interactions within the NICU environment? In what ways does NICU-MT impact the weight gain of […] The post NICU...

This episode features Dr. Jayne Standley’s responses to the following questions: Could you elaborate on the significance of fetal development and its lasting impacts on health and well-being? What is the PAL device, and how does it revolutionize care within the NICU environment? What effect does music therapy have on infants requiring ventilator support in […] The post Overall NICU-MT first...

This episode features Dr. Jayne Standley’s responses to the following questions: What key areas or advancements do you feel are essential to future NICU-MT research endeavors? What are your aspirations for the advancement and impact of the music therapy profession in the years to come? If you could speak to a preterm infant on their […] The post Inspiration and Hopes for the Future first app...

The Story of an Independent Music Maker: An Interview With Crystal King Applying her professional knowledge from assistive technology, Crystal King makes music making accessible to everyone! She challenges the listener to re-think what music making means and illustrates her points by telling Tiegan’s story. In this podcast, Crystal explains the importance of including visual […] The post The...

Ways of Creating Access Points Into Music Making: An Interview With Dr. Carol Ann Blank Inviting and making people comfortable in music making is the starting point for Dr. Carol Ann Bank when working with young children and their families. In her opinion, children can participate in music making beyond matching a pitch or a […] The post Ways of Creating Access Points Into Music Making first...

Adaptive Music Making for Meaningful Inclusion: An Interview With Jessica Corwin and Jennifer Kass As teaching artists at the Adaptive Music Program at the Community Music School of Springfield, Massachusetts, Jessica Corwin and Jennifer Kass provide music experiences to learners with various disabilities in local schools. In this podcast, they talk about using visual cards, […] The post Ada...

Adaptation Everywhere: An Interview With Laurel Rosen-Weatherford Providing music therapy services to clients ages 2.5-26 within a continuum of school settings, Laurel Rosen-Weatherford believes that all students can participate in music making. She creates an inclusive environment that offers opportunities to explore, engage, and learn from each other. In this podcast, Laurel emphasizes the impor...

Creativity Across The Board: An Interview With Chelsea Kinsler A team member of Therabeat, Inc, Chelsea Kinsler offers individual and group music therapy sessions as well as adaptive lessons at their interdisciplinary In Harmony Pediatrics Clinic. She is passionate about offering children successful experiences through adaptive music lessons by targeting achievable goals and providing support. [&#...

Adapting in Every Moment: An Interview With Andrew Chapman Andrew Chapman is the coordinator of the University of Louisville Music Therapy Clinic where their mission and vision is to make music experiences accessible and available to everyone. He says, “Almost every clinical experience has some form of adaptation,” and describes the adapted rock band led […] The post Adapting in Every Moment...

Music-Making Can Happen Anywhere: An Interview With Jessica Baron As the founder of Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom, Jessica Baron has a passion for sharing music with as many children as possible. She says, “So many kids are in need of adaptive services.” In this podcast, she speaks to their Adaptive Music for Achievement and […] The post Music-Making Can Happen Anywhere first appeared on...

Color-Coded Success: An Interview With Miriam Tart As a staff member of Piedmont Music Therapy, Miriam Tart works with children in individual sessions at preschools. Instruments with alternative tuning, adaptive mallets with larger handles or straps, and color-coded instruments and music are what Miriam uses with her clients on a daily basis. In this podcast, […] The post Color-Coded Success...