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rhythmsforliving.com

Back to School

I love the start of the new school year! Its a time for new opportunities, a fresh beginning, and it means that the holidays are right around the corner.

For many parents getting kids back to a structured routine is a welcome change. Kids also enjoy getting back to a structured schedule with school and after-school activities, which offer social experiences and learning opportunities.

There are numerous after-school activities to choose from. There are team sports, swimming, gymnastics, karate, art clubs, chess clubs, piano lessons, band, orchestra, choir, drama club, and so much more. The possibilities are endless! All of these activities offer great benefits for kids, but be careful not to overload your child's schedule. He/she also needs time for homework, family time, and rest.

The fall is a great time to get started with music lessons or restart after a summer break. For many students, the summer offered a much needed break from structure and hard work. However, the fall brings with it the motivation to tackle new projects and try new things.

As research has shown again and agin, learning a musical instrument or engaging in regular music activity offers many wonderful benefits for kids. For one, music engages multiple areas in the brain and makes learning other skills easier. Learning to play an instrument like piano works on hand-eye coordination, reading skills, motor movement, multi-tasking, and much more. Children who study music have improved attention and memory skills which help them do better in school, do better in math and reading, and score higher on SATs.

Music also offers an improved quality of life. Learning an instrument for a child can be lots of fun. Although no one considers "practice" to be fun, the enjoyment one gets from making music is fun! Music lessons offer a safe space for creativity and improvisation as well as an outlet for emotional expression. The improved quality of life that comes with engaging in music is a life long benefit.

As you help your child consider what activities he/she will add to their schedule, take a moment to consider including music lessons or music groups.

Rhythms For Living, LLC offers music lessons such as piano, voice, guitar, and percussion to typical kids as well as to children with special needs. As board certified music therapists we are highly trained musicians who offer quality music instruction, and we are therapists who are highly trained in working with people with disabilities. This combination means we will work with your child to offer him individualized lessons to give him the best opportunity for success. We love music and strive to teach others to love it too!

Contact us at rhythmsforliving.com or kristencrouch@me.com for more information

Music Therapy with Premature Infants: Nightly News Special

The NBC Nightly News featured the use of Music Therapy in the NICU:

Music Therapists at Beth Israel Hospital use voice, guitar, ocean drum, and drum. They sing traditional lullabies as well as parent preferred music sung in a lullaby style.


Doctors prescribe music therapy for their patients which is then administered by board certified music therapists.

Some of the Benefits of Music Therapy for Premature Infants:

• Lowered heart rate
• Increased feeding behavior
• Improved sleep patterns
• Relaxation helps babies grow and mature and go home sooner
• Less stress for parents

Watch this short video to see it in action!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/506445

Music Therapy: Does it Have a Role in the Treatment of Substance Abuse?

Addiction. A word that many people in society rarely want to mention. A word that is often tucked under the rug; an issue rarely addressed because fear so eagerly got in the way. 

Addicts are often looked upon as outcasts or "losers" of our society because of their lack of self-control, their selfishness, and their probability of harming themselves or others when 'under the influence.' The sad truth is, in this lifetime, many humans struggle with an addiction, usually disguised and unnoticed. Addictions come in all forms, and each obsession or addiction hails it's own reason for consuming us. Some struggle with addiction to power, for some it is money, some control, some body image/food, and for too many, alcohol and drugs...the list goes on. Is it all just to fill some void or numb ridiculous pain?

For many people it is a list or series of life's events or their struggle with an illness or depression. For some it began with peer pressure, insecurity, or boredom. The sad truth is that a large number of people are now addicted to prescription drugs that were given to them to help them "get better" or feel better mentally or physically. Whatever the case may be, the abuse began with a choice. The first, second, and third choice was made. And so begins the process of the powerful human brain clinging to these new, foreign synapses. The brain soon rewires to adapt, and survive. For whatever initial reason the choice was made, the users continued choices turn to desire, desire turns to need, and need to addiction.

Substance abuse is among the most deadly forms of addiction, and statistically becoming one of the quickest to kill. Substance abuse affects all of us directly or indirectly on a daily basis. There are a rising number of treatment centers, but surrounding the few in each town or city are countless bars, liquor stores, and drug dealers to compete with the rising count of vulnerable souls. Substance abuse treatment and recovery centers are increasing their numbers of effective therapies, utilizing multiple sources to enhance their programs to give ensure a full recovery and give hope to the hopeless. Music therapy (MT) is being utilized as an effective treatment for substance abuse to increase the positive outcome for patients and families. Music therapy can be effective for inpatient and outpatient clients, implementing individual and group therapy sessions. 

In this setting, a music therapist will utilize the isoprinciple, meeting each client where they are at physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually on their individual journey to recovery. Counseling is a skill that a music therapist must excel at for this venue; as cognitive processing plays a big role in each patient's recovery. Rhythms for Living, LLC facilitates music therapy in these facilities from a neurologic approach, or Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT). In each session the music therapist uses patient preferred live and/or recorded music as a medium and tool to aid in the brains change in functioning level and new processing methods over time. 

Clients are encouraged to participate in scientifically evidence based MT interventions, which allow them to express thoughts and emotions through therapeutic discussion to process music content or through music lead activities. These MT interventions include but are not limited to: Music Listening, Lyric Analysis, Music and Relaxation, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Guided Imagery, Song Writing, Group and Individual Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, Music and Other Activities (Letter writing, Thought processing, Group interaction, Music games), Music and Other Arts (Painting, drawing, body movement). 

Music therapists also give recovering addicts the tools they need to replace negative music "triggers" related to their substance abuse with positive reinforcement using patients' preferred music. In MT sessions, the clients are taught to utilize music in their everyday lives to enhance and speed up the effectiveness of their ongoing recovery process.

How does it work?

The short answer:

When music is played, multiple areas of the brain are accessed, making music one of the most powerful tools to aid the client in accessing their cognitive pathways. As the client is learning to change the way they think and act in recovery, they begin to learn ( in MT),  how their brains function and how they individually react to presented situations. Awareness of their cognitive processing and the change in the direction of firing synapses while sober in the program can enhance the use of their frontal lobe, leading to higher brain functioning in the executive cortex overtime. Music can speed up this process, not only in a treatment facility; but also in the client's continued journey of recovery.

If you or someone you know is in need of recovery, please do not hesitate to contact us for a list of local treatment centers and how you can receive help through Music Therapy with Rhythms for Living, LLC.

- Joy Hinson, BM, MT-BC

Music Groups at the Bubble Tree

New Times and Days:

We are excited to announce that we will be offering a later time on Wednesdays at the Bubble Tree!

Beginning in May we will offer two music therapy groups.

Parent-Child Music Therapy Groups

Wednesdays at 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM

At The Bubble Tree

Current Promotion: Refer a friend who signs up and get a FREE class

Bonding With Baby: Music Therapy Time!

We are excited to start offering music therapy classes for infants and young children and their parents! These music therapy classes offer a clinically researched approach to the use of music in the hospital setting. Parents will learn the natural benefits of music to assist in daily self-care, communication, creative expression, and the social, emotional, and physical aspects of development for themselves and their child.

The music therapist will work with parents on ways to appropriately interact with their infants through therapeutic music interventions. Music therapist will use live voice and other instruments, as well as recorded music, to facilitate interaction and promote growth and development of their child. 

Babies who were born prematurely are welcome to attend. Preemies often need to get caught up on their developmental skills and these classes will help! Parents will learn how to appropriately work with their baby without overstimulating. 

Benefits of classes:

• Promote parent-infant bond
• Cue soothing and self-calming behaviors
• Offer language input necessary for development
• Offer visual, auditory, and tactile touch necessary for development
• Social and emotional interaction and expression
• Motor movement - walking, crawling, dancing, fine and gross
• Communication - verbally and non-verbally
• Appropriate for preemies and children with special needs

Class times:

• 1pm Babies ages 0-6 months 
• 2pm Babies ages 6 - 12 months
• 3pm Children ages 1-2 years

Click here to view the flyer for more information or to share with a friend!

To register or for more information email: kristencrouch@me.com 

Autism and Family Connection: Increasing the Parent-Child Bond with Music Therapy

Parents are continually discovering new ways to interact effectively with their children. They go through the ups and downs of realizing that not all of the things they heard from friends or read in books works for their child. They continually have to adapt how to communicate with their kids based on age and circumstances.  The task of adapting oneself to life’s changes can be difficult, let alone helping another human being sort it all out. Parents often feel like they fall short every now and again.

Then we have parents who have an even greater task on a different level; the parents of children diagnosed with a disability (particularly on the Autism spectrum).  Each child is a gift, each one different and unique. But many parents, although they feel they are doing the best they can raising their child given their personal circumstances, are still afraid they just can’t learn or do enough. That is where therapists come in.

Parents are bombarded with all kinds of possible therapeutic possibilities for early intervention and behavior modification. Some children see many therapists, some see few. But at the end of the day, the child was in specialized programs or with therapists until evening. When everyone gets home they are all tired, and have some sort of nightly routine hashed out. The problem is, the parent-child dynamic is still lacking, and there is still often a gap between day and night. While they are learning and growing in school and therapy, they may still be unable to express and communicate these new behaviors and techniques with their family at home.

The Bubble Tree is a place where a child diagnosed with autism can come with their parent or caregiver and can learn and grow together, experiencing communication of a new and different kind. In music therapy groups, you and your child will have the chance to work effectively with each other and see others working together with their children. We will be using clinical music therapy interventions to address social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs of your children. We will give you tools to take home to enhance your daily lives with your children, all with fun music and movement and hands-on activities.

Come join us once a week and experience it for yourself! Monthly enrollment with discounts available! See you there…oh and tell your friends!

Click here to learn more about our groups at The Bubble Tree. 

- Joy Hinson, Professional Music Therapist currently running groups at The Bubble Tree

Welcome to our new Music Therapist

I'm finally sitting down after a very busy few weeks to let you know some very exciting news!!!!

Rhythms For Living has just hired a music therapist to join our team! Read more about her below and join me in welcoming her!

Joy Hinson
A professional music therapist, now working in Palm Beach County who earned her BM in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology from the University of Miami. Prior to this degree, Joy studied Vocal Performance at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Joy is a native of South Florida but has traveled internationally, performing in various venues, and recently practicing music therapy in Miami, Florida. She recently worked with Seasons Hospice for a year and a half as a music therapist for hospitals and home-care in the Northeast region of Miami.

Joy has acquired ample experience working with various populations in need of music therapy, including terminally ill patients, cancer patients, veterans, psychiatric patients, as well as children and adults with disabilities, learnings delays, and behavioral issues. Joy continues to expand her clientele, with grief counseling and other patient/family/adolescent music therapy counseling; with a particular passion for early intervention with young children and families. (Aspergers/Autism & other early delays). Joy's primary instrument is voice, but she plays multiple instruments for music therapy sessions, including guitar, piano, and drums. Joy is also a dancer and artist, and enjoys integrating these gifts into music therapy sessions when applicable to enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic music interventions.

Music Therapy Adovcacy Month

Happy New Year! I'm so excited for the fresh inspiration 2013 brings and looking forward to getting back to work this week after a wonderful time with family and friends!

January is Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month and I've been reading up on Music Therapy posts and tweets from Music Therapists all across the nation! People are excited about telling others about what we do and how great music therapy is.

We'd love to hear how music therapy has touched your life! Please leave a comment!

CHECK IT OUT:

Here is a really creative and fun video that was created by fellow music therapists a little north of here in Georgia.

Check it out here: http://www.thegeorgecenter.com/2013/01/14/music-therapy-advocacy/

Happy Holidays!

This free greeting card personalized with Smilebox

Christmas Cooke Time: Five Gingerbread

Have you and your kids starting baking Christmas cookies? Well, it might be a little early, but if its on your Christmas to-do list why not consider using it as a teaching time?

Here is a little song or poem that you can chant about Gingerbread cookies. Here's what to do:

1. Make some gingerbread men cookies with your kids. Introduce new vocabulary like cookie sheet, cookie cutter, sugar, spice, icing, decorating, baking, etc. As you are creating the cookies talk about the feel of the dough, the smells of the cookies, the temperature of the oven, the taste of the icing, and the amount of time on the timer. Turn the oven light on and talk during the waiting period about what's happening to the cookie dough. You could even use this time to wash up any dishes or clean up any mess. Kids love to help wash dishes because it means they get to play in the water!

2. When the gingerbread cookies are cool, its time to decorate them! Let your kids have fun! Talk about whether they are boy or girl gingerbread cookies, what colors you are using in the sprinkles and icing, and take the time to smell the unique smell of gingerbread! Have some older kids in the family? Talk about gingerbread traditions in other countries at Christmas time. (Did you know that gingerbread has been around for centuries and Germany began the making of gingerbread houses?)

3. After they are done, lay out 5 gingerbread cookies on a cookie sheet and sing this song! Warning: each verse talks about taking a bite of cookie and losing a cookie each verse. Decide if you want your kids to actually eat 5 cookies or if you just want to pretend to take a bite. You could pretend to take a bite, make a chewing sound, and then move the cookie over to a plate. The point is that you are starting with 5 cookies on a sheet and ending up with 0.

Alternative: You can still use this song even if you aren't baking cookies! Just print out the gingerbread men clipart and cut out each one. Use those instead of actual cookies while you sing the song. Your kids will enjoy singing this song over and over with their gingerbread cutouts!

To download the FREE song and visuals click here.

Do you hear what I hear? Its beginning to sound a lot like Christmas!

Just in time for the holidays - our newest edition of Xylophone Fun!
Included in this ebook are visuals, xylophone layout, tips on how to use the resource, links to purchase a xylophone or desk bells, and 7 simple Christmas songs!

Songs included are:

• Bohemian Bell Carol
• Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
• Jingle Bells
• Angels We Have Heard On High
• Up On The Housetop
• The First Noel
• Over the River and Through the Woods

This resource is easy to use on your iPad or tablet, computer, or classroom Smartboard. It can also be printed out and laminated to make cards that can be used again and again! Just click on the link to order and download to your device!


On sale now for just $4.99!!! Click here to purchase.


 
For more information and a Sneak Peak of Xylophone Fun Volumes 1, 2, and Christmas or how to purchase a xylophone or bells click here.

Follow up on previous post...

On my last post I talked about the wonderful benefits of taking your child to the theater! Here is another chance to take your kids to the theater, this time to see a ballet!
 

Carnival of the Animals – The Swansong performed by Miami City Ballet School is a story that teaches us about the importance of respecting and living in harmony with nature. The plot was carefully designed to engage young audiences using relatable characters, colorful costumes and dynamic choreography.

 

 

Family fun! Advanced students from Miami City Ballet School perform the 1-hour ballet about the fragility of Earth’s creatures and the role of humans in caring for our planet. Arrive early for pre-performance activities in the lobby starting 45 minutes prior to curtain.

Playing at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach on November 3rd at 2:30pm. For information on tickets click here. 

Theater Experience for Young Kids

I took my 3 year old nephew to our local theater to see Elmo Makes Music Live! What a great opportunity to introduce the theater and live musicals to kids!

I didn't tell him where we were going because we were buying tickets at the door and wasn't guaranteed that we would get tickets. I just told him that we were going to do something fun and it was a surprise. We got to the box office and he asked what we were doing. I told him we were buying 'tickets' to go to the 'theater'. These were new words for him. We got our tickets and went inside to the lobby. After buying some popcorn and running off some steam (a good idea since he was going to have to sit for about an hour) I found some big, black and white photos of the theater. I showed him the photos and explained, "This is a theater where you see a show. We are going to sit in the seats and watch the show."

About 15 minutes before showtime we made a stop at the bathroom (another good idea before a long show). Then as we were about to go in I explained that there was something important to tell him. I explained that when we go in that we were going to have to sit nicely in our seats and use a quiet voice, and that we would watch a special show.

The great thing about this type of event is that since its all kids attending you don't have to worry if your kid is talking too loud or jumping around in his seat!

When the show began his face lot up! It was priceless! He seemed mesmerized and excited to see Sesame Street characters singing and dancing right in front of him! We were encouraged to sing along, clap along, and even shout out the letter and number of the day!

This show was particularly interesting for me because it was about a music teacher who moves to Sesame Street but here moving truck hasn't arrived with all of her instruments. So, her new friends have to find things to use as instruments to make music. The kids learn about a scale which corresponds to the number of the day - can you guess it? They learn about how music is all around you and everybody can make music. Another special element was that the Sesame Street friends kept their plan a secret in order to surprise the music teacher. I was able to point out to my nephew that this was going to be a surprise, just like us going to the show was a surprise!

I was a little surprised that the show had an intermission. I expected it to be a forty minute to an hour show, but it was 40 minutes with a 15 minute intermission, followed by another 30 minutes. Still, the kids did well sitting through it.

This was truly a wonderful experience and I would highly encourage parents to take their kids to introduce them to the world of theater. It's important to teach our kids about different things, to expose them to different types of art and culture, and to teach them how to act in various situations. If they experience it at a young age they may be more inclined to understand it and appreciate it later on. And they'll know how to behave too!

Now Available: Xylophone Fun Volume 2

Volume 2: Introducing New Songs

Does your child love music? Have you thought about introducing your child to piano? Here is a simple method to introduce your child to basic music reading skills that can be later transferred to learning piano.

Research shows that music engages both sides of the brain and is very beneficial in enhancing learning. Xylophone Fun targets motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills such as letter recognition, matching, and patterns.

Xylophone Fun Volume 2 Ebook:

• Six simple songs to build on what was learned in Volume 1

• To be used with Basic Beat Resonator Bells or Desk Bells

• Use with Ipad, Tablet, Computer, Smartboard, or Print and Laminate

Included in your ebook (pdf file) is a xylophone layout, xylophone visuals, and six songs, as well as hints on how to use the resource.

                                   On Sale Now!
                                              $4.99

Visit rhythmsforliving.com to purchase your copy today! Or click here to purchase now.

Embracing the Benefits of Music - Part 1

                                                                     Image by Joyce Hesselberth

As I've been preparing for an upcoming workshop, I've been reading many articles about the benefits of music. Its refreshing to reiterate for myself the importance of the work I am involved in. My reading has re-energized me, motivated me to continue what I'm doing, and rekindle my own personal music making.

I've been an advocate for music education for as long as I can remember so this is not "new" for me. I began piano lessons at age 5 and continued through college where I completed a degree in Music Education and Piano. Were there times that I didn't like it and wanted to quit? Sure, many. But my dear mother wouldn't let me quit, and I'm eternally grateful for that. I admire the role parents play in their children's lives when it comes to extra-curricular activities. I find with children today that our society emphasizes the quick results, get it now type of attitude which often leaves people giving up on their current interest to quickly move on to something new. You know the phrase, "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going". Unfortunately many of us in today's society have this attitude in work, marriage, relationships, and even leisure activities.

I applaud parents who help guide their kids to find an interest and then motivate them to keep exploring and learning in that area. Learning to stick with something, even when it is difficult, is a great skill to have.

Music education, or the learning of music, whether it be taking a music lesson or learning about the history and appreciation of music, has many benefits to children. Research is continually telling us that studying music has benefits not only when children are in school but for the rest of their lives. Researchers have been able to study the brain and compare brains of non-musicians to musicians and the results are encouraging.

Children who study music have improved attention and memory skills which help them do better in school, do better in math and reading, and score higher on SATs.

Older adults who begin experiencing hearing loss are often able to pick out speech in a noisy environment better if they had studied music. Through music study we strengthen our central auditory processing skills in the brain that aid us in hearing speech more clearly even after we begin losing our peripheral hearing.

Most importantly, music is fun and enjoyable! We can't forget that even though there are many wonderful benefits of music for us academically and physically, music touches us emotionally in a very powerful way. Music can be a social experience connecting us with others, but it can also be very personal, evoking the strongest emotion from a place deep inside.

To read more about the study with older adults and hearing loss mentioned above, please click here.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Embracing the Benefits of Music

Concert Etiquette 101

Having recently attended a few concerts, recitals, and end of the year programs at schools I have been thinking about how things have changed over the years when it comes to society's standards for behavior. I won't get into the bigger issue here of society's standards but I would like to talk briefly about a little thing called, "Concert Etiquette".

Concert etiquette, or appropriate behavior during a concert, recital, or program, is something that needs used to be commonplace but now seems to need to be taught. As a music educator, it is my responsibility to teach my students how to behave appropriately during a performance program. I also need to encourage parents to practice and model appropriate behavior with their children when at other venues.

Here is an article from the National Association for Music Education that gives a handy 10 Rules for  Concert Etiquette for students who will be attending a concert. I think its a great reminder and a needed refresher for kids and adults alike!

Here are a few simple things to remember when attending any performance:

Concert Etiquette Tips:

1. Refrain from talking during the performance.

2. Make sure cell phones are on vibrate or turned off completely.

3. Do not "play" on phone, ipad, ds, or other electronic device.

4. Do not sing, hum, or tap along with the music - the people did not come to hear you

5. No gum, candy, or other food - definitely no candy or tissue wrappers

6. Dress appropriately - know the venue! If its a classical concert or performance at your local theater, wear something business casual to formal. If its a school performance or recital, business casual dress is fine. If its an outdoor concert in the park, jeans or shorts are ok. Avoid watches with alarms or dangly jewelry that makes noise.

7. Know when to applaud - many classical pieces have 3 movements and you should not applaud      between movements - follow the model of others if you are unsure.

8.  Photographs and Video Recording - again, know the venue! Have they asked for No Photography? If photography is allowed, be aware of others around you - don't stand up or hold your phone/camera in others line of sit. Don't get up and walk around in front of others to take pictures. If its important for you to get a shot sit on an aisle seat, stand in the back or on the side - try to remain inconspicous!

9. Wait until the performance is completely over before jumping up and running out the door! Its very important to respect the performers and give them your full attention. Take the time to give them full applause to show your praise!

10. Open your mind to new things - the music or type of performance may not be your "preferred" type but give it a chance, with an open mind - you might be surprised!

You Are My Sunshine...From Birth to the Grave

Music therapists like to say that we can use music with people "from birth to the grave" because we work with so many populations, with people of all ages. One of the things I appreciate about my job is that I get to work with so many different people in different stages of life. Today for instance, I started with a visit to a sweet little lady who is 103 years young! As I was singing You Are My Sunshine, one of her favorites, I realized that later this evening I would get to use the same song in a very different way.

For this lady, this song is a familiar sound which helps her feel a sense of calm. It probably also brings to mind a time much earlier in her life when she first heard it or perhaps she associates a time, place, or person to it. Presenting this song to her encourages her to sing along and connect to this moment. What a joy to watch her!

This evening I will be offering a monthly support group for NICU parents at our local hospital. Parents who have premature infants in the NICU are often anxious, stressed, and exhausted. They just want their baby to get healthy and strong and take them home to start their lives as a family. In this instance I am there to meet with parents to make sure they have a support system in place, that they are getting what they need, and to share with them how music can help them and their babies. One of the things that I encourage parents to do it sing with their babies which not only helps the baby but helps the parent bond with the baby. Tonight I will be helping parents to write their own lullaby to sing to their baby, using You Are My Sunshine as a model.

I feel so blessed to share the gift of music with so many people! Music truly is a wonderful thing!

(image found on zazzle.com)

Singable Stories

Today I'd like to feature another favorite resource of mine: Singable Stories! These are great for parents and kids to do together. While you are sitting down together to read books, why not have some that you can sing too?

Benefits of singing books:

1. Bonding with your child
2. Encouraging language development
3. Encouraging music development
4. Tapping into both sides of the brain simultaneously
5. Mixing it up from your other "reading" books

There are many simple children's songs that have books that you can sing along to. For instance, Five Little Monkeys, Baby Beluga, Down By The Station, Five Green Frogs, Six Little Ducks, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly (and many variations), Wheels on the Bus, and many more!

If you are up for a longer book that will really grab your kids attention, try Iza Trapani's collection. These beautifully illustrated books are well known songs with several added verses. Here are a few that I have and use:

• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (or Brilla, Brilla Linda Estrella - Spanish Edition)
• The Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Row, Row, Row Your Boat
• I'm A Little Teapot
• It's Raining, It's Pouring
• How Much Is That Doggie In The Window
• Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
• Mary Had A Little Lamb
• Shoo Fly!

To purchase or learn more about these books click here: Rhythms For Living: Recommended Resources

How Can Music Help My Preemie?

NICU: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for infants who are born early

For a few months now I've had the opportunity to join The Children's Healing Institute to offer a NICU support group for parents. Parents who have an infant in the NICU often deal with a multitude of feelings including anxiety, fear, disappointment, and worry. Mothers have a hard time bonding with their infant due to the barrier of an isolette and a maze of cords, and may feel nervous even trying to hold their baby. Many mothers have the added frustration of trying to pump milk for their infant without having their infant with them. In our groups we are able to discuss their feelings, make sure that they are getting the supper that they need, and offer ideas for ways to enhance their time in the NICU.

As a board certified music therapist with the NICU Music Therapist credential, I am able to educate parents on the many benefits of music therapy for their preemie, and even how music can help them deal with their feelings and stress. 

I complied a list of ways that music can help preemies and their parents while in the NICU and after discharge. I thought I would share it here with you. If you know of any parent who is going through the difficult situation of being in the NICU, please share this info with them and have them check out my resources for NICU parents on my website at rhythmsforliving.com.

If you would like more information on the NICU Music Therapy credential or how we use music therapy in the NICU please click here.