Music Therapy - What Happens Next?

by Beth McLaughlin, MSE, MT-BC

In 2015, Music Therapy was identified as an emerging practice in the National Autism Center's report on Evidence Based Practice. According to a recent survey, 43% of the nearly 600 music therapists working in New York State are working in educational settings. The top three school age populations served include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability and Sensory Impairment. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of music therapy interventions for improving communication skills, eliciting joint attention, enhancing perceptual motor skills and increasing social engagement.

As a music therapist with over 40 years of experience, I have found that music is unique in the ways that it engages people through its elements of rhythm, melody, form and timbre. A trained music therapist develops a relationship with the student by creating an environment that is shaped by these elements to promote learning and reinforce skill development. When working with young children, I have found that they are drawn to music because of the way it engages all the senses. Instruments have sound, shape and texture that are immediately accessible to the child. The form of a song (e.g. chorus/verse/chorus) offers a repeated, predictable structure that invites children to engage at their own pace and level of comfort. Music and rhythm invite children not only to act, but to act together so the experiences become inherently social.

Having spent my entire career at Wildwood School, I have had the privilege of working with some students and their families from elementary age through high school. During that time I often struggled with the question of 'what's next?' While developing music interventions to support a student's IEP has been a rewarding challenge, I have also hoped that the students' love of music would reach beyond school and into the community. With this goal in mind, I recently joined the teaching staff at The Music Studio, a local music school in Albany that in its 40 years has provided music instruction to upwards of 20,000 young people throughout the Capital District. The director of this school, Noel Liberty, has long had the vision of expanding her program to include classes for individuals with special needs. In the fall of 2016, we developed Circle of Friends, a fun and relaxing program designed to provide families an opportunity to engage with their young child and a small group of peers through singing, movement and instrument play. While these are not music therapy classes per se, I am drawing on my skills as a music therapist to promote the generalization of listening skills, social interaction and turn taking. Additionally, I offer individual piano instruction to students who have an interest in learning piano but require specific adaptations to the music or learning environment for their success. These students also have an opportunity to participate in field trips, recitals and integrated classes with their typical peers.

We are fortunate in the Capital District to have a very rich arts community. As these young people grow into adulthood, it is my hope that they maintain their love of music, becoming consumers of the arts in their community and sharing these experiences with family and friends.

For more information on Adapted Piano Instruction and Circle of Friends classes at The Music Studio call (518) 459-7799, email [email protected] or visit their website at www.themusicstudio.com