Education

Establishing Relevant Goals in Music Therapy

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Establishing Relevant Goals in Music Therapy The American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program”.   What happens during a music therapy assessment? During a music therapy … Read more

5 Interesting Facts of Music History

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1. The oldest discovered musical instrument is 40,000 years old Two flutes found in a cave in Germany are made of bird bone and mammoth ivory. These instruments are dated to what is considered the prehistoric period of music, or the time before music was notated. Due to the lack of notation, it’s difficult to … Read more

Stretches for Musicians

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Playing an instrument doesn’t feel the same as playing a sport. When you play a sport, you’re on your feet, you might be sweaty and out of breath, you feel your muscles burn and ache. Playing an instrument is usually done sitting down, breathing slowly and carefully, and using fine motor movements in your elbows, … Read more

5 Essential Practicing Tips

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Here are a few tips to help your music practice (or any other practice, for that matter) become more efficient and helpful, rather than discouraging and upsetting.   Slow down When you’re learning, it takes time for your brain and body to synchronize. Give plenty of space for synchronization to happen by taking things very, … Read more

Life Skills Learned in a Music Lesson

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Anyone who studied music knows that learning an instrument is so much more than meets the eye. The discipline and perseverance involved ultimately make you a better person in life, and here’s why: Learning How to Learn Research has shown that the best way to learn is through spaced repetition–repeating a few times across several … Read more

Learning with Music Can Change Brain Structure

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Using musical cues to learn a physical task significantly develops an important part of the brain, according to a new study. People who practiced a basic movement task to music showed increased structural connectivity between the regions of the brain that process sound and control movement. The findings focus on white matter pathways — the … Read more

“Let’s Play Music” and “Sound Beginnings” Classes

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Play Your Part will be offering Let’s Play Music and NEW Sound Beginnings classes beginning this fall. If you’d like to try it out this summer, we will be hosting several FREE sample classes.

 

Sounds Beginnings (0-4 yrs)–click on a date to register for FREE

Children learn best when they feel loved and nurtured. This fact is the core of the Sound Beginnings philosophy. Sound Beginnings provides the structure for natural play between a parent and his or her child. Taking us back to days before electronic stimulus, buttons and screens, Sound Beginnings gives the parents the tools to connect with their child on an intimate, playful level. These tools, both musical and literary, provide a solid framework for a child to learn, thrive and flourish.

Now, that’s a sound beginning.

Monday, July 10th at 3:30pm in Mission Viejo

Thursday, July 13th at 10:15am in Mission Viejo

Friday, July 14th at 9:30am in Orange

Saturday, July 15th at 11:00am in Mission Viejo

 

Let’s Play Music (4-6 yrs) (email brianna@playyourpartmusic.com to register for FREE)

Let’s Play Music is a music theory course that emphasizes total musicianship through piano playing, singing, classical music, note reading and ear training…and it’s all accomplished through PLAY!

Saturday, June 17th at 10:00am in Mission Viejo

Saturday, July 15th at 10:00am in Mission Viejo

Saturday, August 5th at 10:00am in Mission Viejo

 

National Institute of Health Teams Up with Music Therapy

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Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, Deborah Rutter, Director of the Kennedy Center, and renowned soprano, Renée Fleming, serving as an artistic ambassador for the Kennedy Center,  sponsored an historic research workshop, “Music and the Brain: Research Across the Lifespan,” on January 26-27, 2017.

Attended by some 100 participants, the NIH workshop included 25 panelists, of whom eight were music therapists: Joke Bradt, Christian Gold, Deforia Lane, Sheri Robb, Ed Roth, Elizabeth Stegemoller, Michael Thaut, and Connie Tomaino.

Dr. Robb’s opening keynote, “Advancing the Science of Music Therapy in Healthcare,” established a strong foundation about music therapy as a profession and provided an overview of the state of music therapy research. A second keynote was presented by Dr. Nina Kraus, “Making Sense of Sound for Communication and Brain Health.” AMTA national office staff, Dr. Andi Farbman, Barbara Else, and Judy Simpson collaborated with planners to provide a comprehensive picture of music therapy research.

Dr. Collins summed up the meeting by stating that it was an “amazing outpouring of information and a wonderful body of knowledge on music therapy and the neuroscience of music.” He acknowledged that music therapists and neuroscientists have been working on parallel paths; it is now time, however, for them to work in much closer proximity and collaborate to advance the science. A trans-NIH working group, which is quite unusual, to explore the topic of music and the brain on a variety of questions including therapeutic applications and music therapy, is a possible next step.

source: musictherapy.org

What is Autism?

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Disclaimer: The following article uses identity-first language. To read about why the Autistic community prefers identity-first language, click here. This information is adapted from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s resource “What is Autism?” for Autism Acceptance Month. What is autism? Autism is a developmental disability which affects language and communication, sensory processing and motor skills, cognition, … Read more

April is Autism Acceptance Month

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Courtesy of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for Autistic people.  What is Autism Acceptance Month? April is Autism Acceptance Month. During Autism Acceptance Month, we focus on sharing positive, respectful, and accurate information about autism and people with autism. Autism Acceptance Month promotes acceptance and celebration of people with … Read more