It is a pretty well known fact that if a student is a part of a smaller class, they get more individualized attention and thus increases learning rates and quality. While individual music therapy sessions are appropriate for many music therapy clients, group sessions can also be highly effective. Here is a must-read article highlighting a Chicago music therapist’s women’s group – http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/des-plaines/community/chi-ugc-article-music-therapist-goes-the-distance-for-maryvil-2015-12-15-story.html
Music Therapist Dalphne Sommario’s group consists of young women who have survived childhood abuse or trauma, have intellectual and behavioral disabilities, or are raising small children. With such diversity in this group setting, the music therapist has the ability to connect the members by using interventions such as singing, analyzing lyrics, songwriting, playing instruments and even dancing. These tactics allows the girls to reach their goals of coping appropriately by learning how to decrease every day stresses and anxieties. Dalphne pairs a lot of discussion with music, and allows the girls to speak of their personal feelings. This also gives the therapist a chance to address the use of appropriate social skills on a daily basis, and dive into discussions on self esteem and peer pressure. With such a range of goals to achieve, this article proves that they’re attainable through the use of music.
How does music affect you on a daily basis? Feel free to leave a comment below!