Irvine

Children’s Hospital Performs “Roar”

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I found this video this morning and had to share it with you. Notice how the children smile, their eyes glimmer.  Notice how the staff look at each other, and laugh when they make a mistake. Notice the men in suits. Notice the connection between nurses and patients. Notice that they are in a hospital, yet experiencing a positive experience through music.

 

What an inspirational video.  I hope you take the few minutes to watch.

Click here to visit CHaD’s site.

Intention

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Today I attended Irvine’s local Music Teacher Association of California (MTAC) meeting. The lecture was “Making a LIVING as an Independent Music Teacher.” Here’s what I took away from it…   There is an intention for each lesson.  The student must: 1. Have an A+ experience 2. Be aware of something learned and make progress 3. … Read more

Sensory Processing Disorder

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If you’ve seen or worked with a child with Autism, it’s very likely that you’ve encountered a child who has issues processing information.  I’ve worked with children who need a lot of input (Hypo-Reactive Nervous System): they might enjoy really deep pressure and tend to enjoy very loud noises. I’ve also worked with the opposite, where a kiddo becomes over-aroused from too much input (Hyper-Reactive Nervous System): doesn’t like to be touched, is over sensitive to certain textures, and loud noises bother them.  As a music therapist, it is important to get to know the client, how they process their environment, and plan sessions accordingly.

Here are some great ways to help a child cope and benefit from school/therapy who might be struggling with SPD:

  • Set routines/schedules (Keep things consistent with a good flow)
  • Use visuals (I cannot stress the importance of this while working with any child with ASD)
  • Use timers (Set them up for success: First we will do 5 minutes of work and Then you get to play)
  • Provide fidget toys/breaks (I have a bin of toys I keep handy with squeeze balls, play-doh, etc.)

I came across this flier (link attached) from North Shore Pediatric that perfectly describes and outlines Sensory Processing Disorder.  I’m actually going to print it and keep it to continuously refer to as new clients come in for treatment.