Music therapy with a child with autism

One of the most exciting thing is the first time you hear someone speak.  I was working with a young girl with autism in a music therapy group.  She can speak, but I had never heard speak.  Obviously this is not uncommon with people with autism.  I gave her plenty of opportunities to speak during the group, but she would never take it. 

At the end of the group I was singing the good bye song.  Out of the corner of my eye I see her mouthing the words.  Maybe not singing, but definately participating.  That was exciting.  When the group was over, the staff working with her encouraged her to say good bye to me.  Imagine my surprise and the suprise on the face of the staff member when she looked up at me and said, "Good bye Matthew."

Seeing a smile from Young Man with Autism

I have been working with a young adult with autism in Mountain Home Idaho recently.  His attention span is short, and his interactions with me have been short too.  He will interact for a few minutes at a time.  But everytime I go he interacts a little bit more.  The last time I worked with him I saw something amazing.  He was more interactive with me than he has ever been.  He was playing music in time, following simple directions in the songs and even singing with me.  But my favorite moment was when he looked at me and gave me a big smile.  I had never seen him smile before, and it was a beautiful smile and a beautiful moment I won't forget.

Music therapy with an adult with Autism

It is exciting showing people music therapy for the first time.  A lot of times people do not know what to expect.  I went and did an initial music therapy session recently with an adult with autism who lives with his mother.  The adult is nonverbal and has very little interaction with people.  When I got there the mother said she did not think that he would sit down.

When the music therapy started, not only did he sit down the entire time, but he played on instruments, followed directions in the music, frequently made eye contact with me, and even smiled when I did some "musical jokes."  It was fun to see and to work with him.  The mother commented how she thought he would have some interaction, but she was amazed at how much he did respond and interact.

Music therapy and dementia in Boise

Check out this video that I did a while ago with a woman with dementi that I worked with.  Her speech was limited to 2 to 3 words, but she was able to interact through music.  It also provided an opportunity for her to interact with her husband which he loved.  I remember the first time I went her husband was in tears and he just kept saying, "You do remember."

I am doing a music therapy open house tomorrow at my clinic space at 10112 Overland Rd Boise for people with dementia.  It is free.  It is from 5:30-6:30.  I would love to have as many people as possible.

Music Therapy helps a young adult with developmental delays find his voice

Music therapy can be so exciting when a break through happens.  I have been working with a young adult with developmental delays in a group for about a month.  This young man is able to speak a few words, but I have never heard him say to words in the correct context.  Last session while working with him in the context of the song we were doing he answered a question with an appropriate response.  It was awesome.  I saw the look of suprise on his mother's face and I got so excited.  It is moments like this that make me so thankful to be a music therapist.

Connections without words with a non verbal young man in Boise

I named my company Music Makes Connections for a reason.  It is so exciting to be able to connect with somebody in a way that nothing else can.  I have a nonverbal young man in a group that I work with.  He has difficulty following verbal cues.  Well, when working with recently I noticed that he began playing in perfect rhythm with me.  I started changing the tempo, and watched as he was matching my changes perfectly.  I have only been able to connect with him a little bit with words, but it was amazing to have a connection without words.

Music Therapy at a Skilled Nursing Facility in Idaho

I started music therapy for at a skilled nursing facility yesterday.  It was my first time working with them, and it was exciting to see their reactions.  It was great to see how music therapy helps people who normally do not interact to make eye contact, sing, and talk about their lives.

The was one resident in particular who had an amazing interaction.  The facility wheeled in a woman who was sleeping.  The activity director said that she has never seen the resident interact with anybody in any way as long as she has been working there (around 9 months).  During the session, there were two times that the resident mouthed the words to the song.  The staff was amazed.  It was great to be able to facilitate a connection with someone who has been so isolated for so long.

A young man with autism finds his voice through music therapy

While working with a young man with autism this week, I had an amazing experience.  The young man is hypoverbal, he rarely speaks.  The music therapy is helping him to speak more in the sessions and even in general.

This week I decided to improvise a song about him playing on the drum.  He is singing more and more of familiar songs so I thought I would try to get him to sing something new in that moment.  I set up a song with repeating words, and then left out the word drum to see if he would sing it.  He did which was great, but then something unexpected happened.  He started singing an improvised song himself about playing the drum.  It was amazing.  He continued singing for about 5 minutes.  It was very exciting to see him find his voice through the music.

Music therapy as a way to create a therapeutic relationship

A therapeutic relationship is key in any form of therapy.  If you don't have a trusting open therapeutic relationship, you can't make changes.  I am amazed at quickly a therapeutic relationship can be built through music therapy.

I am reminded of a person that I am working with who has had a lot of trauma in the past.  When she came in she was timid and had a difficulty expressing herself and what she wanted.  Then we played music together.  There was no words shared, just improvisational music.  The change after the music was significant.  Her thoughts were more organized, she had more confidence, and she opened up freely.  The music was able to quickly create a therapeutic relationship without any words.

Music Therapy breaking out of the Isolation of Autism

Many people with autism use music a lot.  Yet, most of the time they use music in isolation.  They put on their headphones and listen to music for hours and do not interact with anyone.  Or they watch the same youtube video over and over again.

For these individuals, music therapy is great at bringing them out of their isolation by using music as a way to interact with someone.  They sing with someone.  They play music in the same rhythm as someone, follow the directions of the music and learn how to use music to connect with someone.

I work with a young man with autism who is beginning to break out of using music in isolation.  He smiles when he notices that we are playing in the same rhythm and is beginning to sing with me.  The last song we use to sing good bye to each other.  I first sing using their name.  Then they get a chance to sing good bye to me using my name.  He has sung good bye to himself since the beginning.  But this time he looked at me and sang, "Good bye Matthew."  It was so exciting.

Progress in music therapy

Sometimes changes happen quickly in music therapy.  People are often astounded at the first time people make a strong connection during a session.  Sometimes changes happen over time of working with people.

While working with a child with sensory processing disorder in Meridian, I see small improvements in focus and connection every week.  This week I did something with him that I had not done for a few months and I was astounded at the difference.  Sometimes when we see just the small improvements it is important to realize that the collective change is amazing.

Music Therapy with someone with autism in Boise

It is great seeing the progress of people when doing music therapy.  I have been working with a young man with autism.  In the beginning I could get him to focus on me for a little bit, and he did sing one to two words when prompted.  Now, he comes in, asks for specific instruments, and initiates singing specific songs.  We can plan in rhythm together, and perhaps my favorite thing is to see his smiles and see how excited he is to come to the sessions.  His mother has also commented on how she has noticed that he is communicating and interacting more in general.  I love being a music therapist.

Music Therapy and Dementia in Eagle, Idaho

It is exciting to meet people for the first time and see there reaction to the music therapy.  I recently started working with a man in the later stages of dementia.  He could verbalize one to two word phrases and they were all out of context.  In short he had a disconnection with people and the world around him.  But because music therapy is awesome (I'm pretty sure there is research that proves it is awesome), as soon as the music began his face lit up and he sang with me for the entire session.  The music made a connection with him, and he was able to make meaningful connection with his wife through the music as well.

Music Therapy with a Nonverbal Adult in Boise

Sometimes it is interesting the things that excite me during a music therapy session.  One of the great things about music therapy is that it is personal to each individual.  Everybody has different things that we are working on through music therapy.  I got really excited about a seemingly small thing because it was a huge step with the person I was working with.

I have been working with a nonverbal young adult woman for a while, and she has a real difficulty connecting with people and especially with playing an instrument by herself.  This week I kept encouraging her to play my keyboard.  I held it out to her, and she started reaching her hand out.  That was a big step in and of itself for her.  But I kept the keyboard there and she reached her hand closer and closer to the keys until she played a note.

After she played the note she got the biggest smile on her face.  She got out of her chair and gave me a big hug. Who knew that one note on the keyboard could bring that much excitement and connection.

Music Therapy dealing with intense emotions in Boise

I am working with a young man in Boise who is working on a dealing with some intense emotions.  One of the beautiful things about music therapy is that we can address things without the client realizing that is what we are addressing.  So during our music therapy sessions, I am teaching him different things on the guitar and we are playing and singing different music and generally "jamming out" as he likes to call it.  In between we talk about using music as a positive outlet, and he discusses his feelings.  We have written songs talking about what is going on with him.

During the session he looked up at me and he said, "You don't know how much I look forward to this every week.  This is really the only thing that I look forward to."  So, I am able to help him work through his difficult and intense emotions without ever having to ask him, "how are you feeling?" or say "let's talk about your emotions."

Unexpected music therapy outcome in Meridian

Music therapy can address specific needs, and sometimes it can have positive effects without having specifically addressed them.  There is a young man that I am working with in Meridian who is nonverbal and also has a lot of difficulty swallowing.  One of the goals that I am doing with him is working on using his voice more.  He is doing singing (though he doesn't form words) and he is beginning to verbalize when I ask him questions.  That in and of itself is great.  We want to see him using his voice as much as we can, and his verbalizations are getting more clear so that family is saying that they are understanding him more.

There is another effect that has occurred because he is using his voice more.  The family has noticed that his incident of choking has gone down most likely because he is using his voice more and strengthening the muscles.  One of the things I love about music therapy is that like anything there is side effects.  However, music therapy's side effects are positive rather than negative.

An Experience with a Music Therapy Group in Boise

Doing music therapy in groups has a different dimension than individual music therapy.  Sometimes it is the peers that they are interacting with that bring things out of them.  Recently while doing a music therapy group I saw an amazing interaction.

One of the participants is very withdrawn and one of the participants is very outgoing.  It is really fun to see the outgoing person really draw something special out of the withdrawn person.  This was really evident when we started to do some dancing to the music.  I have not seen the withdrawn person dance, but when her peer came over and asked her to dance she stood up, had the biggest smile on her face and danced with him for the whole song.

Music Therapy Open House in Ontario Oregon!
(for Anyone with a Barrier to Communication, Learning, or Wellness)

 How Much? 

FREE!!  The idea is to raise awareness about music therapy and how it can help people - so even if you are just a little curious (or maybe just bored on a Friday night), come and check it out! Plus, light refreshments will be provided. Free food and live music, you can’t beat that!

Why?

Because Music Makes Connections. The benefits of music therapy are numerous, but include empowering people with a variety of barriers to engage with others in a fun and nonthreatening way, develop strong relationships, manage emotions, improve memory/cognition, and to learn things about music and about themselves in a unique and powerful way.

When?

Friday, June 1st from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Location:

THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 

(click the link to see a map)

212 SE 10TH STREET

ONTARIO,  OREGON

Who?

Anyone with a barrier to communication, learning, or wellness should be there (and their families can come too =).  Examples of people who find music therapy beneficial include those with autism, developmental/cognitive delays, dementia/Alzheimer’s, hearing loss/cochlear implantation, mental illness (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc), chronic pain, stroke-related deficits (especially those with aphasia), Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders, and people struggling with addiction.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please RSVP so we can know how many to plan on (but feel free to stop on by anyway even if you don’t- we are always up for a surprise  =).

music therapy with stroke patient with aphasia in Boise

It has been fun working with a stroke patient with aphasia.  Aphasia is a very frustrating condition where they can understand everything that is happening, and they know what they want to say, but they just can't form the words.  Because of the way that music is processed in the brain, people are able to form words when singing before they can form words through speaking.  It is an exciting moment when we are doing music and she is singing and suddenly she forms a word.  The look of excitement and almost surprise is priceless.

I am doing some more work for people with aphasia in June through the Idaho State extension with a pilot program.  If you know anybody who might be interested, please let me know.

Radio Podcast

Please check out me on the radio on a program called Piece of Mind.  Here is the podcast:http://pieceofmind.me/ftp___pieceofmind.me/Podcast/Entries/2012/5/12_Matthew_Jordan_Music_Therapist__Music_as_Medicine.html

In the podcast I talk about music therapy and play some of the music that I have done with people.  It was interesting to be on the radio.  I've never been in a radio station before.  I don't know how much sense I made because I was really nervous.

Smiles through music therapy

Great things in life happen in small moments.  One of my favorite things while doing music therapy is seeing the smiles.  Smiles for most people is a regular occurrence, but for some people smiles rarely happen.  They are stuck in confusion through dementia or frustration because of a stroke.  Sometimes it just difficulty connecting with people.  It is amazing when I see these people smile.  I just love being able to see a change from frustration, confusion, pain, or disconnection to eye contact and a big smile.  Smiles are a thing that most people take for granted, but I have seen smiles that were miraculous.

Music Therapy in Boise

It is really true that music makes connections when nothing else can.  I was working with a young girl with Asperger's for the first time.  She was hesitant to engage, but once the music started she became much more animated she began telling me of connections that she had to different music.  The more we did music together the more she began to smile and began to interact with me.  At the end her mother came and told me that she does not talk to anyone, and she was amazed with how much she talked with me.  It is moments like that which makes me glad that I am a music therapist.

Music therapy and dementia patients in Nampa

While working with clients who have dementia, I have seen many connections made.  While doing music with them connections are the rule not the exception.  I remember seeing a patient in Nampa for the first time.  She lived with her husband of 60 years who was looking for some way to reconnect with her.  Almost immediately as I started doing music, the client began to sing.  A shock look came on the husbands face and he began to cry.  During the session he kept looking at his wife and saying, "See you do remember.  You do remember."  I love being able to give people those chances to reconnect and break through the barriers that come with dementia.

Experience of Music Therapy in Boise, Idaho

I love being a music therapist. I have been able to see some amazing things. It really is true what the tagline to my company says, "music makes connections when nothing else can." Yesterday while working with someone that idea really came home.

I was working with an individual who has limited speech. By working with her, I have got her to sing quite a bit with me. Although she sings, it is very difficult to get her to play any instruments. That is kind of an unusual thing with people I work with. I try almost every session to get her to play some instrument and most sessions she will shake a tambourine maybe once or twice. She is progressively doing more, and we had a breakthrough yesterday.

I brought a djembe, an African drum, with me. I've brought it before and she has showed some interest so I was hoping she would engage more than other sessions. It took a little bit of encouragement, but she began to play a little bit. I would play and then she would take a turn. After a few turns, I did a rhythmic pattern and to my surprise she then did the same rhythmic pattern. My eyes grew wide and she gave me a big smile. I started playing more complex rhythms and she would do them all the way to two measure rhythms. She began laughing at the end and I was so happy to make that connection.

It was a small experience, but it was so exciting to be able to connect in a different way with the client.

Boise - Music Therapy for Children with Special Needs

Music Makes Connections has Partnered with Idaho Parents Unlimited/VSA to provide music therapy for children with special needs!

Our two groups at IPUL/VSA's downtown Boise location include:

Fundamental Skill-building (including nonverbal participants) 

This group is for youth 11-17 and is held Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Through fun musical exercises, these youth will have the opportunity to learn critical communicative skills including verbal initiation, turn-taking, and social reciprocity. 

Social Skill-building and Behavior Redirection

This group is for youth ages 5-12 and is held Fridays 4:30 to 5:30 pm. Music in this group will be used as a means to help the children learn positive mood expression, respect for others, and listening skills.  

Location: 

IPUL/VSA facility at:

500 S 8th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Please call (208) 405-9454 or email info@musicmakesconnections.com for more info.

Boise - Music Therapy for Youth at the YMCA

Improving Social Skills and Behavior through Music for Youth Ages 7 and up

An increasing number of children are struggling with managing social situations and behavior. In the hands of an experienced music therapist, music can help focus your child’s energy and provide a creative outlet for appropriate expression and interaction. Through therapeutic musical exercises, your child will enjoy positive peer interactions and learn how to communicate in meaningful (and fun) ways.

This group meets from 4:00 to 5:00 pm on Wednesdays at the West YMCA.

Please call 208-405-9454 or email info@musicmakesconnections.com if you are interested. 

A Music Therapy Resource for People in Idaho and Eastern Oregon

Have you ever felt frustrated at the lack of services for your loved one with special health or learning needs? 

When we tell people we do music therapy, one thing that often comes to mind is that we fix people who can't carry a tune in a bucket. Music therapy is actually an established healthcare profession (60+ years) that can help address a number of issues including mood and behavior management, developmental skill-building, communication, motor skills, grief and stress, anxiety, chronic pain management, sensory integration, mental illness, memory loss, neurological disorders, and perception and expression for people with hearing loss.

Music therapy fills a critical gap in whole-person care that empowers people to connect with their own senses as well as building therapeutic relationships with others in a uniquely expressive and enjoyable way. 

Clear as mud? Take a stroll on the American Music Therapy Association's website to learn more:  

http://www.musictherapy.org/

You can also visit our website: 

http://www.musicmakesconnections.com

The purpose of this blog is to provide resources, information, and dialogue for supporters of music therapy and those who aren't yet sure about music therapy, but who are seeking effective interventions for their loved ones in Idaho and Eastern Oregon. 

Contact us at info@musicmakesconnections.com to learn more or to schedule a free presentation of music therapy for you or your organization.