Music therapy helps a young man with developmental delays work on motor skills

One of the fun things working with special needs individuals is that they are a mirror of what you do.  I quickly find out the phrases that I say most because they start saying them.  I find out what I normally do at the end of a song because they start doing it before I can do it at the end of a song.  They also will follow my movements.

I was sitting at the piano with a young man with developmental disabilities.  He has some problems with sensory issues as well as problems with his motor skills.  Because of that, he moves very deliberately and slowly.  I am working on having him move through instrument playing a lot.  Then something fun and exciting happened when I was playing the piano with him. I tap my foot while playing the piano with out thinking about it.  He looks down at my leg while I am playing and then he starts tapping his foot in perfect rhythm while he is playing the piano with me.  We were really jamming together!

An important part of music therapy. Emotions.

I normally blog about a specific experience that I have had with a client, but this time I want to write in general about something that I think is so unique to music therapy.  When I work with people, I have specific goals that I am trying to reach.  Most of the time the goals are focused on social skills, speaking, motor skills, or communication.  But I think that music therapy has a very unique and special way to help people, which many of the other available therapies never seem to address: the emotions of the people that I work with. 

Emotions effect so many aspects of our lives.  If someone is in a good emotional state, than they excel in every other thing that they are working on.  Music has such a powerful way to effect our emotions.  When I am working with people, I am always mindful of their emotional state, and how the music therapy can help lift the clients.  I love when I can come and help someone go from agitated, frustrated and sometimes depressed to engaged, happy, and calm.  I never discount the power of the music to help the clients emotionally because once they are in a good emotional spot they will meet the other goals so much quicker.

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.