TME Tuesday - Ta-ti Instrument Game

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In my current music therapy iteration as school-based music therapist, I have a bit of a responsibility to my clients. This may be the only time they get any type of music education taught to them by someone who understands their unique ways of learning, so I teach some basic music concepts. One of the concepts that my clients figure out quickly is that of reading rhythms. We use rhythm wheels, instrument play, and sheet music to decode rhythms. Today's Therapeutic Music Experience (TME) is centered around reading rhythm in a game format. It's always good to see if skills have generalized from one format to another. Games are good for generalization!

Here you go! As always, comments are welcome!
 

Purpose: To assess mastery of Ta-ti recognition; to assess mastery of Ta-ti notation patterns; gross motor development; fine motor development; sustained attention to task; entrainment to external stimulus; short-term memory; impulse control through waiting for turn until indicated; multi-step directives

Source: Original game. © 12/27/2010 by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC

Materials: Prepared large rhythm cards with Ta and ti indications – may use cards with Ta-a if relevant to the group playing the game; instrument cards; percussion instruments to correspond with cards; egg timer(s); OPTIONAL: external steady beat either on CD playing or using instrument to maintain steady beat

Environment: Instruments scattered around the room for use during the game; group members sitting in circle (either on the floor or in chairs) where they are able to see rhythm cards

Procedure: R = Reinforcement opportunities; C = Redirection/Cue opportunities; A = Assessment
  1. Set up game by placing instruments around the perimeter of the room – gain assistance from group members if possible
  2. C=show group members the cards for rhythms and the instrument cards. Ask group members to identify what the pictures/rhythms indicate
  3. A=assess which group members can recognize rhythmic patterns by name or by clapping
  4. A=assess which group members can recognize the instruments indicated by the cards through either naming the instruments or pointing to the instruments’ locations in the room
  5. C=provide additional review/instruction to group members who are unfamiliar with information presented on the cards
  6. R=reinforce correct information presented by group members through verbal and nonverbal means
  7. Start game
  8. C= (may start metronome or steady beat at this point to assist with entrainment to external stimulus) demonstrate how to play the game by modeling. Choose an egg timer, flip it over, and choose a rhythm card and an instrument card. Move to the correct instrument as indicated on the instrument card and play the correct rhythm. Return to seat and flip over new cards. Play as many combinations as possible until the egg timer runs out. Tally up how many combinations completed in time allotted. Challenge group members to finish as many or more combinations in time allotted.
  9. Repeat step 8 with group members completing all tasks
  10. A=assess if group members are able to retain pattern for time required to find instrument and play pattern
  11. R=reinforce correct pattern play by giving a point/tally for each pattern completed during the indicated time
  12. Repeat steps 8-11 until all group members have had a turn to be the timed participant

Therapeutic Function of Music: The music is the format for assessing and testing group members’ awareness of music notation and instruments. The correct completion of indicated patterns further denotes that group members are able to understand music notation. The juxtaposition of instruments and rhythm patterns challenges group members’ memories, especially short-term retention and recall.

Adaptations:
  • Change the amount of time to complete patterns
  • Simplify the patterns to accommodate different functioning levels
  • Use large and small examples of each instrument to indicate Ta and ti. For example, use frog cuicos and assign Ta’s to the large frog and ti’s to the small frog. Group members have to move from frog to frog in addition to moving through the instrument and the rhythm pattern

Extensions:
  • Set up competition between group members or between group and therapist
  • Randomly choose the egg timer to produce different times for completion – do not indicate which egg timer provides the longest time

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