music, therapy, and me

I spend lots of time coming up with therapeutic music experiences (TMEs) that I forget about when I am coming up with session strategies. Here's one of those TMEs. Now, in all honesty, I've done this before and most of my clients aren't coordinated to "skate" with two feet, and I am not coordinated enough to "skate" with only one foot, so that's why we haven't done this particular TME in my clinic recently. I'm too scared of falling. We have done this before, and it can be lots of fun. Just watch out for those who fall...  Therapeutic Music Experiene Skating - Motor Development Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC Purpose : To address gross motor skill development; to address vestibular sensory integration; to address proprioceptive sensory integration; body coordination; entrainment to an external stimulus Source : Idea developed by the Music, Movement, Art and Rhythmic Sensations Team at Lakemary Center, Inc. TME developm...

In honor of the Winter Solstice (coming up this week in the Northern Hemisphere), here is a song that I wrote for sing about winter (one of the TME collections offered on my website). Therapeutic Music Experience The Cold and Dark of Winter Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC Purpose : To introduce topic of weather and season; To encourage discussion about emotional changes with different seasons; To reinforce concept of weather changes; social awareness and interaction; relaxation Source : Original song and TME development by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC. © 2015 by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC. All Rights Reserved. Materials : None Environment : Group members within earshot of leader Song/Chant/Words : The cold and dark of winter can seem so very long. The quiet snow is falling, the wind is very strong. But even on the darkest night, the stars are there twinkling bright. The cold and dark of winter will become Spring ‘ere long. Procedure...