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Book: Jingle Bells

Book: Jingle Bells

by | Dec 14, 2021

Blog post written by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC | Song recorded by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

The Christmas season is filled with many traditions. When I was growing up, my parents would allow my sister and I to open one present on Christmas Eve. I was always the first one awake on Christmas morning, ready for what the day had in store! I didn’t realize how Christmas traditions are vastly different around the world until I read Jingle Bells by Iza Trapani for the first time. 

I’m fairly certain we all know the first couple of verses to the classic song “Jingle Bells.” In Iza Trapani’s interpretation, the lyrics are changed to fit the story: traveling around the world to different countries and learning about the Christmas traditions there! Throughout the story, the reader learns about Christmas traditions in a variety of countries including Mexico, Sweden, the Philippines, and Kenya. When reading this story with your child, you can help them practice many skills such as geography, reading comprehension, and inferencing.

Geography

Within this story, the reader is shown and told about the Christmas traditions and countries all over the world. This is a great opportunity to practice geography skills with your child and to help them locate the different countries on a map or a globe. You could also work on directional skills and ask your child where a particular country is in relation to the United States.

Reading comprehension

In the back of this book, there is more information about the traditions in each country mentioned in the story. Read this information with your child and ask them questions to encourage growth of comprehension skills. What do children in Mexico look forward to on Christmas Eve? Where can children in Italy find their presents on Christmas morning? At what time do people in Poland begin eating Christmas dinner?

Inferencing

This book also gives children the opportunity to work on their inferencing skills. Encourage your child to think about the different traditions in each country while looking at the pictures in the book. Are the children in each country pictured as feeling happy? Why do you think they feel happy? How would you feel if you participated in a different tradition?

If you would like to use a recorded version of Iza Trapani’s version of “Jingle Bells,” I recorded this one for your use!

Jingle Bells

by Iza Trapani | Sung by: Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

Although Christmas traditions vary around the world, it is often a time to spend with friends and family. Whether you are celebrating new traditions or continuing on with family traditions, we hope you and your family enjoy this holiday season!

If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

Finding Peace on Earth

Finding Peace on Earth

by | Dec 7, 2021

 

Written by Amy Thomas, LCAT, MT-BC, C-DBT

As we wind down 2021 with all its twists and turns we look toward a new year. Most people look forward with hope, that life might be easier, less chaotic, and filled with family, friends, good health and happiness. Christmas and Holiday cards send best wishes for a joyous and peaceful new year. There is a very real hunger and thirst for peace, for peace on this earth.

If we look at the ranking of the 20 most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index 2021, we will find that the top three countries are Iceland, New Zealand, and Denmark. If you reside in the United States of America, you will find that it is not listed in the top 20. So, unless we plan to relocate, we will need to find ways of finding peace on earth right where we live.

The song Let There Be Peace on Earth was written in 1955. The folksong movement of the 1950s through the ’70s produced many songs known for their ease of singing, clear texts, and prophetic messages. The words were written by Jill Jackson and the melody by her husband Sy Miller. The development of these lyrics came from a powerful story of discovery.

In an interview with Jill she shared the following. “When I attempted suicide [in 1944] and I didn’t succeed,” she said, “I knew for the first-time unconditional love, which God is. You are totally loved, totally accepted, just the way you are. In that moment I was not allowed to die, and something happened to me, which is very difficult to explain. I had an eternal moment of truth, in which I knew I was loved, and I knew I was here for a purpose.” It was approximately ten years later when the couple took their song and their story to a California retreat in the mountains. The retreat was attended by a large group of young people with various socioeconomic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. During the retreat the focus was developing friendships through building relationships through the offering of many educational and musical opportunities.

Sharing these lyrics with the youth at the retreat allowed for them to discover the importance of overcoming societal boundaries. Friendship and love know no bounds, and this understanding is an origin of peace. Can you imagine 180 teenagers standing in a circle, locking arms, and singing this with united voices?

Let there be peace on Earth
And let it begin with me.
With God our creator,
Family all are we.
Let us walk with each other
In perfect harmony.

The simplicity of the song’s meaning, peace on Earth begins with you and me, spread as they returned home from the retreat. Over time it was heard across the globe. Over the years it has been recorded by many artists. We thought it was appropriate and special to share this rendition by the Voices of Hope Children’s Virtual Choir.

 

Did you know, from 11:30 p.m. on December 31st to 12:30 a.m. on January 1st each year, is recognized as the Universal Hour of Peace? The day encourages the promotion of peaceful activities during the hour of observance. What can we do on this day and the following days to live out and share the message of peace? It begins with us.

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Nov 16, 2021

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC  An old lady, a turkey, a football, and a boat. You may be asking, “What do these specific objects have in common?” If you have small children at home, you’ve probably heard or read the book There Was an Old Lady...

Music Therapy for Children with Chronic Pain

Music Therapy for Children with Chronic Pain

Nov 2, 2021

Blog written by Katie Pistilli, MT-BC Chronic pain impacts an individual's entire life. Not only are there physical symptoms to cope with, but there is the emotional struggle of accepting that the pain is indefinite. While chronic pain is a tragedy for anyone going...

Sounds That Scare Our Children

Sounds That Scare Our Children

Oct 24, 2021

,It can be common to see children plug their ears or show displeasure toward an unexpected, loud, high pitched or popping sound. However, how do we know when it is time to get professional help for our child whose responses appear severe?  A quick reaction to a sound...

Should I Become a Music Therapist?

Should I Become a Music Therapist?

by | Nov 30, 2021

Blog written by Katie Pistilli, MT-BC

Do you love music and want to make a career of it? It might seem like music education or performance degrees are the only majors out there, but that is far from the truth. Thankfully, there is the fulfilling profession of music therapy! Aspiring music therapists, this one is for you.  

Music therapy is a profession that traverses medical, education, mental health, and creative fields. You will notice some of the questions below seemingly have nothing to do with music. In time you will learn that they have everything to do with music therapy.  

For those of you asking the question should I become a music therapist? We encourage you to ask yourself these questions:  

    • Do you play an instrument and have the desire to learn more of them?  
    • Are you drawn to the fields of psychology and neuroscience? 
    • Do you enjoy reading and appreciate research? 
    • Are you interested in learning about medical diagnosis, treatments, and procedures? 
    • Do you enjoy singing with a group of people? 
    • Do you consider yourself an empathetic person who enjoys helping others? 
    • Would you consider yourself supportive of the mental health field? 
    • Do you think music can help people learn or communicate? 
    • Could you see yourself working with a team of non-musical professionals (teachers, nurses, speech therapists, etc.)? 
    • Do you enjoy creating your own music, improvising, or songwriting? 
    • Do you consider music to be healing? 

If you answered “yes” to a few of these questions, music therapy might be the profession for you! A music therapist must be a musician among many other things. Your creativity and drive are at the center of the process. If some of the questions felt a little out of reach, don’t worry. The beauty of learning is that it is a process, and you have all the time to cultivate the skills you need to be a successful clinician! 

If you are still deciding whether to pursue music therapy, consider reaching out and talking to a practicing therapist. To get you started, we interviewed some of the music therapists on the UMTC team. They were asked the question: “Why did you become a music therapist?” Perhaps you can relate to some of their answers.

Jamie

“When I discovered music therapy as a field, I wanted to combine my love for music with my interest in the medical field and bring the joy of music to those who were going through a hard time.” 

Erin

“Music was a huge part of my life in high school, and I have also always loved helping people. When I learned about the field of music therapy my senior year of high school, I realized it was the best of both worlds!” 

Rebecca

“In high school, I was deciding between nursing and teaching music. When I heard about music therapy, I knew that it was the perfect marriage of using music to help others.” 

Do any of these answers resonate with you? UMTC is grateful to be a part of the Rochester, NY music therapy community and beyond. We are here to answer any questions you have about our profession and educational opportunities in the area.

Stay tuned for a blog we’ll be releasing in the coming weeks called: How Do I Become a Music Therapist? 

UMTC Educational Opportunities
Decreasing Bedtime & Morning Stress

Decreasing Bedtime & Morning Stress

Apr 27, 2021

Many parents know the challenge of getting their children to wind down and finish necessary tasks before bed each night.  They also will attest to the struggle each morning with dressing, eating, gathering the necessary items for the day, and getting out the door on...

Neurodiversity and Music Therapy

Neurodiversity and Music Therapy

Feb 28, 2021

Have you heard of the word neurodiverse?  Judy Singer came up with this term in the late 1990s.  Judy is a sociologist who learned, after recognizing her differences from other children her age, that she was on the autism spectrum.  Judy never considered herself to...

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

by | Nov 16, 2021

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC 

An old lady, a turkey, a football, and a boat. You may be asking, “What do these specific objects have in common?” If you have small children at home, you’ve probably heard or read the book There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Well, in this series, the main character continues to swallow seasonal objects as the calendar year progresses! In There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey, the story centers around a turkey-eating holiday: Thanksgiving!

 

As we meet the main character, she begins by swallowing a live turkey. She then proceeds to swallow a variety of objects, some that very obviously make one think of Thanksgiving. When reading this book with your child, you can encourage them to think about what is happening in the book. Here are some ideas:

Fact vs. Fiction

For young children, they may still be learning about how to separate fact from fiction. This story is a great way to allow your child an opportunity to apply their reasoning skills to the events in the story. You can ask them questions such as: Do you think a person can swallow a balloon? Is it possible for a person to swallow a boat? What do you think would happen to a person if they swallowed something inedible like a ball? These questions and others can encourage your child to apply skills and knowledge from their own lives to answer the questions logically.

Sequencing

The events in this story follow a pattern, so this is a great way to work on comprehension skills with your child! When reading this book with your child, you can leave blanks in the content and allow your child to fill in the blank with the correct word. You can turn it into a game with your child and see how quickly they can fill in the blank! Another way to practice putting events in sequential order is to print out these activities and have your child put the pictures in the correct order according to what the old lady swallowed in the story.

Fine motor skills

The above mentioned activities not only allow your child to work on their sequencing skills, but they can also work on their fine motor skills! The activities consist of coloring, cutting, and glueing. This would be a great time to work on some of those skills with your child!

If you’re looking for a recording of the song to use while reading this book with your child, here is one that I enjoy.

Also, check out this amazing activity by Speechin Made Easy to act out the story as you listen to the recording.

We hope you enjoy reading or singing this song with your child as 2021 comes to a close!

If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

Music Therapy for Children with Chronic Pain

Music Therapy for Children with Chronic Pain

by | Nov 2, 2021

Blog written by Katie Pistilli, MT-BC

Chronic pain impacts an individual’s entire life. Not only are there physical symptoms to cope with, but there is the emotional struggle of accepting that the pain is indefinite. While chronic pain is a tragedy for anyone going through it, children experience a special set of challenges. Kids with pain syndromes might have fewer social opportunities to make friends and develop hobbies, adding another layer of complexity and mental health concerns. Kids cope with the same emotional turmoil as adults, if not more, but have a more difficult time expressing it. 

Research shows that it is essential to approach chronic pain in children from multiple angles. Not only should the child work with medical doctors to manage their pain and symptoms, but they should also receive mental health support to ensure depression and anxiety are addressed. There is extensive research on how music therapy can assist children in coping with both the physical and emotional symptoms of chronic pain.  

 

Music Therapy Interventions 

Music therapy interventions are activities that are meant to address specific goals in a child. For chronic pain, a music therapy intervention may aim to help them relax and distract their mind from the pain. These activities may also prompt conversations to help children accept their pain and diminish feelings of sadness or anger. No matter what the goal may be, a music therapist will always use evidence-based practice or techniques supported by research in their activities.  

 

Music-Assisted Relaxation  

If a therapist uses Music-Assisted Relaxation, they hope to help the child relax their body and calm the sensory system. When a child is constantly in pain, their nervous system is on high-alert. This may contribute to anxiety and greater sensitivity to pain. It is important to help children acquire relaxation-based skills so they can independently learn to relax and diminish some of their pain. 

Music-Assisted Relaxation can look like: 

  • Playing live music on guitar or piano and reading a script.  
  • Mindfulness-based scripts are often used. The child may be encouraged to write a script that encompasses what brings them peace, positive memories, or favorite things (smells, foods, places) 
  • The therapist may facilitate breathing exercises to music. 

 

Active Music Engagement  

Like music-assisted relaxation, Active Music Engagement is also a great way to separate the child’s focus away from their pain and calm their body. These types of interventions are slightly more active on the child’s part and address the thoughts and feelings that they may be experiencing. The goal with Active Music Engagement is to help the child process through thoughts, experiences, and anxieties about the future. 

Here is an example of an Active Music Engagement intervention: 

  • Writing a chant about pain experiences and positive outlook on the future. 
  • Participating in that chant with the therapist.  
  • Play along with instruments such as the drums or a xylophone. 

Live Patient-Selected Music  

Using Live Patient-Selected Music is one way that therapists will help children sort through complex thoughts and emotions related to chronic pain. By using music that the child chooses, the therapist can get a sense of what they may be feeling but can’t express through words. 

Using music of the child’s choice, the therapist may:  

  • Encourage the child to highlight words or lines that stand out to them. 
  • Prompt the child to keep the beat of the song with them using instruments. 
  • Pose questions that facilitate discussion about pain and emotions.  

Music therapy interventions address chronic pain symptoms in children from both a physical and mental health lens. The interventions above are proven to help calm the child’s body while also addressing the difficult emotions they experience. Research shows that children with chronic pain benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach to their treatment, and music therapy does just that! 

Is there a young person in your life who experiences chronic pain? If you think music therapy may benefit them, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Our team of qualified therapists are ready to help. 

 

5 Steps to Becoming a Board Certified Music Therapist

5 Steps to Becoming a Board Certified Music Therapist

Jan 4, 2022

Blog written by Katie Pistilli, MT-BC Has your passion for music and desire to help others have you leaning toward wanting to pursue a career in Music Therapy?  Last month we released a blog called Should I Become a Music Therapist, where we talked about the different...

Should I Become a Music Therapist?

Should I Become a Music Therapist?

Nov 30, 2021

Blog written by Katie Pistilli, MT-BC Do you love music and want to make a career of it? It might seem like music education or performance degrees are the only majors out there, but that is far from the truth. Thankfully, there is the fulfilling profession of music...

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Book: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Nov 16, 2021

Blog post written and submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC  An old lady, a turkey, a football, and a boat. You may be asking, “What do these specific objects have in common?” If you have small children at home, you’ve probably heard or read the book There Was an Old Lady...