Home education | Upstate Music Therapy Center LLC

A Whole New World: Music Teletherapy

by Amy Thomas | May 29, 2020

Prior to COVID-19, the word “teletherapy” meant very little to our team of music therapists. To even consider not driving to school, homes, or daycares was not a thought in our minds. How could it be? Yet, in a matter of days teletherapy became a new reality. All the hours spent fine-tuning our craft for in-person services had to be adjusted overnight. Looking back now, it is amazing how much our team has learned in a few short months.

A New Approach

After school closures, it quickly became apparent that the social-emotional benefits of music were taking center stage. This is a confusing time we are all in. For many families, the presence of music therapy in their homes is a welcome break to the stress they are under. At UTMC, we truly want to embrace this facet of music and ensure we are continually bringing not only music but joy into homes. Below is a photo of Sarah Ramey, an employee at UMTC accomplishing this mission during a teletherapy session!

Supporting the Whole Family

As our team adjusted to doing therapy through a computer screen, it became apparent that we were able to help families in a unique way. By bringing music into the home, we can provide our students with a dose of familiarity in a confusing situation.

It is no secret that music has a way of lifting spirits. Our staff noticed siblings, grandparents, and parents joining sessions with a smile on their faces. Many stated they were looking forward to music all day. This is the kind of positive energy we want to bring to our families.

New Intervention Strategies

Parents and teachers aren’t the only ones learning about new technologies! Our music therapy team has been knee-deep in picking up new online learning strategies. If you are interested in pursuing online services, you will experience some of these new strategies for yourself.

1) Zoom

For the most part, our therapists use Zoom as a video chatting platform with students. Zoom comes with some great interactive features such as screen and audio sharing. While using these, the therapist is able to provide visuals and quality audio with the student on the other end.

2) PowerPoint

Many of our therapists use PowerPoint slide shows to present students with books or choice boards. It’s difficult to use visuals in hand because they may be blurry or off-angle. Using a PowerPoint via screen sharing solves that problem and provides clear visuals.

3) Share controls

Zoom also allows for the students to have control over the screen. With this feature, the therapist is able to ask questions, have students type answers on their own, or drag and drop images to complete visual activities.

4) Props

Now more than ever it is important for therapists to grab our student’s attention. It can be so difficult to stay seated for 30-minutes, especially in front of a computer screen! Our therapists do their best to engage students with props such as hats, stuffed animals, scarves, or other colorful visuals.

New Services at Upstate Music Therapy Center

Upstate Music Therapy Center believes that music services should be accessible despite school closures. In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have adjusted by offering a variety of online music activities such as Music Enrichment, online Music Therapy, and FREE Online Music for Preschoolers (available on our Facebook page through the end of June). Additionally, online Counseling services are available. If you would like to learn more about these new online services, click here.

It is a shocking, confusing, and strange time we are all in. At UMTC, we hope that our services for students and the community can bring a ray of light into the homes and lives of families we work with. Don’t forget to find humor where you can in this whole new world we live in!

This blog was submitted by Katie Hall.

Book: Take Me Out to the Ballgame

by Amy Thomas | May 22, 2020

Blog submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

Idea submitted by Erin Valvo, MT-BC

Baseball is a favorite American pastime. I love walking into a baseball stadium and being inundated with the smell of popcorn, the sound of fans, and the green grass. During this time of quarantine, we are forced to miss out on traveling to a stadium for a baseball game. But, with the storybook Take Me Out to the Ballgame by Jack Norworth and Alec Gillman, you can experience the beauty of a baseball game without having to leave the comfort of your home!

Younger children will be entranced by the beautiful illustrations, older children will be excited to learn about a favorite American sport, and you will love singing this simple and catchy classic! This quintessential storybook can target many skills such as reading comprehension and sequencing. If you have older children at home, here are some suggestions to keep in mind while using this classic song and storybook with them:

Discuss the history of baseball

A lot of older children enjoy learning about traditions and history, especially when sports are involved! This book is a great way to incorporate history, reading comprehension, and music in one loveable song!

Encourage your child to use his or her imagination

Because this is such an unpredictable time, your child may enjoy taking a virtual field trip to a baseball stadium! The illustrations in this storybook specifically are so beautifully drawn that your child will feel as if they’re attending an actual game! Don’t be afraid to ask your child questions: perhaps who they would attend a game with or what teams they would like to see play against each other!

Put your child’s problem-solving skills to work

What would happen if the game was rained out? What if the pitcher gets injured during play? What happens if the game is tied at the end? Though these aren’t parts of the actual story, you can encourage your child to think outside of the box and put their problem-solving skills (as well as their imagination) to work.

Share your memories

Your child may enjoy singing the song and following along in the story, but don’t be afraid to make it personal! Share some memories you may have of playing baseball when you were young, attending games, singing the song, or maybe even eating “peanuts and Cracker Jack.”

Kayla Davitt, an employee at UMTC, has recorded the song for you to use while reading this book with your child. Singing and reading with your child is an effective way to keep their attention and also assists with a child’s ability to comprehend information.

We hope you enjoy using this book in your homeschooling adventures! For more resources and activities to use with your children, please visit our “Resources” tab located at the top of the page.

If you are interested in purchasing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, click here to find it on Amazon.

Happy reading!

Mindfulness for Kids: 5 Breathing Activities

by Amy Thomas | May 15, 2020

Mindfulness has become more familiar in the western world over the last 40 years. It was mainly adopted by counselors working with individuals struggling with anxiety, compulsive disorders, and past trauma, training them to use this practice in and out of counseling. Later, yoga classes and adults looking for ways to relax began incorporating mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations without judgment. As its popularity spreads, we are now witnessing mindfulness classes in the community for adults, and schools are adding it into their curriculum for our children. This is largely due to the noted increase of stress in the lives of Americans and the impact on individuals of every age. Did you realize that April is Stress Awareness Month? Necessary, but also concerning!

There are some wonderful ways to help our children learn mindfulness practices while they are young, in hopes that they will carry these learned skills into their adulthood. There are many types of mindfulness activities, however this week we are focusing on breathing activities. We inhale and exhale all day long and yet rarely pay attention to the quality or pace. As we become more aware and train ourselves and our children to focus on our breathing, we will be better equipped to use these techniques when becoming stressed.

1. Squeeze Breathing – Have the child squeeze a trusted adult in a hug, give a self-hug, or squeeze a soft object. While doing so, breathe in through the nose and out slowly through the mouth three times. Getting the proper pace of breathing is important so initially, an adult should model slow breathing for the child.

2. Count Breathing– This style of slow breathing is helpful as the child can say a number prior to inhaling and exhaling, counting up to 5 or for as long as the breathing is helpful. Saying each number out loud helps the child stay focused.

3. Music Breathing – Exposing children to all styles of music is a wonderful gift. I find that piano music is especially calming. Listen to this example of Disney music properly paced for slow breathing. This audio is over three hours long, feel free to fast forward to add some variety to your mindfulness.

4. Visual Breathing – For children who respond positively to visual cues there are some great free videos online. I especially recommend those with a friendly character to help the child know when to inhale and when to exhale. You may want to try this video with an animated fish.

5. Alternate Nostril Breathing – Children respond positively to this type of breathing as they like the idea of plugging their nose. We have children use their pointer finger to hold one nostril closed and slowly breathe in and out one time through the open nostril. Then release that nostril and use the other pointer finger to plug the other nostril and repeat the breathing. They can alternate for as many times as the breathing is helpful in a slow rhythmic pattern.

For information about our counseling services with mindfulness training for adults and children use our Contact Us link.

Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs

by Amy Thomas | May 3, 2020

A dog. A guitar. Ice cream. Dinosaurs. All in one story! We are excited to share with you a wonderful and entertaining storybook geared towards young children. Written by Eric Litwin (author of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes), the storybook Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs focuses on the concept of sharing in a fun and unique way!

When we meet our main character, Groovy Joe, he is living the life – with a guitar, a spoon, and some ice cream. He is interrupted by unexpected visitors who want their share of his ice cream. Groovy Joe’s answer? “It’s awesome to share!” Throughout the story, events occur that will encourage your child to anticipate what comes next and think outside of the box.

As a music therapy agency, we are always looking for ways to assist children in practicing a variety of skills, from color and number identification to appropriate ways to communicate in social settings. Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs focuses on social interactions, problem-solving, and the importance of sharing. If you find yourself in need of some fun and engaging activities to do with your young children, we have a few tips for how you can use this storybook to your advantage. While reading Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs, keep in mind these suggestions:

1. Use your body!

Children are often more engaged and are more likely to pay attention if you make reading fun for them. This book affords you many opportunities to exaggerate your facial expressions and body movements to add to the story. Don’t be afraid to roar like a dinosaur, stomp or smash with your feet, and dance around with your child!

2. Use silence to enhance the story.

There are many instances where you can lead your child to an answer or help them anticipate what is going to happen next. Don’t be afraid to use silence!

3. Pair a fun and engaging song with the story.

Singing and reading with your child is an effective way to keep their attention and to bring a smile to their face while you read. Kayla Davitt, an employee at UMTC, has created an original melody to use within the story:

We hope you enjoy this book! For more resources and activities to use with your child, please explore our “Resources” tab on the top menu.

If you are interested in purchasing Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs to use in your homeschooling adventures, follow this link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Groovy-Joe-Ice-Cream-Dinosaurs/dp/0545883784

This blog was submitted by: Kayla Davitt

Book: Jingle Bells

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...

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

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...

Paying it Forward: Free Online Music for Preschoolers

by Amy Thomas | Apr 10, 2020

Over the last few weeks parents and guardians have been exploring their “new normal” in the light of sudden school closures due to the coronavirus. While doing their very best to set up spaces in their home where their school age children can continue learning, many parents are also balancing the needs of their preschool age children. This is just one of the challenges that families are dealing with since the middle of March. With the mandated #stayhomestaysafe order in most states and the loss of jobs for many families we began to consider the part we can play in response to these unexpected circumstances. Offering our talents, knowledge and resources to those in need when the unimaginable arises is the American way. We are inspired by the many encouraging stories of masks being sewn, hand sanitizer being produced, and people reaching out through teleconferencing platforms or phone calls to friends and family who are finding themselves isolated and lonely.

The question before us is how can we help? What role can we play in the coming days to support others and yet do so in a safe way? We believe the answer is to find creative ways to use our skill set to meet needs that come to our attention. We all can lend a hand and lift a spirit, it’s just in this case we need to consider how that can be accomplished while still practicing social distancing.

We have identified our part in paying it forward. Upstate Music Therapy Center is getting ready to launch a Free Online Music Opportunity for Preschoolers in April and May using Facebook Live. Each week we will create a fun and engaging session for the children and their parents to watch, comment and participate as we sing, move and play instruments. The children and their parents will be invited to send chat messages to our Music Therapist to express their enjoyment or respond to a question. This will create a fun new community for the parents and children.

There’s no better feeling than to Pay if Forward. We are doing our part in hopes that it will encourage many families over the coming months. If you know a family with young children, we invite you to share this new opportunity with them and mention to follow us on Facebook to receive updates on our launch date, fun resource suggestions, and music that they can watch later if they miss the Facebook Live event. We hope to see you there!