What do we ACTUALLY do? 

What do we actually do? 

Music therapy provides multi- sensory opportunities and uses music to target specific goals.

• Common goal areas include communication skills, cognitive skills, decrease maladaptive behaviors, social skills, motor skills, and emotional regulation.

Examples include:

• using a song to chunk important information together, such as learning an address or important phone numbers

• using movement songs to practice receptively identifying body parts

• singing books to practice reading skills through elongating the speech sounds by singing the melody 

• using preferred music to motivate through nonpreferred or challenging task

How does it work?

• Music is a positive reinforcer

• Music stimulates attention and increases participation

• Music stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, which can improve cognitive skills and language skills

• Provides a structured setting for social interactions

• Music Therapy improves communication skills

• Music Therapy integrates literacy skills by reading rhythmic or song-based books

• Music Interventions provide a variety of sensory experiences, including small instruments, strumming the guitar, and playing with scarves