Music & Books

Today I'm sharing an activity that I use with some of my higher functioning music therapy pre-school clients. this activity uses a colourful story book to introduce different instruments and sounds. One of my favourite books to use in this activity is 'Say hello to the Jungle Animals' by Ian Whybrow and Ed Eaves because it is tactile and sensory with lots of colours and 'touch and feel' felt on the animals. As each animal is introduced they use a different sound which encourages vocalisations and also sound exploration of the instruments, while increasing concentration and attention,  multi-tasking and encouraging imagination and patience for turn taking. Check out the video for an example of this book in action or let me know if you are interested in finding out about other books that I use with this client group to introduce music skills. 

It's pre-school week at Harmony Music Therapy Scotland. This week I am going to share some fun musical activities that you can recreate with your child at home. It will also give you an insight into some of the musical activities that might happen during a typical music therapy session for pre-school children. All activities will be focused on one or more of the following goal elements: To encourage socialisation, To promote cognitive functioning, to facilitate movement and rhythm, to increase communication and interaction, explore instrumental sounds and most importantly to have FUN!!

Today is MOVEMENT MONDAY!!!!
This activity is a song that encourages listening skills, movement and choice making and its called "Dancing in the middle"

LYRICS
___________________(child's name) is dancing in the middle,
___________________ (child's name) is dancing in the middle,
___________________(child's name) is dancing in the middle,
He/ she's going to dance, dance, dance.

He's going to dance,  x 6
And now its time to STOP

(pick a new movement eg jumping, stamping, hopping, clapping)

Next week is Pre-school week at harmony music therapy and each day this blog will bring you a musical activity that you can do with your child at home or give you a little insight to what a music therapy session could be like for your pre-school child.  Stay tuned for more on Music Monday at harmony music therapy Scotland :)