Profitable Inventive Arts Remedy Collaborations – Half 1

Over the previous few years, as I’ve expanded the age teams I’ve labored with and the number of settings I’ve labored in, I’ve discovered increasingly methods to include different inventive arts into my music remedy classes.

I started my profession working at United Neighborhood Choices (UCO) Miami, the place I collaborated with speech, occupational, and bodily therapists.

This offered me with a incredible basis and helped me clearly see how I might use a musical expertise to work on a non-musical aim – like growing expressive language or enhancing high-quality motor abilities.

However, I by no means had the chance to collaborate with different inventive arts therapies till I started my personal apply.

At this time I’m beginning a 3 half collection on the Inventive Arts.

In Half 1, I’ll begin by sharing how I incorporate inventive arts experiences, like dance and artwork, into my music remedy classes.

I bought the concept to share these inventive arts concepts whereas pretending to surf with a bunch of younger adults with disabilities as we listened to “Surfin’ Safari” by the Seaside Boys (not a foul technique to spend a morning!)

In Half 2 and three, I’ll share how I’ve been collaborating and co-treating with artists of all disciplines in a brand new program for highschool college students with autism known as Therapeutic Arts.

Let’s get began! Listed below are another methods I incorporate dance and motion into my music remedy classes:

Within the submit, Summer season Session Concepts for Center Schoolers & Teenagers, I share two concepts for including motion right into a Hawaiian/Seaside-themed session. The primary is physique percussion to the music “Summer season Vibes” by Stroll Off The Earth (this music is assured to place you within the temper to go the seaside!) and the second is hula dancing to conventional Hawaiian music.

Fourth of July – In our classes primarily based on this vacation theme, we march to every kind of patriotic songs. The whole lot out of your conventional instrumental variations of the songs to a metallic model of “Yankee Doodle” that I discovered on YouTube (test it out for your self!)

Within the submit, Thanksgiving Music Remedy Concepts for Center & Excessive Schoolers, I write about how we dance to “Cotton Eyed Joe” (you realize, the one from the 90s) and “Hoedown Throwdown” by Miley Cyrus to include some nation line dancing into our bluegrass/harvest-themed session.

Inventive Interpretations – For this musical expertise, I pull up quite a lot of orchestral items and invite purchasers to easily transfer the best way the music sounds, or transfer the best way the music makes their physique wish to transfer. All interpretations welcome. I choose quite a lot of items that sound completely different, like “Waltz of the Flowers,” “Flight of the Bumblebee,” “Nutcracker March,” “Can Can,” “William Inform Overture” and “Swan” from Carnival of the Animals.

Listed below are some methods I’ve included arts experiences into my music remedy classes:

Within the submit, Combining Music & Artwork: A Hawaiian Theme for Elementary College students, I write about how I play conventional Hawaiian music whereas exhibiting rotating photos of Hawaii on an enormous display screen. College students are invited to attract an image of Hawaii, or what they assume is being depicted within the music.

Planet/Outer Area Artwork – In a session primarily based on this theme, college students take heed to “The Planets Suite” by Gustav Holst and are invited to attract planet/outer house art work. We use darkish blue or black paper and chalk to create the sensation of being deep in outer house.

Within the submit, Amp Up Your Teen Periods: Greatest Day of My Life, I write a couple of musical expertise the place I sing “Greatest Day of My Life” by the American Authors with my teen purchasers after which invite them to attract an image of the perfect day of their life. In the event that they really feel comfy, they’ll share their art work and about their day with the remainder of the group.

What I Am – That is one in all my favorites as a result of it’s nice for empowerment and shallowness. Shoppers sing the music “What I Am” by Will.I.Am together with me. They’re then invited to consider at the very least one constructive high quality about themselves and create art work across the phrase. They’ll write the phrase on their paper and embellish round it with coloured pencils or pastels, they’ll minimize out letters and photos from {a magazine}, or they’ll use different creative mediums to create art work across the constructive phrase that describes them.

Every of those musical experiences provides the chance for college students to be launched to all kinds of music whereas additionally having the prospect to precise themselves artistically.

There are such a lot of extra concepts I wish to share right here, however I don’t wish to overwhelm you!

If you happen to haven’t accomplished so already, I’d encourage you to see how one can incorporate dance or arts experiences into your music remedy classes, whatever the age or inhabitants with whom you’re employed.

Subsequent time on the weblog, I’ll be sharing in regards to the Therapeutic Arts Program I facilitated for a highschool autistic assist classroom right here in Pennsylvania.

I had the chance to collaborate with painters, fiber artists, yoga instructors, theatre instructors, and inventive writers.

This was an incredible program that STRETCHED me creatively! I’ll be sharing a lot of our profitable arts experiences right here on the weblog, so remember to keep tuned for it.