Workshops, Consults & Presentations are available for Educational, Medical and/or Business Facilities. Your questions, concerns and comments are welcome!
Experienced Certified Music Therapist conducting in person & virtual services for individuals & groups, birth to 18yrs: Music Therapy; Adapted Music Lessons; Group Music classes; Workshops/Presentations & Consultations available upon request. "Play, Sing and Learn Through Music" - Maya Chriqui, BMT, MTA
Music at Heart offers Paediatric Music Therapy Services, Adapted Music Lessons for Children (
various diagnosis, abilities and interests), Baby/Toddler & Preschool Time Music Groups with caregiver (for typical kids and kids with special needs). Services are available for individuals and groups (birth to 18 years). With over 25 years of experience using an evidence-based therapy practice (Music Therapy) in addition to having been trained in Neurologic Music Therapy (research-based system of 20 techniques), I've observed children progress and I've listened to parent's testimonials relating their child's improvements with their communication, social, psychological, emotional, cognitive and physical skills at a faster and more pleasurable rate through music therapy than other therapies referred to by their psychologist or physician because of their child's inner motivators towards making music (actively or passively) using their interests and abilities! Music has the ability to connect with and engage any living being. Here are some of the children with and without diagnosis at the time of starting music therapy or adapted music lessons with whom I've created musical moments that offered them an outlet of self expression, pleasure, and acceptance: Angelman's Syndrome, Anxiety Disorder, Autism, Asperger's, Brain Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Chromosomal Disorders, Cognitively Delayed, Coping Loss, Communicative Disorders, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Hearing/Visual Impairments, Learning Challenges (ADHD, Dyslexia, Grapho-Motor issues), Sensory Processing Issues (auditory, visual, tactile seeking or avoidances), Stroke victims, Tourette's & Wiliam's Syndrome...to name a few. Music activates the whole brain simultaneously using all senses. Research reveals that through music therapy a child's responses were found to be more effective within a shorter period of time, the child had more success-oriented, regulating and pleasurable experiences, and in turn children became more empowered and emotionally stable, working towards/through their developmental process. Having worked in various multidisciplinary clinics, collaborating or running joint sessions with Parents, SLp's, OT's, PT's, BT's, Psychologist's and/or Educators has provided increased benefits for the child! I believe (and have witnessed) that when a team is working together, collaborating regularly, and is on the same page while communicating with parents, the child is better able to progress, generalize, and reinforce their learning of necessary skills with greater support and overall benefit. I strongly believe that every child deserves to be loved, respected and nurtured! Contact me today and let's connect your child to music in a way that will guide and support them today and throughout their well-being and life! ��
06/25/2025
🎶 What? OAP funding can now be used to pay for Music-Psychotherapy sessions - stimulating and strengthening their overall developmental areas of growth and emotional regulation through pleasurable musical experiences using instruments of their choice
🎶Music-Psychotherapy sessions are facilitated by a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) and supervised by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
🎶 What? OAP funding can now be used to pay for Music-Psychotherapy sessions - stimulating and strengthening their overall developmental areas of growth and emotional regulation through pleasurable musical experiences using instruments of their choice
🎶Music-Psychotherapy sessions are facilitated by a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) and supervised by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
🎶 What? OAP funding can now be used to pay for Music-Psychotherapy sessions - stimulating and strengthening their overall developmental areas of growth and emotional regulation through pleasurable musical experiences using instruments of their choice
🎶Music-Psychotherapy sessions are facilitated by a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) and supervised by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
Music Therapy works simutaneously on many areas of human development, social, communicative (expressive/receptive), physical (fine/gross/oral motor), psychological/emotional, behavioural(self-regulation), cognitive (learning, memory, attention) and musical (creative outlet of self-expression, structured learning within a creative format, preverbal and prereading and tracking, eye hand coordination, improvisation, pleasure, auditory, visual, and tactile stimulation and relaxation, strengthening of fine motor and mathematical understanding, timing etc...).
Early interventions for ASD diagnosis...Music Therapy/OT/PT/ABA
Read below for an easy explanation of services and benefits of different therapies
Early intervention plays a crucial role in shaping the developmental trajectory of children with autism. When doctors identify autism early and put focused programmes in place, children experience improvement through better communication and thinking abilities, plus social development., Mental Healt...
12/28/2024
I am an experienced Certified Music Therapist who works with children differently able both in person and online. I work on speech, sensory, social, physical, cognitive-memory/learning, instrument training and emotional challenges through music and collaborate with (and have co-lead programs with other allied health professionals) SLp, PT, OT, ABA Therapists, Psychologists and with Educators to work on their goals through music to generalize and stimulate their goals. Call/email or text and book your child for a 15min complimentary session in 2025 (only3 spots left) 🎶💜
Get a snapshot of the profession of music therapy. What is music therapy? Who can benefit? Why is it effective? How it works? These are just a few of the que...
12/24/2024
To all who celebrate either holiday or both...Wishing everyone health, happiness and a safe and sweet celebratory time!❄️☃️🎄🕎❄️🎅
08/01/2024
If your child has sloppy handwriting they may have dysgraphia affecting more than just their fine motor skills.
08/01/2024
IS THERE A TOOL TO HELP EMOTIONAL GROUNDING?
“When the right brain dominant child is thrown into a left-brain system and expected to perform using processing skills not yet in place, stress and anxiety sets the child up for failure in trying to meet expectations.”
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"Play, Sing and Learn Through Music" - Maya Chriqui, BMT, MTA, NMT
Music at Heart offers services for Children (birth-18 years) within the Niagara Region. We offer individual, group & camp experience (based on child’s abilities) All services are conducted by an experienced Certified Music Therapist (over 27 years experienced). Services provided include face to face and telehealth online: Music Therapy, Adapted Music Lessons, and Baby, Toddler & Preschool Time Music Groups for children with abilities, challenges and musical interests. Presentations, workshops, speaking engagements and consults for associations, schools, and businesses are available upon request.
As the founder and lead music therapist at Music at Heart, I strongly believe that every child deserves to be loved, respected and nurtured, and given the opportunity to express themselves through music can lead to great gains made that otherwise might have been suppressed.
I have collaborated with allied health professionals to offer jointly and solely run programs which help children generalize and reinforce goals set by their speech, occupational, behavioural/psychological, and physical therapists through their music making processes lead by an accredited music therapist.
Parents have reported their child’s increased level of overall happiness and relaxation versus being aggressive and within a depressed state of mind; saying their first words through songs and music based activities; developing and strengthening skills in areas of their communication (expressive and receptive skills), comprehension, social interactions with peers and siblings, cooperative and joint/parallel play; developing an increased level of attention span and listening skills; developing an increased level of self-confidence and security; being able to identify and better able to self-regulate through various sensory triggers or avoidance's; developing and strengthening their balance, coordination, gross and fine motor skills necessary in daily acts of living; and an overall sensory awareness and manageability of themselves in their home and social environments; lowered levels of medication (or ceasing need for medication); and having success-oriented positive experiences that have helped their overall health and well-being.
With over 27 years of experience using an evidence-based holistic form of therapy (Music Therapy) and additional training in Neurologic Music Therapy (research-based system of 20 techniques). At Music at Heart children can have a unique experience making music that is child lead, pleasurable, self-motivated, and success-oriented (building their self-esteem, providing self-regulation and experiencing an outlet for self-expression within a safe and positive environment). A customized program plan is designed which is best suited for your child’s abilities and needs. Consults with parents/guardians, educators and health care providers are arranged as appropriate to ensure everyone is on the same page towards the progress of a child’s goals and objectives. Reports follow after the initial assessment period is completed (2-3 appointments) and after the status report has been completed (after 12 appointments) to address the goals and needs of each child.
Music uses all of our senses, activating the whole brain simultaneously. Research reveals music therapy uses evidence based techniques that benefit various ages and populations at a faster, more effective rate while providing them with more pleasurable and empowering experiences lasting a lifetime (the right/creative side of the brain is the first to develop). Adapted Music Lessons are conducted by a Certified Music Therapist who uses the elements of music and a child’s chosen instrument(s) to provide success-oriented, positive opportunities for learning and actively engaging in the music making process. Music making opportunities and processes, lead by an accredited music therapist, help a child with a diagnosis reach necessary goals for their overall well-being (including learning to play an instrument or accompany a song) compared to goals focusing on proficiency and performance as can be taught by a trained music educator.
Some of the diagnosis of children worked with have been; Angelman's Syndrome, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Autism (verbal and non-verbal), Asperger's, Acquired Brain Injuries, Central Auditory Processing Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Chromosomal Disorders, Cognitively Delayed, Coping with Loss, Communicative Disorders, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Hearing/Visual Impairments, Learning Challenges (ADHD, Dyslexia, Grapho-Motor issues), Sensory Processing Issues (auditory, visual, tactile seeking or avoidance's, self-regulation needs), Stroke victims, Tourette's & William's Syndrome, and some without a determined diagnosis or have multiple diagnosis.
Your questions, concerns and comments are welcomed and encouraged. Reach out today and let’s work together to help your child achieve more success through the creative outlet of making music together!
