Big Sky Music Therapy

05/08/2021

Music therapy can help kids identify and practice expressing emotions.

04/10/2021

Gerard Francisco:

The music function, the ability to understand pitch, intonation, rhythm and the words in a song, is spread through various parts of the brain.

Our premise is that neurologic music therapy works, because it can help induce brain plasticity…or, very simply, the healing of the different connections between brain cells.

President Joe Biden reached out to, and fist-bumped, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords at the White House Rose Garden Thursday -- A moment to mark a new push to curb gun violence. Giffords was shot in the head in 2011, and has become a fierce gun reform advocate. For our arts and culture s...

10/21/2020

https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/music-therapy-for-autism
According to a 2004 study, music intervention used with children and teens with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) can improve their social behaviors, increase focus and attention, and reduce their anxiety and improve body awareness.

While the benefits of music therapy are well known, more in-depth research explores how music benefits children with autism.

04/12/2020

So sweet!

An anonymous donor gave music therapy nonprofit A Place To Be enough money to make music therapy sessions available to any family in Loudoun County Public Schools for free. For families of children with special needs, being stuck indoors and adhering to social distancing policies can be a challenge....

02/25/2020

This amazingly kind, supportive, and creative professor is the only music therapist in the nation with a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Congratulations, Elizabeth L. Stegemoller, and thank you for all your work.

Elizabeth Stegemöller, an associate professor in kinesiology, has been named the 2020 Rossmann Manatt Scholar. The award recognizes exceptional creativity and productivity in scholarship, teaching, and service, with great promise for continuing achievements. Stegemöller is the only music therapist in the nation with a Ph.D. in neuroscience!


Read more about her award here: http://bit.ly/38MHpzC

02/19/2020

Why music works. Music activates more of the brain than speaking alone. Because of the rhythm, timbre, harmonic structure, and ability to evoke emotions, music awakens the brain and creates more neural activity. We encourage singing over speaking whenever possible. You may sound silly or feel awkward, but it’s worth it!
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02/17/2020

Inspired by the effects of music in nursing homes, Lorna Prendergast embarked on a Masters of Ageing on music and dementia. Here is some of what she learned.

02/14/2020

In case you ever wondered about the history of Valentine's Day or how to spell this wonderful word, we're here for you! 🥰 Happy Valentine's Day!!

Here's an example of a song used to teach a skill. If clapping in between letters can be incorporated as well, even better. VALENTINE spells Valentine. VALEN...

02/13/2020

Music often plays a big part in our lives, but for many patients with cognitive disabilities such as autism or dementia, music used as therapy can make a huge difference to their quality of life. It stimulates the brain in ways that other therapies may not.

Music helping people with dementia. Music often plays a big part in our lives, but for many patients with cognitive disabilities such as autism or dementia

02/11/2020

Top Five Things We Love About: Music Makes Me Happy

1. The song is simple. This means kids catch on quickly and participate sooner. You can use letters or sign language to spell out HAPPY and watch the group master that section of the song first. Sign language is pretty straightforward for this song and is a great way to practice fine motor movement while teaching sign - even if it’s just the first phrase: Music Makes Me Happy and even if it isn’t perfect!

2. Participants get to choose what makes them happy and then experience the joy of everyone singing about it.

3. We get to listen to one another and celebrate in song. If you have time, review what others in the group chose as you make your way around the circle.

4. Once ‘happy’ is mastered, you can move on to other emotions like sleepy, mad, sad, excited. Change the key to match the mood and fit the spelling of the new word into the song whether or not it fits perfectly.

5. You can make this physical! We sit in a circle for this song a fair amount of the time, but it can also be a movement song by having participants select from a field of two that you provide: What makes you happy: Spinning or jumping? Stomping or dancing? Clapping or running in place? This same concept works with instruments, animals, food, and just about anything upon which you want to focus.