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Alexis Ruffner, MT-BC

Parent Connection: Supporting New Parents and Their Infants During COVID-19

Reflecting on her music therapy work with premature infants, Alexis Ruffner noted that few things changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but her newly established Parent Connection community groups were put on hold. Over the summer, she sent pre-recorded music videos to assist families in supporting their infant’s developmental goals, which eventually led to weekly groups held via Zoom. Families engaged with musical instruments they had at home and body percussion, such as snapping and clapping; cloth diapers, soft wash cloths, or a baby blanket were used for visual stimulation. In this podcast, Alexis also describes the challenges new parents faced related to isolation and their grief of missed baby showers, visiting with their own parents, or celebrating the arrival of their newborn.

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About the Interviewee:

Alexis Ruffner, MT-BC, is currently pursuing a Masters of Science degree in early childhood and family development and serves as the music therapist in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. During the COVDI-19 pandemic, she worked with premature infants and their families and led early infant and parent developmental music groups.

Contact: [email protected] ruffner

Suggested Citation: 

Shine, E. (2021, June 11). Parent connection–Supporting new parents and their infants during COVID-19: An interview with Alexis Ruffner [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Parent Connection: Supporting New Parents and Their Infants During COVID-19 first appeared on imagine.

Bonnie Hayhurst, MT-BC

The Value Add of Virtual Music Therapy Services

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to the field of music therapy, and small businesses were not exempt. Bonnie Hayhurst, a music therapist in private practice, shares how she convinced families to try out virtual sessions at least one time. One of her lines was, “Let us harnessing the power of music through a virtual format.” Offering individual, group, and little enrichment sessions, her team reached young children and their families in the comfort of their homes. Social engagement, learning, and development all happened in the virtual environment and demonstrated to caregivers that more is possible than anticipated. While there have been many roadblocks such as internet lag time during music making, the positives far outweighed the negatives. Hence, Bonnie predicts that virtual sessions will be the fallback for continuation of services and an asset to in-person services.

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About the Interviewee:

Bonnie Hayhurst, MT-BC owner and clinical director at The Groovy Garfoose, serves as internship director and is an active blogger. During COVID-19, she kept her business afloat and pivoted by applying her technology skills and offering virtual services. She and her team documented their lessons learned in blog and social media posts.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Humpal, M. (2021, May 28). The value add of virtual music therapy services: An interview with Bonnie Hayhurst [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post The Value Add of Virtual Music Therapy Services first appeared on imagine.

Edward P. Gallagher, MT-BC

Getting Through the Pandemic: Flexibility, Pivoting, and Grace

The profession of music therapy has a robust curriculum and solid documents providing professional guidelines and requirements. Yet, everything and nothing prepared music therapy practitioners, educators, and researchers for this global pandemic. In this podcast, Edward Gallagher offers a glimpse into the Beck Center for the Arts’ programming and service delivery during COVID-19. He says, “We had to unlearn everything we knew. Everything what comes along with a robust curriculum we had to change – close proximity, taking turns, working together, social skills…” Edward shares how his team pivoted by immediately creating 40+ video-recorded art activities meeting the needs of the community and predicts that telehealth will accompany in-person music therapy services in the future.

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About the Interviewee:

Ed Gallagher, MT-BC is the Director of Education at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, Ohio, where he founded the Creative Arts Therapies program in 1994. “Pandemic programming was not part of the curriculum,” says Ed Gallagher. Yet, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he mobilized his team to continue with viable and safe services to the Cleveland community.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Humpal, M. (2021, May 21). Getting through the pandemic–Flexibility, pivoting, and grace: An interview with Edward Gallagher [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Getting Through the Pandemic: Flexibility, Pivoting, and Grace first appeared on imagine.

Lisa Stinnett, BS in Early Childhood Education

Just Like Normal Preschool on a Computer – Same Yet Different

“Preschool is all about learning, experimenting, engaging, and hands-on activities,” says Lisa Stinnett, a passionate and dedicated early childhood educator of more than 20 years. Since March 2020, she has been connecting and interacting with her 4- and 5-year-old preschoolers virtually. In this podcast, Lisa gives a glimpse into her remote classroom and shares how she makes theme-based learning engaging, how to encourage communication and social interactions, and how circle time becomes central for children connecting with each other. She also talks about the challenge of digital access and the extra mile early educators went during the COVID-19 pandemic to make every class meaningful for their young learners.

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About the Interviewee:

Lisa Stinnett works in a preschool classroom at Durham Public School’s Sandy Ride Elementary School. She provides early childhood education services to children ages 4-5 who are at-risk of developmental delays. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she continued seeing her preschoolers in a Zoom classroom.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Kern, P. (2021, May 7). Just like normal preschool on a computer – same yet different: An interview with Lisa Stinnett [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Just Like Normal Preschool on a Computer – Same Yet Different first appeared on imagine.

Maggie Connolly, MA in Early Childhood

Virtual and Technical Support: The Lifeline to Early Childhood Educators’ Frontline Work

For nearly 40 years, Maggie Connolly has supported young children to learn and develop in community-based programs and through innovative leadership in university-related institutes. Now, she virtually coaches Technical Assistants who empower early childhood classroom teachers and their directors to interact with infants and toddlers in meaningful ways. In this podcast, Maggie describes the ins and outs of virtual support during the COVID-19 pandemic, the enrichment materials distributed, the challenge of staying calm and upbeat, the resilience of providers, helpful resources, and her pledge for financial recognition of childcare teachers who are essential workers and the backbone of our society.

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About the Interviewee:

Maggie Connolly, MA, is a Technical Assistant Manager II at Instructional Support in Durham, North Carolina. She is currently part of a 3-year pilot project providing technical assistance to infant and toddler teachers and the directors of their programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maggie coached the coaches to get through this challenging and demanding time.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Kern, P. (2021, April 30). Virtual and technical support– The lifeline to early childhood educators’ frontline work: An interview with Maggie Connolly [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Virtual and Technical Support: The Lifeline to Early Childhood Educators’ Frontline Work first appeared on imagine.

Lauren Richards, OTR/L, SWC, CLC

From In-Person to Teletherapy: The More Chaotic, the Better

As an occupational therapist at Amigo Baby®, Lauren Richards usually worked with children and families in their homes, at daycare programs, in parks, the mall, or the dental office. With COVID-19, she and her team shifted to 100% teletherapy services. She asked herself, “How am I going to do my job this way? How am I going to be valuable to these families? What am I going to do?” In this podcast, Lauren describes what an online session looks like with families, including joined planning, demonstrating actions, involvement of siblings, and use of materials visible to the therapist. When working online, she makes use of every cue she gets and comes to the conclusion, “The more chaotic, the better!” Communicating concepts clearly and empowering caregivers to lead the session by getting on the floor and playing with their child became central to the therapeutic process.

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About the Interviewee:

Lauren Richards, OTR/L, SWC, CLC, is the occupational therapy team leader and field work coordinator at Amigo Baby®. She provides services in children’s natural environment to enhance participation in activities in daily living, support family routines, cultivate social engagement, and facilitate play. Being flexible during the COVID-19 pandemic, she adjusted her services by offering tele-interventions on a regular basis.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Kern, P. (2021, April 23). From in-Person to teletherapy: The more chaotic, the better: An interview with Lauren Richards [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post From In-Person to Teletherapy: The More Chaotic, the Better first appeared on imagine.

Rebecca Vitelli, MEd

Teaching Through the Screen Instead of on the Screen

Rebecca Vitelli advocates for equitable access to high-quality early education programs for all children that support their development during the first five years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has provided remote instruction for children and their extended families; collaborated in whole group, small group, and individual sessions with therapists; and contributed to family events such as a Virtual Open House, Meet the Teacher Day, and Movie Night. In this podcast, Rebecca describes what a daily routine looks like in the virtual classroom, the importance of family coaching, the need for access to the internet, as well as the lessons she has learned. She says, “My teaching has truly transformed…I stopped teaching on a screen, and I just began teaching through it.” Rebecca also describes how she uses music as a means to unite, connect, transition, learn, and build relationships during the virtual preschool day.

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About the Interviewee:

Rebecca Vitelli, MEd is an early childhood special education teacher at the Delaware Colonial Early Education Program. She teaches preschoolers of all abilities including children with autism spectrum disorder and moderate to severe health and cognitive needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was recognized as the 2020 Delaware Teacher of the Year for her innovative and engaging teaching style and positive relationships with children and families – becoming a role model for others.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Kern, P. (2021, April 16). Teaching through the screen instead of on the screen: An interview with Rebecca Vitelli [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Teaching Through the Screen Instead of on the Screen first appeared on imagine.

Cara Smith, MT-BC

Umoja Global Community Music Therapy, Red Bank, New Jersey 

Transformation can happen in the most surprising places, even under a mango tree in a Ugandan village. In this podcast, Cara Smith tells the story of American music therapists visiting an African school who found themselves needing to adapt their clinical approach. Today, her team utilizes music therapy to combat social injustice and gender inequality, and strives to bring sustainable and cultural responsive music therapy services to underserved communities in Africa. 

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About the Author:

Cara Smith, founded Umoja Global Community Music Therapy while studying at the Berklee College of Music in 2014. She currently is pursuing a Masters in Music Therapy degree at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and aims to open more doors for music therapy in East Africa.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Smith, C. (2020, July 1). Transformation under a mango tree in Uganda. [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Transformation Under A Mango Tree in Uganda first appeared on imagine.

Karen Wacks, EdM, LMHC, MT-BC

Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts

Samite Mulondo

Musicians for World Harmony, Uganda, Africa

In this podcast, Karen Wacks describes her 2013 partnership with Samite Mulondo. Together they examined the benefits of music therapy and performance on the emotional and physical health of children in Uganda impacted by war and at-risk for severe post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicide. Blending Performance and Music Therapy (BPMT) emerged from this feasibility study, promoting the use of technology to bring music therapy to global environments and providing service-learning opportunities for music therapy students.

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About the Authors:

Karen Wacks is the clinical training coordinator for music therapy practicum and internship preparation at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Additionally, as the Director of Education and Mental Health Programs for Musicians for World Harmony, Karen works to raise awareness of music as a healing modality. Contact: [email protected]

Samite Mulondo, a world-renowned recording artist born in Uganda is the Executive Director of Musicians for World Harmony. He is dedicated to bringing music for healing to refugee camps, orphanages, and programs in Africa. Samite’s smooth vocals accompanied by the kalimba, marimba, litungu, and various flutes mesmerize audiences throughout the world.

Suggested Citation: 

Wacks, K., & Mulondo, S. (2020, July 1). Blending performance and music therapy in East Africa: Models for health and healing [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Blending Performance and Music Therapy in East Africa: Models for Health and Healing first appeared on imagine.

Dena Register, PhD, MT-BC

Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Imagine traveling around the world, stepping out of your comfort zone, and finding yourself surrounded by a roomful of children in a Thai orphanage. In this podcast, Dr. Dena Register describes how music therapy students from the U.S. and Thailand connected with children who had severe physical and some cognitive impairments by singing, playing instruments, and moving to live music. Learn about their unique music therapy session that provided a connection and meaningful interactions for over 50 children with cerebral palsy.  

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About the Author:

Dena Register is a music therapy educator and advocacy specialist based in the US. She is a Fulbright Scholar and music therapy consultant to Mahidol University Music Therapy program in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Register is also the Regulatory Affairs Advisor for the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

Contact: [email protected]

Suggested Citation: 

Register, D. (2020, July 1). Culture, connection and music for all: Thai and U.S. music therapy collaboration [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz

The post Culture, Connection and Music for All: Thai and U.S. Music Therapy Collaboration first appeared on imagine.