December’s project was to compose a holiday or winter-themed song with an emphasis on cognitive goal areas. Then contestants recorded YouTube videos of their songs and provided a paragraph explaining how they would use the song in an intervention. This month’s winner is Kim Arter! Her entry is available below for viewing, along with runner-up Laura Anderson’s! Congrats to both of them!
Our judges this time around were:
Andrew Knight, MA MT-BC Andrew is Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at University of North Dakota. He is also a contributor to The Music Therapy Research Blog and accompanying podcast. Thanks, Andrew!
Michelle Erfurt, MT-BC Michelle is, well, everywhere! She maintains the Erfurt Music Resource, the Music Therapy Tween blog, and contributes to the Music Therapy Round Table podcast. Thanks Michelle!
Kimberly Stanard, MT-BC Kimberly is a music therapist in Napa, California. She is the creator of the music therapy public service announcement, which is featured on the home page of the American Music Therapy Association. Thanks, Kim!
Here are the entries! Enjoy!
Kim Arter
The main focus of this song is to work on developing and maintaining memory. Clients will need to be alert and focused on what others are saying, so they can remember it for later on in the song. This song can also work on increasing attention span/attention to task as well as provide reality orientation and/or integration experiences with others. There are a few ways that the song can be adapted. First, if the client is nonverbal, pictures can be held up when it is their turn to choose. They may be able to physically choose a picture by reaching out or pointing or they can choose a picture by using eye-gaze. Another part of the song that is adaptable is the lyrics. Since the song is very repetitive, it is easy to fill in your own words that work best for you. I also think this song is adaptable for children as well as older adults.
Lyrics:
What’s your favorite part of the holidays? What’s your favorite part of the holidays?
There are so many things we can see and do.
What’s your favorite part of the holidays?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Laura Anderson
Fruitcake Recipe is a non-denominational holiday song aimed to address cognitive goals 1) Counting 2) Following directions 3) Making a choice and 4) Identifying an object with some physical benefits too (i.e. grasping cards, reaching to place visual cards in a real bowl or paddle drum)
This song may be utilized and adapted however suitable for each individual. One option is to approach it how I demonstrated in the video. Offering pictures enables non-verbal students to make a choice and participate. Alternatively, students could come up with their own responses and quantity. To emphasize counting, students could drum either with hands or mallet and count drumbeats during their turn. For different numbers 1-8 accommodate within song by distributing numbers over the two bars. Encourage students to sing along perhaps repeating more than once. Be creative. Have fun.