This will take a little bit of research and time but can be a fun activity to learn more about music, lyrics and artists. Pots and pans are always a favorite with young children but not so much with parents! (I learned how to play the drums with my parents pots and pans set) 9. Also, plastic containers can turn into a fun guitar or stringed instrument with elastic bands around it. Make this activity fun and encourage your children to find things around the house that they can use to make their own instruments.įor example: empty prescription medication bottles can turn into a fun musical shaker if filled with rice or beans. This has usually been a favorite in my sessions with the children that I work with. You can have your children create art (such as painting, drawing or collaging) to match the music or their feelings. Music and art is also a therapeutic combination to help with expression, mindfulness and exploring creativity. Music and art is a powerful combination to help express, focus and share our thoughts and/or feelings. You are my _?_, you make me _?_, when skies are _?_… 6. Song rewriting can be made easier by taking out various words from a familiar song for your family to fill in the blanks and to make the song their own.įor example: You are my sunshine can be rewritten as: Music therapists utilize song rewriting activities in many sessions to help clients connect to their feelings or to express themselves. Youtube has a lot of karaoke sing along versions of songs that could be fun for you and your family. Find some family favorites and sing along together. Singing has been known to decrease anxiety and depression as well as a powerful tool in expressing our feelings. Mewsic moves (play on words intended) us to move and dance so why not create a list of your families favorite dance songs and move together and have fun. When music is played our whole bodies receive the therapeutic benefits of its vibration and sound. Music and movement is central to our bodies and can help us regulate our emotions and allow us to release tension. Children can even do this on their own if you give them directions and access to YouTube to find songs that fit each category. You can take some time where you and your family chooses an emotion and search for songs that they can place in each play list. Music therapists often help clients collect songs to create various playlist to match their emotions or create memories of monumental moments. Enjoy the creativity, sounds and rhythms you can make together as a family. You can also make a fun scavenger hunt for your family to see how many items they can find at home to turn into an instrument. For example: Pots and pans, buckets, keys, plastic containers, and much more can be fun improvisation instruments. You can utilize instruments that you may already have at home or make it fun and creative and find objects around your home to use as instruments. You do NOT need to be a musician to improvise music. Most music therapists use music improvisation (or jamming) as a way of connection, communication and helping clients redirect their energy and focus. Music Improvisation or Family Jam Session I highly suggest you to make it fun, make it educational and make it meaningful and memorable! These are times that children will remember most that during stress and chaos “my family came together through music and play”.Įnjoy sharing music with your family during this time! 1. Here is a list of some of the musical activities that I suggest you share and implement with your family during this time. What a more important time right now to use music more than ever. Music therapy has sown increase positive benefits over the years in multiple research studies that help reduce anxiety, depression, fear and worry. As fear and worry surrounds us during this shutdown it is of utmost importance to also focus on optimum mental health. There are millions of children that are having to stay home and one of the biggest concerns for parents is … “What do I do with my children all day?”.Īs a music therapist in the field for the past 15 years I have spent a lot of time helping families create and implement at home music programs from educational to a multitude of other therapeutic goals. This is a challenging time for many right now as businesses and schools are closing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus.
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