Often times when I am making music with a client(s), there’s this indescribable moment where I notice that everyone is connected to each other. Everyone is listening to each other’s playing and connecting by responding, musically to what they hear. I know everyone who is participating is connected because the music shows it. That’s the “magical” quality within music therapy. Creating music together allows everyone to connect without talking, while providing this creative/fun outlet. When it comes together, it’s really an amazing thing. 

This month I’ve created an intervention that therapists can use to allow clients a moment to improvise with a fall theme. This is best used with a group but could be adapted to fit a 1-on-1 session. Included in this blog are 2 pages of visuals. The first, is an empty fall tree. The second, are fall leaves with an instrument on each. To use the visuals, laminate the pages and cut out the leaves. You can use Velcro dots to attach all the leaves to the tree in various spots. To start the intervention, each client will play each instrument. The therapist will sing the song below allowing the group to improvise with a fall motif. At the end of the song, 1 leaf will “blow” away from the tree and 1 instrument will sit out for the next round. The therapist will sing the same song again with 1 less instrument. This will continue until all the instruments/leaves are gone. This is a great way for clients to connect to each other yet hearing the difference when 1 instrument leaves at a time and what that does to the music. Happy music making!

 

(To the tune of “London Bridge is Falling Down”)

Fall is here, let’s play the sounds

Play the sounds [pause for improvisation]

Play the sounds. [pause for improvisation]

Fall is here, let’s play the sounds [long pause for improvisation]

Watch the wind blow the (color) leaf down. [pretend to blow the leaf as you take it off]

 

 

Sara Chigani, MA, MT-BC, FAMI