🎵 Why Music Therapists Use a Hello Song:

1. Establishes Structure & Predictability

• Starting with the same song each session helps create a routine, which is comforting and grounding — especially for clients with anxiety, autism, or cognitive impairments.
• It signals: “The session is starting now.”

2. Promotes Engagement and Rapport

• It’s a welcoming, non-threatening way to connect.
• Encourages eye contact, name recognition, and social interaction in a musical context, which is often more accessible than verbal-only communication

3. Encourages Communication

• Hello songs often include the client’s name, greetings, and opportunities to sing or respond.
• This can support speech development, expressive language, and turn-taking.

4. Sets the Tone and Focus

• Helps transition from the outside world to the therapeutic space.
• Therapists may adapt the song’s tempo, mood, or lyrics to match or gently shift the client’s emotional state.

5. Provides Assessment Opportunities

• Therapists observe how the client responds — vocally, physically, and emotionally — which provides insight into their mood, awareness, progress, or needs for the day.