blueballoon Health Services is a leading provider of individual and group music therapy services for children of all abilities. We provide assessment, treatment and support to children from infancy to young adulthood. blueballoon Music Therapists are a team of highly skilled professionals, educated extensively in music and its therapeutic effects, dedicated to delivering assessment and therapy services to children within a family-focused, warm and compassionate atmosphere.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is a holistic form of therapy that involves the skillful use of music used as a therapeutic tool to restore, maintain and/or improve a person's physical, emotional, social, cognitive and psychological well-being. Music is a universal language; its unique qualities make it an effective and distinctive mode of therapy for both children and adults of varying needs, abilities and challenges. Music provides a positive and creative outlet for self-expression and personal growth.
When might your child need Music Therapy?
Music therapy is utilized with many populations. Music therapists work with children with autism, developmental delays, physical challenges, mental health issues such as anxiety and emotional issues, and acquired brain injuries. For non-verbal children, specifically, music often bridges the gap and allows the child a mode of meaningful and immediate communication. The initial stages of pre-speech (imitation, call and response, oral-motor skills) may be addressed and improved through music-based activities. Children experiencing loss, grief or anxiety may benefit from a creative outlet for difficult emotions. Music may also be utilized to target socio-developmental skills such as taking turns, sharing and joint attention. Children with cognitive impairments can gain valuable memory, sequencing and patterning skills.
How is Music Therapy used?
An accredited Music Therapist assesses the child and develops an individual treatment plan with specific and tangible goals that can alter over time. Specially selected songs, improvised music, instrumental and vocal tasks are used to motivate the child to attain clinical outcomes while promoting a successful experience.
Music is a unique mode of therapy that can be can be used for any age, verbal/speech ability, developmental or cognitive level. Please note it is NOT essential for your child to be musical or have training in music to benefit from music therapy.
Vocal Sounds: When a client makes a sound, a music therapist can respond to and support that sound, structure it within a musical context and help shape it into verbal language. Musical dialogue that occurs between the therapist and client provides a meaningful and immediate socially interactive experience. Vocalizing to music can also help release built-up tension and can promote comfort and relaxation. Sound production stimulates speech and increases cognitive awareness in both verbal and non-verbal clients.
Rhythm: Rhythm and pitch patterns can assist a client in learning the articulation and pronunciation of words, speech rhythms, accents, phrasing and speech inflections. The rhythmic component with movement stimulates further kinaesthetic development needed for motor planning and sequencing of physical activities such as walking, jumping and running.
Instrumental Improvisation: Playing an instrument and/or using movement-oriented activities encourages self-expression. It also helps develop fine and gross motor skills and perceptual motor skills while stimulating auditory, visual and tactile development. The sensory-motor experience encourages and enhances hand-eye coordination.
Movement: Music paired with movement is natural way to encourage a physical response. Music is intrinsically motivating targeted and/or repetitive movement can be musically represented and cued.
Listening: Listening to music stimulates thoughts, images and feelings, and promotes relaxation. Children can be taught progressive relaxation skills paired with music. Art paired with music listening is an effective way to access a child’s inner emotional life and thought processes.
Through purposeful imitation of vocal sounds, engaging rhythmic and instrumental play, a Music Therapist can connect effectively with any child. This connection helps to reassure the child that they are being heard and gives them a feeling of self-worth, acceptance and validation. A success-oriented experience will bridge and increase essential communication
How can music therapy help my child?
By working directly with parents and caregivers, music therapy clinicians design a customized programme to address the specific needs of the child. The therapeutic process includes tangible goals and objectives so that progress can be identified and defined for future treatment. Benefits of music therapy are varied and diverse. Music therapy may be used to:
- Increase oral motor production through making music together
- Increase eye contact, imitation, turn-taking and memory skills
- Provide opportunities for practicing appropriate social skills
- Assist in learning to follow basic instructions and making choices
- Provide an opportunity for language development through song-writing techniques involving rhythm, melody and lyrics
- Focus on articulation goals through musical activities
- Enhance cognitive development
- Assist in the development of fine/gross motor and eye-hand coordination skills and motor planning
- Validate and reassure the emotional life of the child
- Provide the child with an increased feeling of self-worth and acceptance in a safe and enjoyable environment
Sessions are conducted by an accredited Music Therapist in either individual or group settings. Music therapists have a degree in music therapy at either a bachelor or masters level of education, possess a high level of musicianship, and have completed a 1,000-hour supervised clinical internship. blueballoon Music Therapists are all members in good standing with the Canadian Association for Music Therapy.
See music therapy in action, by viewing the video below!
This short documentary featuring Music Therapist Robert Harris illustrates how music therapy can change a child's life
Click here to view our YouTube Channel.
No doctor referral is necessary. Please complete our Self-Referral Form: Click here
