How do Music Therapy Sessions with Tamariki/ Children look?
When planning a session I consider a child’s social/emotional/physical goals and how I might create opportunities through the environment setup, activities, and songs for those goals to be worked on.
A Typical Session might look like:
Karakia and a hello song
A movement song using instruments or props (toys or stretchy fabric)
Instrument exploration
Song choices
A song for regulation and bringing the energy levels down if needed
A Pack up song
A Goodbye song and closing Karakia
Music Therapy sessions offer a combination of flexibility and structure that aim to contain a young person’s emotional world as well as affirm their interests and the aspects of music and sound they find the most motivating to engage with.
At the core of a music therapy session is the relationship between the therapist and the tamaiti /child. This builds over time and is enhanced by how sessions are structured to offer consistency and predictability but also space for playfulness and spontaneity.
