Welcome

2007-12-11T20:03:00Z

www.harmoniousbeginnings.com

Welcome to my Harmonious Beginnings Music Therapy Services Blog!

I am a board certified music therapist with a private practice in Racine Wisconsin. The majority of my clients fall on the Autism Spectrum and it is the population with which I have the most experience, in music therapy.

I do have a life long love of working with children; starting as a young girl who made my spending money babysitting little cousins and neighborhood children. I have worked in daycares and preschools, as well as group homes and summer camps. I was the lead therapist on a team of ABA therapists for a young boy with Autism and that's where my experience with Autism began. I did my Internship at Giant Steps, IL, Inc. which was a school exclusively for children on the Autism Spectrum who were unable to be integrated into their school districts.

Music has also been an integral part of my life from age 4. Starting with Suzuki violin, I continued to play through grade school, started Piano in the 4th grade, and switched my major instrument from violin to cello in the 7th grade. I've been a member of a choir from grade school through college, and have never stopped singing since I could speak.

Music Therapy seemed to be the marriage of the 2 things I was most passionate about since I was young. It was the only major I ever declared at UW-Eau Claire. I was a part of one of the best Music Therapy Undergraduate Programs in the nation and I came out of it excited about the work I was about to pursue. I have sought out additional trainings in Neurologic Music Therapy and NICU (Neonative Intensive Care Unit) trainings.

Today I have a private practice right here in the town where I grew up, Racine Wisconsin. I am amazed at the community support I get from my friends, family and clients here- nestled close to my roots. I began as a traveling therapist traveling to clients homes for one on one sessions. July of 2007, I expanded to office space, and I now have my own clinic where I can see clients more efficiently and can offer group therapy.

So, why Harmonious Beginnings?

I have a philosophy; the earlier the intervention the bigger the impact. As neurologists have made major break through in how we study the brain, we have made unprecedented discoveries on how the brain works. With functional MRI's we have learned more in the last 10 years about how the brain works than we have know in centuries preceding. We have a new understanding of how music influences the brain. The new studies on how brain development occurs supports my philosophy.

The development that occurs in the brain during early childhood sets the stage for the rest of our lives. Pathways are
developing and we are at our greatest potential. What develops during the first 2 years of our lives is the network of neurons that we have to work with until we die. Brain cells do not regenerate like skin cells that sluff off and grow back countless times throughout our lives. When a neuron is damaged and dies, it does not grow back or get replaced, it is gone. After age 2, in the interest of efficiency, pathways that are not used are pruned away- the use it or loose it principle. So stimulation of brain pathways are the best way to live up to our potential.

Music is a wonderful way to stimulate all those delicate pathways and help our children reach their highest potential. Music teaches to several senses at one time and helps us to integrate the information, strengthening pathways that connect far regions of the brain across brain domains and across hemispheres.

Now all is not lost if you have missed this critical window of brain development. The brain has an amazing capacity for recovery- it's called brain plasticity. Although new neurons do not grow, the neurons that are there and intact can learn new functions. For example, when a person has a stroke and there is damage to a specific region of the brain, other areas of the brain can create new pathways around the damaged area and take on new functions so skills that have been lost can be relearned.

The healing powers of music have been established in the medical profession now that we are able to see what happens in the brain as we engage in music. Music speaks to all areas of the brain; auditory functions, motor functions, speech and language functions, memory functions, cognitive functions, hormone activity, even heart rate and breath are influenced by music. So if you find yourself tapping your foot to the beat of a great band, or an old memory of your grandmother comes to you as you listen to an old song, even if you find music helps you relax, all of these things are evidence that music is having a direct effect on your brain function.

Hopefully you have a better understanding of Music Therapy and you will continue to search out information on this amazing medium.

The brain that engages in music is changed by music- Michael Thaut, Professor of Music and Neuroscience at CSU.