Music Research Areas part 1

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to education, health and wellness. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com, still in it's infancy, is in the process of producing more offerings. Right now there are two music albums available, David's Basics in Education and Lyrical Imagery. This second album, Lyrical Imagery, is a free download for a limited time.

Very soon I will have my third offering available, a video lecture for expecting parents titled The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood (including Labor and Delivery). The main thrust of this information will be to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during labor and delivery.

For this weeks post I want to introduce an information piece that I refer to often and address specifically in the upcoming video lecture The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy...

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC

Music Therapist – Board Certified

 email: vol@bex.net

www.musicfromthestart.com

RELATED MUSIC RESEARCH AREAS

Music has been clinically proven to:

1. PROVIDE A POSITIVE DIVERSION FROM NEGATIVE EMOTIONS – NOT COMPATABLE WITH WORRY
2. ALLOW THE MIND AND BODY TO RELAX AND ACT AS A NON-ANALGESIC SLEEP AID (with no side effects)
3. INCREASE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS
4. DECREASE THE PERCEPTION OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PAIN
5. DECREASE BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART RATE AND RESPIRATION RATE WHILE INCREASING OXYGEN TO THE BLOOD
6. DECREASE STRESS LEVELS (increasing endorphin levels, our body's natural opiates)
7. BOOST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM – AFTER A 30 MIN MUSIC EXPERIENCE ENZYMES IN OUR SALIVA, THAT AID IN DIGESTION (thus boosting our immune system), ARE PRODUCED, NAMELY IMMUNOGLOBULIN A (IgA); ALSO PRODUCED, INTERLEUKIN 1 WHICH IS A PROTEIN THAT ALSO AIDS IN FORTIFYING IMMUNE RESPONSE
8. AID IN TISSUE REGENERATION (repair)
9. AID IN SURGERY SETTINGS BY: DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF ANESTHESIA NEEDED; DECREASING BLEEDING AND SPEEDING UP RECOVERY TIME
10. PROVIDE REALITY ORIENTATION AND OFFER A POSITIVE DIVERSION FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HALLUCINATIONS OR DELUSIONS

11. BE AN EFFECTIVE “HELPER” DURING EXERCISE/FITNESS TIMES BY ACTING AS A MOTIVATOR, POSITIVE DIVERSION FROM EXERTION, PACE SETTER, ETC.
12. REDUCE THE CONDITIONED SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, i.e., NAUSEA AND VOMITING
13. ACT AS AN EMOTIONAL STIMULUS, ELICITING INSTANT FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS (primary cognitive experience)
14. INCREASE COGNITIVE (brain) AND PHYSICAL ENERGY AND DECREASE FATIGUE

***The above mentioned benefits of music are more readily attainable when

we utilize music in a purposeful manner, i.e., preferred music

used often with no or minimal distractions.

In upcoming posts I will explain first, the research items listed that directly relate to the aforementioned video lecture then, in future posts, explain all of research areas listed.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or “High 5” and listen to your favorite music and enjoy!!!!

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Music Listening to Optimize Sleep

 With MFTS.com's latest music offering, “Lyrical Imagery,” which is designed to support stress management and relaxation and sleep, I want this post to explain in detail how we can use music listening to be an effective sleep aid to promote and support relaxation and to encourage the use of music as part of one's sleep ritual – for children and adults. I have said in the past that when we us music to aid in health and wellness, a great thing is, there are no side effects. Before I get started I want to remind us that my previous three blog posts have talked about the research and rationale of “Lyrical Imagery,” i.e., why it was written, how music affects us, etc. Also, visit musicfromthestart.com for the free download of “Lyrical Imagery.”

This subject of using music listening for relaxation and sleep has been talked about and researched for years, for ex, "Music Improves Sleep Quality in Students" and "Music Enhances Sleep in Preschool Children"

To get started I want to first mention two important keys that optimize the use of music for sleep, they are 1) that the person chooses their favorite music, or preferred music and 2) that once the music is decided on, that music should be listened to every night as part of a sleep ritual, thus developing a conditioned response.

What is a conditioned response? A conditioned response is an unconscious physical or emotional reaction to a stimulus. For our purposes here... if I use the Lyrical Imagery music (or any music) every bed time to fall asleep to, after a short while I will start to associate relaxation and sleep with that specific music. That is a conditioned response. Another common example is when someone in the summer starts to use a fan at bed time... Again, after a short time, because the fan drowns out noise or the air movement is comforting, whatever, they also start to associate relaxation and sleep with the fan... using it even in the winter.

When we choose music that we like, that we have positive associations to, music can be a positive diversion from negative thoughts and stressors. Used in this manner we get to the point where our favorite, preferred music played nightly, elicits the conditioned response first, of relaxation, then sleep.

Also, because we humans make associations so easily, wellness support modalities such as music are good, as I said earlier, because there are no side effects. And I'll add that music is something we essentially can use as much as we want. Another aspect of music that makes it so effective, mentioned in a previous post, it is that music is a primary cognitive experience. What this means is that when we hear music we have no control over the feeling and emotions it gives us. All sensory experiences are like this. When we hear, see, smell, feel and taste things, again, we have no control over the feeling and emotions sensory experiences give us. For example... if we are in a mall and a fragrance that reminds us of our grandmother gets our attention, whether we want to think of our grandmother or not, we will think of her. We can not control the thoughts that come about due to the sensory experience. Primary cognitive experience equals conditioned response.

To summarize, when we choose our favorite music (preferred music), and listen to that preferred music every night, we start to associate that music with sleep and comfort, i.e., a conditioned response.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or choose another favorite CD, artist or style, play that music every night and pleasantly relax as you go to sleep with your favorite music... Ahh

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Relaxation Music - "Lyrical Imagery" research and rationale - part 3

To summarize the last two weeks blog posts... we introduced my concept of "Lyrical Imagery." Typically relaxation music consists of instrumental music or music with nature sounds. And typical relaxation exercises such as imagery or progressive muscle relaxation consist of, again, instrumental music with (or without) nature sounds with spoken imagery or directives. Lyrical Imagery uses sung imagery (lyrics) that utilize right and left hemispheres of the brain. Some universal imagery topics such as ocean, mountains and snow are used. See (printable) research and rationale about Lyrical Imagery in the Resource Center - MT Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3. 

Last week we discussed the important issue of how music affects us. Part 3, lets continue...

Download "Lyrical Imagery" for FREE! - Click Here  Lyrical Imagery is a collection of relaxation and stress management pieces. I particularly like this modality to establish sleep rituals for children (and adults). I will address this specifically in future blog posts.

Continued below is associated research and rationale for this project which can be accessed in full under the name "Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3" in the Resource Center... (see bottom left of home pg)

 

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What is entrainment music? The entrainment mechanism that is utilized in "Lyrical Imagery" is a technique in which stimuli, particularly periodic or rhythmic events, time lock thus affecting similar actions or behaviors (Rider, 1985). It is quite common to use sedative music that approximates the tempo of an individual's relaxed heart rate (60 to 66 beat per minute) or respiration rate (12 to 16 breaths per minute) to slow down an individual's vital rates. A chain of events can occur where a less rapid respiration rate leads to decreased heart rate, which leads to less brain wave activity and decreased anxiety and stress levels, overall eliciting a relaxation response. Bonny (1986) also points out that tempo is not the only concern, mood states that influence body imbalance can be effected by the "mood" of the music. In research by Rider (1985) and Karim (1988) using entrainment music with spinal pain patients results indicated that pain and EMG levels were reduced. Lenard (1978) "characterized entrainment music as an underlying mechanism describing the pull one dynamic system has on another, and it is explained in physics as nature's way of preferring the most efficient energy state" (as cited in Rider, 1887).***NOTE: the above vital rates are for healthy adults

What are overtones and bow do they affect us? Webster's

dictionary defines overtone as: "an accompanying tone produced over the basic tone by a musical instrument". Guitar and piano are two particular instruments that produce many overtones. In 1975 Carmon, Lavy, Gordon and Portnoy found that patients who listened to classical guitar music as opposed to speech experienced an increase in blood flow to their brain's right hemisphere (as cited in Rider, Mickey, Weldin & Hawkinson 1991). And Sidtis (1980) found that "the more harmonic overtones embedded in the sound, the greater the right hemisphere advantage" (Rider et al., 1991). This is significant as it relates to "Lyrical Imagery" because it is well documented that the right cortical hemisphere functions in a nonverbal,holistic, imagistic, visual-spatial, metaphoric, intuitive manner (Hodges, 1980). Therefore it is most beneficial, with regard to inducing imagery and relaxation, to stimulate our brain's right hem1sphere. The "Lyrical Imagery" pieces utilize the acoustic guitar as to maximize the effects of overtones.

Overview... the purpose of past three weeks post information regarding "Lyrical Imagery" was to highlight the uniqueness of this concept, i.e., using sung lyrics (imagery directives) that affect us positively at a higher level than spoken imagery directives. Unique benefits to sung imagery directives include music being processed differently and at a deeper subconscious level than speech, music having the capability to induce a relaxation response, etc. Also, as opposed to imagery experiences or exercises that do not include music Lyrical Imagery employs the advantages of entrainment and overtones. So, as to not reiterate all of the information from the past three weeks, review the last two blog posts, including this one, to comprehend a complete summary of Lyrical Imagery's distinctive benefits.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" and use it to relax with. But listen to it with NO DISTRACTIONS!!! Enjoy...  
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

 

Relaxation Music - "Lyrical Imagery" research and rationale - part 2

To summarize last weeks blog post... we introduced my concept of "Lyrical Imagery." Typically relaxation music consists of instrumental music or music with nature sounds. And typical relaxation exercises such as imagery or progressive muscle relaxation consist of, again, instrumental music with (or without) nature sounds with spoken imagery or directives. Lyrical Imagery uses sung imagery (lyrics) that utilize right and left hemispheres of the brain. Some universal imagery topics such as ocean, mountains and snow are used. See (printable) research and rationale about Lyrical Imagery in the Resource Center - MT Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3. 

Also, last week we defined imagery and talked about how music therapy and imagery benefit us. Part 2, lets continue...

 Download "Lyrical Imagery" for FREE! - Click Here  Lyrical Imagery is a collection of relaxation and stress management pieces. I particularly like this modality to establish sleep rituals for children (and adults). I will address this specifically in future blog posts.

Continued below is associated research and rationale for this project which can be accessed in full under the name "Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3" in the Resource Center... (see bottom left of home pg)

David B. Putano, HPMT,MT-BC

Musicfromthestart.com

 

How does music benefit us? Similar to imagery, there are vast

amounts of literature that illustrate the emotional and

physiological effects of music. Regarding emotions Critchley and

Hensen (1977) conclude that: 1) music is processed differently

and at a deeper subconscious level than speech, filtering

through the auditory cortex to the limbic system which is the

center of emotional processing, and 2) music can be used to .

stimulate endorphins that create a positive kind of emotional

arousal (as cited in Tsao, Gordon, Maranto & Murasko, 1991). In

their 1987 article titled "Use of Music Therapy in Pain Clinics"

Sedei and Godley reported: patients accepted for treatment at

the pain clinic found that music helped them produce and guide

imagery, and helped them more deeply relax (p. 26). McFarland

(1985) as cited 1n Tsao et al., 1991 states that in his study of

100 subjects, each listening to one sedative and one stimulative

piece of music, the sedative music consistently increased individual's skin temperature (indicating relaxation). These results are significant in that the increased temperature levels correlate directly with the degree of physiological relaxation(p. 94.) Numerous studies, Tsao et al., 1991; Dillon & Baker,1985; Lane, 1991; Maranto & Scartelli, 1992; Rider, Achterberg, Lawless, Goven, Toledo & Butler, 1990 speak of music's effect's producing increased levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA). IgA is an antibody that is found in body fluids and is an essential component of our humoral immunological system defending against foreign invaders (antigens) that cause disease. Other studies including one by Bartlett (Kaufman and Smeltekop, 1993, and a 1994 article in the Detroit Free Press titled "Peace of Mind Does a Body Good" report that music listening, relaxation, and imagery boost the body's production of the disease fighting protein interleukin-1. Finally, Kibler and Rider (1983) (as cited in Tsao et al., 1991) studied the effects of relaxation and music on stress. Results indicated that while music and relaxation as individual treatments were effective stress reducers, their combined treatment was more effective (p. 94).

To be continued...

More information about relaxation music and from Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3 in upcoming blog posts...

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" and use it to relax with. But listen to it with NO DISTRACTIONS!!! Enjoy...

AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Relaxation Music - "Lyrical Imagery" research and rationale - part 1

To summarize last weeks blog post... because PREFERRED MUSIC has been clinically proven to induce a relaxation response... and because our sub-conscious perceives music (even when we're asleep or not conscious) thus affecting our physiology and emotions positively... we should not hesitate to use music for ourselves or loved ones, at least for relaxation and sleep, but more specifically for a positive association sleep ritual for children (and adults), surgery and dental procedures and for when a loved one might be more critically ill and non-responsive. Now lets talk about relaxation music and imagery...

My next few blog posts on musicfromthestart.com will be information to support my new music album “Lyrical Imagery” which is now available for a limited time as a free download.

Download "Lyrical Imagery" for FREE! - Click Here  Lyrical Imagery is a collection of relaxation and stress management pieces. I particularly like this modality to establish sleep rituals for children (and adults). I will address this specifically in future blog posts.

"In the 90’s I was the staff music therapist at St. Vincent Medical Center where I became friends with a doctor, Alp Yurdakul, who loved music and the arts. Together we collaborated on a music project consisting of three products, Lyrical Imagery, Earth Elements and Pick Me Ups. Dr Yurdakul did the art work and provided narration on the project. I composed, performed and recorded the music."  

Typically relaxation music consists of instrumental music or music with nature sounds. And typical relaxation exercises such as imagery or progressive muscle relaxation consist of, again, instrumental music with (or without) nature sounds with spoken imagery or directives. With Lyrical Imagery I use sung imagery (lyrics) that utilize right and left hemispheres of the brain. The imagery here is about the ocean." See (printable) research and rationale about Lyrical Imagery in the Resource Center - MT Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3. 

Below is associated research and rationale for this project which can be accessed in full under the name "Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3" in the Resource Center... (see bottom left of home pg)

David B. Putano, HPMT,MT-BC

MusicFromTheStart.com

LYRICAL IMAGERY: Components and Rationale

Lyrical Imagery is: The use of song lyrics in place of spoken

directives, in conjunction with music, to induce positive

imagery and support relaxation.

What is imagery? Imagery is the thought process that makes use

of the senses: sight, smell, taste, and the senses of touch,

movement, and position (Achterberg, 1985). An example is when we

imagine ourselves at the beach, with our eyes closed seeing the

blue water and sensing the salt air. Imagery does however effect

us in profound ways. Achterberg points out that when an

individual goes through the mental rehearsal of a marathon race

or sales presentation many physiological changes occur: blood

pressure goes up, sweat glands become more active, and brain

waves change (p. 3).

How does music therapy benefit us? In general, lyrical imagery

as music therapy serves as:

A stimulus for deep body relaxation

A stimulus for positive imagery and mood

A stimulus for clear thinking, incompatible with worrying

A pleasant, potentially reinforcing event (Hanser, 1992).

Rider (1985) states that many studies, including Bonny & Savary

(1973) and Peach (1984), indicate that "music has been found to

be effective in stimulating imagery" (p. 185).

How does imagery benefit us? Studies by Achterberg & Lawless,

1978, 1980, 1984 show that mental imagery has been "found to

alter immune responses and pain levels (Rider, 1885). And

recently Adria Heath, RN, MSN studied the effects of imagery on

ICU pat1ents to control pain and anxiety and found that

"relaxation and imagery produce such physiologic responses as

decreased heart rate and arterial blood pressure, and such

psychological responses as a sense of well being and piece of

mind" (1992). Heath goes on to say that "the mind sees images as

a language with direct access to the autonomic nervous system

(ANS)" (po 58). Many other studies including Guzzetta & Dossey,

1985; Bressler, 1980; Bensen, 1975, not only identify the

aforementioned responses from imagery but also add that through

accessing the ANS alpha waves, tissue regeneration and repair,

and immune and inflammatory responses are all stimulated (p.58). 

To be continued...

More information about relaxation music and from Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3 in upcoming blog posts...

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" and use it to relax with. But listen to it with NO DISTRACTIONS!!! Enjoy...
 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

How Music Affects Us Even When We're Asleep or Not Conscious

This post will be a departure from the recent music and learning topic, mainly due to recent experiences... This past week, I worked with two hospice patients who were very declined, one of which was actively dying. When doing hospice music therapy (I also work with autistic, pediatric and geriatric clients) this scenario is common. Often families, or even staff, will say something like "they won't hear the music, they're asleep..." So because this is a common response, and possibly because we might experience a situation where we want to use music ourselves, e.g., when we're having surgery or when we want to use music to relax, I want to address this topic. As I always say "a beautiful thing about music is, if you benefit from it, it is something you can use 24/7 with no side effects."


To start out with look to my site and go to the bottom left of the home pg. In the Resource Center scroll down to the MT Research Sheet (you can print this off if you like). Here, numbers 1-6, 9  are areas of research that either directly or in-directly deal with relaxation and decreasing stress. Take note that the bottom paragraph mentions "preferred music." That is the key to music benefiting any of us. This means that when we want to purposefully use music - we should chose it. If we don't choose it, new music that we're experiencing has to “strike us” favorably. All of us have different positive associations to (different) music. I mention this because if we're going to benefit from music when we are asleep or not responsive preferred music is a must.



Much music therapy (MT) research is done where individuals choose their music then either during or after the listening (or playing) experience data is collected. For years research has been done studying individuals when they are sleeping, and (I think) more significantly, when they are having surgery. Again, in the Resource Center scroll down to the MT Research Sheet. Look at # 9 which says “Music has been clinically proven to: AID IN SURGERY SETTINGS BY: DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF ANESTHESIA NEEDED; DECREASING BLEEDING AND SPEEDING UP RECOVERY TIME.” The implication (and fact) here is the music can induce a relaxation response. When we are more relaxed our body does not expel the (toxic) anesthesia as quickly therefore rendering what is given more effective resulting in needing less – which speeds up recovery time. The decreased bleeding happens because our heart is literally beating slower when we are more relaxed. You get the picture. There is a lot of research on this subject - such as...
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2648.1990.tb01985.x/abstract and http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/content/93/4/912.short

Also, for years, researchers have concluded that 90% of our cognitive (brain) functioning is for sub-conscious activity such as breathing, heart beat, etc... So can we hear when we're asleep, under anesthesia or non-responsive? Maybe not consciously but very much so sub-consciously! Again, there is a lot of research about this such as: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/surgm.html and
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21902776



I see this all the time in my hospice MT work. Patients and family members become more relaxed and less stressed with (their favorite) music. That is why I never hesitate to provide preferred music to someone who is non-responsive. It most definitely (positively) affects their blood pressure, heart rate, brain wave activity, etc. i.e., induces a relaxation response as evidenced by the research cited. Also again, go to the resource center on my site and look for the MT Stress Management monograph to find information about entrainment. This indicates more specific considerations regarding the purposeful use of music for relaxation.



To summarize... because PREFERRD MUSIC has been clinically proven to induce a relaxation response... and because our sub-conscious perceives music (even when we're asleep or not conscious) thus affecting our physiology and emotions positively... we should not hesitate to use music for ourselves or loved ones, at least for relaxation and sleep, but more specifically for surgery and dental procedures and for when a loved one might be more critically ill and non-responsive.

And I am very excited to be putting the finishing touches on my second music album for my site. It's called “Lyrical Imagery.” A free download of a song from the album, “The Ocean,” and an explanation and rationale of this project it there for your review. It is specifically for relaxation and stress management.

My prescription this week??? Grab the free download and use it to relax with. But listen to it with NO DISTRACTIONS!!! Enjoy...


AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.


 

Music: The Ultimate Learning Tool - Part 3

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to preschool, autism and special needs children's needs. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com is in it's infancy. Right now there is only one music album available. Very soon I will have my second offering, Lyrical Imagery. This album's history, purpose, etc. is explained on my home page section "free song download."And yes, grab the free download of "The Ocean,"one of the songs on this upcoming album.

Music: The Ultimate Learning Tool  - Part 3

I will start part 3 by briefly summarizing last weeks post, i.e., that is in my experience the purposeful use of music provides music therapists, parents and teachers a means to divert a child's attention towards learning and positive engagement. As mentioned, with music being a "primary cognitive experience," once attentive and positively affected, the child can learn and experience success from goal oriented music experiences, i.e., familiar music chosen purposefully.

Now, more specifically about how and why music is the "ultimate learning tool." Part 3 will address a very common benefit of music that is common in the literature but not often talked about with children, the benefit being how music can decrease depression. I am considering doing a research project on how music decreases depression in autistic children and possibly look at the effects on their families.  On my site musicfromthestart.com, in the resource center at the bottom left of the hm pg, find the MT Research Sheet and look at #s 1,4,6,13. Also my Stress Management paper talks about the positive effects of music regarding mood, for example...

"How music affects us is not mystical as once believed. Critchley and Henson (1977) as cited in Tsao et al., 1991 conclude there are at least three intrapersonal communication 

processes implied in the music health relationship.

First, because of it’s nonverbal characteristic, music can filter through the 

auditory cortex to the center of the limbic system which is the center of emotional processing. Second, music can reinforce the corpus callosum to stimulate memory response. 

Third, music can be used to stimulate endorphins that create a positive kind of 

emotional arousal- a feeling of being in love."

Last week I described a youngster who had spent the whole morning needing to be calmed and redirected as he was very upset. We had said that with music being a primary cognitive experience we have no control over the feeling and emotions it (music) gives us. So from looking at the above research, the fact that music positively affects emotions, stimulates memory and causes endorphin release, we can see why music acts as a primary cognitive experience thus decreasing depression. Two very important keys to this are 1) that the music is preferred music, and 2) that the individual then does attend to the preferred music. 

The literature has focused on this issue for many years. Some general examples include: Effects of Group Music on Depression...
and  Effects of Music on Major Depression...
Of course there are many more studies but few have been done with children. That is why I would like to do a depression study with autistic children in the future.

I will end part 3 by summarizing very simply that when a child's mood can be positively affected by music the "path to learning is greatly widened." When children are not depressed they can spend more time learning while being enthusiastic. Remember that music's effect on depression is not just cognitive and emotional, it is also physiological - considering endorphin release. Again, I see this very often, i.e., when a child who is upset or negatively focused ends up engaging pleasantly in music.

Part 4, coming next, will address more specific reasons why music is an ultimate learning tool.

What do I suggest??? Same as last week, i.e., identify specific songs or music experiences that you know your children have positive responses to. If you can't, start to use songs or music experiences repetitively and observe.

***What do I mean by music experiences??? Music experiences (apart from songs) can be: playing instruments, dance, humming, games with music, etc.

My next prescription???   Think of your favorite song, band or style of music and, with headphones, listen with no distractions for at least 30 minutes. Enjoy!!!

Thank you, David

AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.