Feeling a little bit excited so have to post!
This morning I have arranged my first meeting with a "music therapy" client. I technically can't call it music therapy as I'm not a qualified therapist (it's too expensive!) but I can't really think of any other way to describe it. I can definitely take sessions similar to therapy, just can't use the word therapy or the name therapist...kinda like being a nutritionist and calling yourself a dietician, it's not on!
She is 5 years old and has Autistic Spectrum Disorder, attends a special school in my area and loves music. Her mum has given me lots of helpful information to go on about her behaviour and her abilities and it seems we are trying to encourage her to be more verbal. At the moment she has echolalia, which means she repeats exactly what you say, but she also has good understanding, so I think there should be a lot of scope for her school/extra-curricular activites/me to encourage her to use language in the traditional way.
I have been interested in doing music therapy for a long time, but the course only runs in Edinburgh or England/Wales, and costs a fortune, plus I don't think I was emotionally mature enough to do it straight after uni, or maybe even now (they tend to recommend a starting age of 23-25+) but maybe some time in the future I will be able to think more seriously about doing the MSc. It also takes 2-3 years to complete and you have to attend personal therapy while studying/doing placements/working, so it's a lot!
None-the-less, I am excited.
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Oh wow!! This is brilliant! You could do some fantastic things with her! If she repeats exactly what you say, chances are you might repeat what you play too? She could be a really quick learner!! That music therapy course sounds amazing! I was asked to teach a young girl with learning difficulties last year, but I've never done any teaching, so I had to say no. I'm hoping to get into teaching this summer though which will be fun! xxx
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