Three music therapists joined reFRAMED Podcast Host, Emily Morehead, LP to share about the power of music therapy. Music accesses every part of the brain which has huge implications as music as a therapy. Our bodies are very musical and rhythmic and when your body does that, your brain releases dopamine which is key to forming new neural connections. Music is a way to connect and socialize in a non-verbal way. Having music as a healthy form of sensory input is so helpful for those on the spectrum. Listen and find out how music can be a motivator for daily tasks as well as transitions with children.
Our Guests:
Sammi Graham, MT-BC, completed her music therapy coursework and minor in psychology at Sam Houston State University. Sammi’s primary instrument is voice and she was able to cultivate her talents with SHSU’s Chorale and Opera Theatre.
Sammi’s clinical experience includes working with: children and adolescents with learning disabilities, adolescents and adults in psychiatric care, adults with substance use disorder, adults in neurorehabilitation centers, and individuals of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Sammi became a Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist in July of 2019 and is eager to use her knowledge to support families throughout the birth process.
Sammi is passionate about continuing education and aspires to become a certified doula, counselor, and Neurologic Music Therapist in order to enhance her practice. Sammi also aspires to continue performing in some capacity. Sammi enjoys living in Fort Worth and is thrilled to be part of the Heart and Harmony team!
Annie Roberson, MT-BC, Neonatal ICU Music Therapist, Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist, completed her music therapy coursework at the University of Alabama with a primary instrument of trumpet. Annie completed her internship with Heart and Harmony in the fall of 2018. She is a professional member of Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN).
Annie’s clinical experience includes NICU infants, children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, children and teens with emotional and behavioral disorders, adults in oncology units, and adults with dementia in memory care units. Annie completed her Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist in July 2019 and is excited to support parents and babies in the DFW area.
In her free time, Annie enjoys watching the Nashville Predators play hockey, the Alabama Crimson Tide win national championships, crocheting, and being in the great outdoors. Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Annie is thrilled to serve the DFW community with the incredible team of Heart and Harmony therapists!
Miranda Rex, MA, MT-BC, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music in 2014, and completed her master’s degree in music therapy at Texas Woman’s University in 2018. She is a Music Therapist – Board Certified (Certification #13860) and hopes to one day pursue a master’s degree in counseling to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Miranda’s primary passion is children and teens with mental health and behavioral concerns, but she also enjoys engaging with individuals across the lifespan with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Miranda is thrilled to be fulfilling her dream of being a music therapist in the DFW area, and is excited to be a member of the Heart and Harmony team. When she is not working, Miranda loves to read, stream movies and TV shows, and spend time with her friends on and around the Denton square.
Show Notes:
In this episode, we talked about:
- Music is not designated for one specific part of the brain.
- Music therapists meet the children where they are at.
- Music is organized in nature and very engaging. It helps with things that we might consider "sensory overload".
- Music is a very helpful social cue.
- For someone that has a stroke on their left side, through the power of nureoplasticity facilitated by music, they can actually learn to move all of the different processes in their brain involved in speech to the right hemisphere. In effect, it's remapping the brain.
- In this field, the therapists work from babies in NICU through people in hospice care.
- For NICU babies that receive music therapy, research shows that they gain weight faster, that they are able to leave the hospital faster, and they they build their neurologic pathways. The NICU babies can only tolerate around 4 hours of music therapy a day. They can only tolerate music within certain parameters.
- Across the board, music is an audio analgesic so it's a pain reliever. The brain can only process so much stimulus at one time. So you can use music to relieve the pain.
- A womb song can assist in soothing a bonding during pregnancy and then through delivery and for the rest of the child's life for family life.
- To become a music therapist, you don't have to be a musician, just a desire to learn. It is not a certification, but an entire graduate program. Currently, there is not a licensure program in Texas. You should look for a MT-BC credential if you are seeking a music therapist.
- It's interesting to hear that some music can cause harm, especially for a child with trauma background.
- Music is something that foster children have had with them the entire time so they feel a special connection since that stays with them always.
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