INCORPORATING AAC DEVICES WITHIN MUSIC

THERAPY SESSIONSMegan Zerbe, MA, LPMT, MT-BC

J. Brock Tarno, Ed.S

Greeting song

INTRODUCTIONS

▪ Megan Zerbe, MA, LPMT, MT-BC– B.S. from Elizabethtown College

in Music Therapy

– M.A. in Teaching for Special Education Adapted Curriculum from Valdosta State University

– Board certified music therapist

– Licensed to practice in state of GA

– Practicing MT for 12 years

– 8 years as an MT for CCPS in public education.

▪ J. Brock Tarno, Ed.S– M.A. in Teaching for Special

Education Adapted Curriculum from Valdosta State University

– Ed.S from Valdosta State University in Special Education

– Low Incidence/Autism Specialist for CCPS

– 3 years classroom experience at the elementary level and 4 years classroom experience at the middle school level in special education.

OBJECTIVES

▪ Basic understanding of what music therapy is and how music therapists utilize AAC devices as well as how music therapists can help a student learn how to use their AAC device.

▪ Difference between Music Therapy and Music Education

▪ Differences between classroom music time and music therapy

▪ How can you use AAC devices during your classroom music time

▪ Demonstrations of how to incorporate different functioning levels within your class during one activity, so that all students are engaged appropriately.

▪ Resources about music therapy, AAC devices, and music activities you can use in your classrooms.

WHAT IS MUSIC THERAPY?“Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to

accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy

program.”- American Music Therapy Association-

• Therapeutic• Research Based• Addresses skill development in following areas

Cognitive Behavioral Physical Emotional Social Communication Sensorimotor

MUSIC THERAPY TRAINING AND GOVERNING BODIES

MUSIC THERAPY VS. MUSIC EDUCATION

MUSIC THERAPY• Uses music to address non-musical goals

MUSIC EDUCATION• The teaching of music and music concepts

Music Therapy and Special Education Classroom

▪ Music therapists can provide direct or consultative services for students based on their needs/goals.

▪ Music therapists can support special education classroom teachers by providing effective ways to incorporate music into their academic curriculum

▪ Music therapy can adapt strategies to encourage a child’s participation in the least restrictive environment.

▪ Music therapy interventions apply the inherent order of music to set behavioral expectations, provide reassurances, and maintain structure for children with special needs

▪ Music therapy involvement can stimulate attention and increase motivation to participate more fully in other aspects of the educational setting

▪ Music therapy is considered a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

-American Music Therapy Association, 2015 -

Music Therapy

Interventions using Low-tech AAC Devices

▪ Call and Response Songs

▪ Making choices

▪ Songwriting interventions

▪ Phrase completion songs (one word phrases or short 2-3 word phrases)

▪ Sequencing songs

▪ Social Awareness Songs

▪ Social Interaction Songs/Activities

▪ Engage non-verbal students and students with communication deficits as fully as

possible within a session for maximum level of independent participation.

GREETING SONG USING BIGmack

Greeting being sung to J. J. verbally saying “Hello”J. using BIGmack to

reinforce verbal “Hello”

HAPPY FOR MUSIC

CHEAP TALK 4

CHEAP TALK 4 IN-LINE CHEAP TALK 4 SQUARE

HAPPY FOR MUSIC

Wave your hands, wave your hands up highWave your hands way up high if you’re happy for music!

Shake your shoulders, shake your shoulders with meShake your shoulders if you’re happy for music!

(Refrain) Then sing La La La…LA LA LA La La La…LA LA LA

La La La…LA LA LA La-La-La…LA-LA-LA

Clap your hands, clap your hands with meClap your hands if you’re happy for music.

Wiggle your fingers, wiggle your fingers with me.Wiggle your fingers, if you’re happy for music!

REFRAIN

Stomp your feet, stomp your feet with meStomp your feet, if you’re happy for music!

Shake your whole body, shake your body with meShake your whole body, if you’re happy for music!

REFRAIN

VARIATIONS/THOUGHTS ON “HAPPY FOR MUSIC”

• Sequencing of LA LA LA’s• Can do as a large group together or as a turn taking activity• If a sequence of 4 is too difficult for student, can switch to a BIGmack or

LITTLEmack and only program on sequence of LA LA LA’s• Tongue thrust is often a speech goal with many of my students. Using

the LA in singing aids students to press tongue to back of teeth to make this sound. Easier to do when singing than speaking.

• Have peer help if possible• Encourage participation from everyone, especially on the singing

echoes.• Ultimate goal, maximum amount of participation from all students to

the best of their abilities.

Walking thru the jungle

Twin Talk• Provides for 2 option choice

• Easy buttons to push

• Large pictures

WALKING THRU THE JUNGLE

We are walking thru the jungleMarching to the beat

Walking thru the jungle and what do we see???

(student name) sees a (jungle animal) (Students name the animal, make the animal noise or action)

VARIATIONS/THOUGHTS ON “WALKING THRU THE JUNGLE”

• Used with a twin talk• Turn taking and choice making• Verbal students use their words and non-verbal can use the

twin talk for maximum participation.• If too difficult to do a choice, can use a single choice AAC

device instead of the twin talk.• Adaptation of activity: • Have large jungle animal pictures stationed around the

room• One person plays the drum in marching pattern• Students march behind drummer singing song (on a safari)• When come to an animal, name the animal

BIGmack/LITTLEmack

BIGMack LITTLEmack

Turkey at My Backdoor

TURKEY AT MY BACKDOOR

Oh, a turkey knocked at my backdoorAnd I invited him in!

Was a chill November Thursday, and I invited him in!

Won’t you come into my kitchen, my friend?I’ll boil some water for tea!

Come and sit here in my kitchen, we’ll chat!Have a cookie, maybe two or three!He answered: NO! NO! NO! NO!I won’t come into your kitchen!

He said: NO! NO! NO! NO!I’ll see you another day!

USING THE BIGmack IN THE CLASSROOM

Song being sung to M. With physical assistance, M. respondsM. looks at turkey on

BIGmack first.

VARIATIONS/THOUGHTS ON “TURKEY AT MY BACKDOOR”

• Can program BIGmack to do just a single “NO” or program it to do the sequence of “NO”

• Done as a whole group or as an individual turn-taking activity where each child has the opportunity to be the TURKEY

• When done as a turn-taking activity, other students are encouraged to sing a long and do signs or gestures for “won’t you come into my kitchen”.

• Song can also be acted out by the students. One person is the turkey and the other person is the owner of the house.

Music Therapy and

Aiding Individuals in Use of AAC

Device• Provide song/activities that

require repetitive use of device

• Use songs with directives for use of communication device (eye gaze, reach and touch, make a choice)

• Start with one-step directives and work way to multiple step directives.

Main Screen Social Screen

Choices Screen

Feelings Screen

Dynavox Eye Gaze Board

Music Therapy and G.’s Eye Gaze Board

GREETING SONG*Locating “Hello” on Board*Stating “Hello” at correct

time

YES/NO*Locating Yes/No on board*Practicing using eye gaze

to activate board

TURKEY SONG*Locating NO on board

without visual guidance/prompts

*Waiting to say “no”

Other Technology in the Classrooms

▪ Smart Boards/White Boards

▪ iPods/iPhones/Tablets

▪ GarageBand or other music editing software

▪ iTunes/Google Play/YouTube

▪ Bluetooth enabled systems

▪ Internet Sites for various classroom needs/projects/manipulatives/visuals

Resources

▪ www.musictherapy.org▪ www.cbmt.org

▪ www.pinterest.com▪ www.pinterest.com/meganzerbe

▪ www.itunes.com Laurie Berkner Band

Mark D. Pencil Dr. Jean Feldman

The Fresh Beat Band Imagination Movers Kidz Bop

www.googleimages.com www.dltk-kids.com www.Crayola.com

• Websites

• Music selections (CDs/Albums)

No Music Therapist?Certification Board for Music

Therapists(www.cbmt.org)

• Find a Board Certified Music Therapist• Can search by name, certification

number, state, and/or country• Provides name/certification number/city

and state/certification expiration/and original certification date

American Music Therapy Association(www.musictherapy.org)

• Find a Music Therapist• Can email findMT@musictherapy.org to

obtain information• Browse online directory using a variety

of search parameters • Provides list of current AMTA members

only

Questions???

Goodbye Song