A parent's perspective...

"A few months ago we started music therapy for our twin boys. Since we started Music Therapy we have noticed an increase in the number of words they say and that they make more verbalizations."

    - Mother of twin two-year-olds with Speech Delay

"My daughter has just begun Music Therapy. It touches me to see her respond to the instructions to “bring the shaker here,” “drum a little louder” or “play the guitar with me.” My daughter loves music and I know that the therapist’s music provides a push for her to learn more and engage more with others."

    - Janine, mother of 2-year-old with Autism Spectrum Disorder

"My son has received Music Therapy since he was 9 months old. The music therapists have worked with him on his delays and with their hands-on approaches, he has continually progressed with his skills from crawling to walking to talking."

    - Amy, mother of 2-year-old born prematurely

"Music Therapy has been responsible for Heather’s incredible progress. She is now where she should be developmentally. It would be my wish that this very impressive therapy be made available to all young children who need it."

    - Linda, mother of 3-year-old with mild Speech Delay

"Michael cannot tell me “What did you do today?” But you can turn the radio on and he will make up his own words to the song. Those words just happen to be everything he did today. Music and singing have given Michael a new voice of expression."

    - Judith, mother of 6-year-old with Autism Spectrum Disorder

"My daughter seemed to like music and singing, so even though I didn’t know much about it at the time, I thought it might help. It turned out that Music Therapy was one of the first (and continues to be one of the most) effective ways of breaking through the walls of autism and finding the little girl who lives inside. Her music therapist was able to capitalize on my daughter’s interest in singing and music to engage her and motivate her to achieve non-music related goals of communication and social interaction. Her therapist did a terrific job of creating goals that meshed with my daughter’s IEP goals and my goals for her as well. Her therapist also provided me with professional progress reports which allowed me to track how truly beneficial the therapy proved to be. I can’t say enough good things about Music Therapy in general, and our therapist at MTEC in particular."

    - Pam, mother of 7-year-old with Autism

"I believe in the power of music to both teach and heal. With the guidance of my daughter’s Music Therapist, she has been able to reach many of her goals: intellectually, emotionally and socially."

    - Stephanie, mother of 9-year-old with Developmental Delay

"My daughter Sydney has received Music Therapy services since she was three. I advocated for Sydney to receive Music Therapy services at her public school prior to her kindergarten year. She was granted 45 minutes per week at school and extended school year services. Sydney has learned turn-taking, choice-making and how to identify instruments during her pre-school years. During her school years, the music therapist has incorporated Sydney’s IEP goals in every session. This year reading skills were incorporated into each session. Music Therapy has made Sydney, who is non-verbal, more independent!"

    - Terrie, mother of 10-year old with Rett Syndrome

"Music Therapy has been an excellent treatment for my son who is developmentally delayed. He is so happy with his sessions and always looks forward to them."

    - Mother of 14-year-old with Developmental Delay

Music Therapy with children on the autism spectrum...

“The beauty of music therapy is that the music hooks my daughter’s attention – it gets her to attend (which is no mean feat) and directs her attention to tackling her speech and OT goals without her even realizing it. The progress she has made from when she started with her music therapist (at age 3) up till now (at age 5 ½) has been tremendous. These positive changes that have affected every aspect of her life often showed themselves first in her music therapy sessions.”

    - Pam Alexander, mother of a 5 ½ year old child with Autism

“Our therapist brings a depth of knowledge and expertise in her work as the Music Therapist in our Autism Preschool Programs. She has provided valuable in-service to our program staff as a full autism preschool team member. Our therapist continually provides children the connection of music as a catalyst for children to use and increase expressive language, self-awareness and social interaction. The clarity in goals and objectives for each child’s direct therapy couple with excellent data has been a major factor in school districts approving music therapy weekly for each child in the Autism Preschool Programs.”

    - Mary Beth Koss, Manager of Education, Achievement Centers for Children

“Jack has responded very positively to music therapy. He receives music therapy at school and privately at home. Although Jack has difficulties with behavior, he is usually very happy and compliant during music therapy. Through music therapy, Jack has increased his expressive language, turn-taking skills, interactions with the therapist, ability to wait and ability to attend for longer periods of time.”

    - Frances, mother of a 5 ½ year old child with Autism

“Prior to working with Music Therapy Enrichment Center, Inc., music therapy was just another basic circle time. The children were not excited (just the opposite) and IEP goals were not met. Since working with MTEC and our therapist, our children are so excited to see her, goals are being met (sometimes better than what we can do in the classroom), and true music therapy is taking place. We have all truly loved working with our therapist and MTEC.”

    - Jackie Gerber, lead teacher, Autism Preschool (East) at Achievement Centers for Children

“Music therapy gives Mollie the opportunity to express herself using instruments creatively. It is an amazing way to incorporate many goals such as turn taking, following instructions, social goals, speech, language and communication goals. Music reaches Mollie.”

    - Amy Kalk, mother of a 4 ½ year old child with Autism