Jessica Lee

The Importance of Music and Movement for Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs

We will discuss the importance of providing quality music and movement experiences that engage the child,therapist,  and the family with particular attention to the benefits to the child with special needs. We will describe the impact that having a board-certified music therapist implementing an early childhood music and movement program in the preschool/daycare setting can have on promoting the development of skills for children exhibiting sensory integration issues,  early signs of autism,and other developmental concerns.

This presentation addresses the ways in which the five domains of development (physical,social/emotional,cognitive,communication,and sensory) are represented in the music making experience in a parent-child or preschool therapy setting. Participants will learn strategies for presenting songs that engages child’s (and adult’s) attention fully,  capitalizes on children’s pleasure in the music making experience,and sparks spontaneous play while addressing the child’s music therapy goals.
Recent research in the fields of music therapy,  neurology,and brain research will be discussed in the context of this session,  providing tangible support for the importance of music and movement for infants and toddlers with special needs.

Session Objectives

1. Particpants gain an overview of music developmental milestones for birth to three years

2. Particpants are exposed to signs of developmental delay in relation to music development

3. Participants experience well-designed music and movement experiences that address developmental domains for children birth to three years of age exhibiting sensory integration issues,  early signs of autism,  and other developmental concerns.

Bio

Jessica Lee is a Board Certified Music Therapist,Certified Music Together teacher and center director. She currently works at the University of Minnesota Fairview Riverside Hospital on the child/adolescent inpatient mental unit as well asdirects her own Music Together Center in Minneapolis. She has many years of experience working with diverse populations ranging from hard of hearing children to hospice patients in settings such as preschools,nursing homes,intergenerational and hospitals. In addition to Music Therapy and teaching Music Together,Jessica directs a women’s Acapella group that performs regularly around the Twin cities area.