Music therapy is based on vibrations produced by selected musical notes. The capacity of each individual child to receive, react and respond to these resonating vibrations is different. Children with different levels of disability cannot communicate their preferences clearly. It is for these reasons that before planning therapy sessions for the individual child a number of inputs are gathered from the parents and support team, taken into consideration and evaluated.
Evaluation inputs include the following:
Clinical inputs:
· Gender, Age and Time of Birth
· Age at which first symptoms of any disability or disturbing factors was noticed.
· Time of day ( morning / noon / evening ) the child is more active and attention span
Musical inputs:
· Noticeable preference to specific sounds or musical notes
· Nature of preference - vocal or instrumental, soft / loud, fast / slow tempo
Preferences demonstrated by the child:
· Choice of colours while selecting clothes, toys, fruits
· Facets or features attracted to in paintings, pictures, photographs or colouring
· Attraction to pictures – Natural Landscapes, Animals, Bright, Muted
· Shapes – soft and rounded or sharp and geometric
· Lighting – Bright / Dull
· Season or time of the year the child is most comfortable in
Food preferences:
· Hot or Cold, Solids or Liquid
· Spicy / Sour / Sweet / Salty - Soft or Crispy
Activity Profile:
· What the child does when left alone / unguided
· Age group the child is comfortable with – same age, younger / older / adults
· What triggers hyper activity or expressions of extreme emotions
· Who the child is most comfortable with - parent(s), support personnelSleep assistance – storytelling / book reading / rocking / lullaby
Evaluation inputs include the following:
Clinical inputs:
· Gender, Age and Time of Birth
· Age at which first symptoms of any disability or disturbing factors was noticed.
· Time of day ( morning / noon / evening ) the child is more active and attention span
Musical inputs:
· Noticeable preference to specific sounds or musical notes
· Nature of preference - vocal or instrumental, soft / loud, fast / slow tempo
Preferences demonstrated by the child:
· Choice of colours while selecting clothes, toys, fruits
· Facets or features attracted to in paintings, pictures, photographs or colouring
· Attraction to pictures – Natural Landscapes, Animals, Bright, Muted
· Shapes – soft and rounded or sharp and geometric
· Lighting – Bright / Dull
· Season or time of the year the child is most comfortable in
Food preferences:
· Hot or Cold, Solids or Liquid
· Spicy / Sour / Sweet / Salty - Soft or Crispy
Activity Profile:
· What the child does when left alone / unguided
· Age group the child is comfortable with – same age, younger / older / adults
· What triggers hyper activity or expressions of extreme emotions
· Who the child is most comfortable with - parent(s), support personnelSleep assistance – storytelling / book reading / rocking / lullaby
