Today’s Saturday Shout Out goes to my favorite kindie
(that’s kid’s music + indie) artist, Justin Roberts!
Several months ago, I was thinking about how more toddlers
seem to be into Justin Bieber than traditional nursery rhymes, and how I felt
about that as a future music therapist. I started to think about the themes in
all the children’s music I had heard so far and how they were all inadequate to
broach some of the serious, real-world issues I know children sometimes
confront in music therapy.
Out of sheer curiosity (or was it desperation?), I Googled
“serious children’s music.” I found this article and I was totally blown away.
I started listening to Justin Roberts music on YouTube, and that was followed
by downloading as much of it on iTunes as my college budget would allow.
A quick evaluation of his lyrics reveals the themes are
often ready-made for music therapy sessions. The music is also as
satisfying, complex, and varied as children’s music ever gets. To put it
simply, his music may be for children, but it’s in no way childish.
I have created some examples of how Justin Roberts’s
music might be used in music therapy with children.
On his newest album, Lullaby, the first
track, Count Them as They Go would be great for music-assisted
relaxation, using imagery or Progressive Muscle Relaxation. This track would
also be great for having clients draw to music.
Easier to Do would work well for lyric analysis. You might ask clients, “What is hard for you to do right now?” “What is something that used to be hard but now is easier for you to do?”
Nothing on You, Heart of Gold, All For You, Polar Bear,
No Matter How Far, and Lullaby all contain loving messages from
caregivers to children and could be used in a family therapy type session.They are also gentle enough they might be used by music therapists or parents alike in the NICU.
From other albums, songs like I Chalk, Taking off My Training Wheels,
Giraffe/Nightingale, and Backyard Super Kid are all excellent for
validating a child’s unique talents and abilities and for helping them to build
self-esteem. Giraffe/Nightingale would be great for a group lyric
analysis, and Backyard Super Kid might be perfect for a child who is
hospitalized for medical or psychiatric reasons. Piggy-back songwriting can be
used to customize the lyrics for each client.
There are so many more uses for Justin Roberts’s
music that I couldn’t fit them all in one blog post!
His music covers nearly everything that is childhood, from
the silly to the serious.
My personal favorite is Sandcastle. The song speaks
of grief and loss with a very-age appropriate, relatable metaphor. It is
excellent for processing grief with young children and can be adapted with fill
in the blank song-writing.
And, just in case music therapists needed another reason to
love Justin Roberts, he has links to chords and lyrics for his albums Meltdown!
and Yellow Bus.
Music therapists, have you ever used his music in a session? Would you?
Be sure to like Justin Roberts on Facebook and follow him on Twitter!
Music therapists, have you ever used his music in a session? Would you?
Be sure to like Justin Roberts on Facebook and follow him on Twitter!
I guess I have selected a mind blowing and interesting blog.
ReplyDeletebrainwave therapy
Thanks so much for your feedback, Timon!
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