D OES MUSIC THERAPY BENEFIT SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ?

E MOTIONAL E FFECTS - Listening to music causes special needs children to have lower stress levels. - Relaxation caused by music therapy leads to psychological changes. - Music helps channel feelings such as frustration and anger. - Music can motivate special needs students and help with self expression.

S OCIAL E FFECTS - Speech is strengthened by music therapy by lengthening breath support. - Social skills that can be acquired in music therapy including eye contact and taking turns. - Music therapy helps special needs students by giving exposure to peers in a group setting. - When special needs students come together with music, they work and develop social skills as one.

P HYSICAL E FFECTS - Rhythmic movement helps develop mobility, agility, balance, and coordination. - Rhythmic movement can be any type of activity from tapping a beat to dancing. - Music physically relaxes special needs students that have trouble controlling their muscles. - Activities in music therapy sessions can even help students with their posture.

A CADEMIC A CHIEVEMENT - Songs like the ABC’s are used to help learn new information. - Music therapy helps special needs students with paying attention and staying on task in class. - Special needs students are able to learn new vocabulary faster with the help of music therapy. - Music helps special needs students retain new information.

M Y P RODUCT I decided to plan and hold a concert with Clayton’s Honors Chorus and Life Skills class. This directly tied in both music and special needs students. My mentor was Ms. Pat Bordonaro. She continually helped me throughout the project by teaching me more about the Life Skills students.

S TEPS Beginning - Choose songs - Ask to use Honors Chorus time for rehearsal - Purchase music (tracks and sheet) - Find and type lyrics - Make 25 folders of music - Inform parents about the project Middle - Practice group numbers and solos - Make CDs for Spring Break - Ask parents to rehearse with their students - Book auditorium - Inform Circle of Friends of volunteer opportunity - Write instructions for Chorus - Write instructions for Circle of Friends End - Send parents concert information - Create invitations - Distribute invitations to parents and administration - Write to invite CHS faculty and staff - Create programs and make copies - Create signs for lobby - Create and hang up posters - Create a script for Paola to read - Create a list of technical things for Crew - Write announcement for Comets Tale - Create Facebook Event and finally… - Sing in the concert with the Honors Chorus and Life Skills students _______________________________ 36 hours of prep for a 30 minute concert

P ROBLEMS - Finding statistical data about music therapy - Having to wait until after the musical to start rehearsing - People taking my concert as a joke during rehearsals

S ELF R EFLECTION I am the most proud of the kids. Watching and working with the Life Skills students when they sang was such a blessing. Their smiles were definitely the greatest reward to me. I learned that it’s a lot more work to put on a concert than I had originally thought. I loved working with everyone; I only wish we had more time to rehearse. This project will serve me in the future, because it taught me to fail. I’ve learned that not everyone gets everything right the first time, and normally that’s okay.