In the last post “What is Rhythmic Entrainment ? And Why is it Important in Music Therapy?” I stated that “Rhythmic Entrainment in music therapy is a specialized practice used to assist in helping people become more “in tune” to their own rhythm and the rhythms of the world around them.”
Babies hear their first rhythm in utero from the beating of the mother’s heart. So a natural way to soothe a restless infant is to pat their back rhythmically while rocking or swaying, and singing, of course. I have spent many years working in early intervention pre-schools, the experience has been fun and I have learned so much through the years. Some children have an innate rhythmic sense and are able to move their bodies gracefully and can grasp simple concepts such as “this is how we keep the beat” while other children are not able to keep a steady beat. Some children are just “out of step with the world” this is seen in children that don’t have strong core balance or rhythmic awareness.
I introduce body percussion with the “keep the beat” chant on the very first day and we march around the classroom to reinforce the concept in the whole body. I have small maracas that I give to the kids and I model ways to keep the beat with the maraca, first just shaking it, then touching each knee and then in the palm of the hand while the beat gets faster. We also do dance and movement activities that reinforce this concept. In the last blog series Sensory Integration Not Just for Autism Spectrum Disorders, I explained how I use rhythm instruments as part of the multi-sensory approach. As I introduce each instrument, I explain how to play it correctly and rhythmically. The children are assisted using a least to most approach in which I start with eye contact as a subtle reminder to keep the beat and stay with me, if that doesn’t work one of the other adults may start patting the beat on the child’s shoulder, knee or back. As a last resort the child will receive hand over hand assistance. As stated in last week’s post “What is Rhythmic Entrainment? And Why is it Important in Music Therapy” some people cannot move their bodies rhythmically but can still benefit from this sensory input on the physiological level.
For individuals with traumatic brain injury, stroke and Parkinson’s disease, motor abilities may need to be relearned and practiced. Many of the techniques would be modified by using age appropriate music and instruments.
What’s your favorite way to keep the beat? Please post in the comments below.