Music Therapy and Education is led by a board-certified music therapist who leads 25 weekly group music therapy and education sessions. During these 20-minute sessions, Rise's music therapist incorporates each classroom’s weekly theme and lesson in order to build repetition, reinforce learning, and promote the transfer of knowledge. Students use instruments to explore sounds and rhythms, and movement and props to create sensory experiences and avenues for communication and self-expression. Students also perform in bell choir performances, a talent show, and the graduation ceremony, and have recently formed a ukulele choir. These school performances not only provide social interaction and feel good moments for students, family, and faculty, but also build students’ self-confidence and allow them to project their sense of self to an audience. Performances by outside music and dance troupes further enrich the students’ music, sensory, and cultural experiences. Music therapy improves students’ cognition, speech, gross and fine motor skills, sensory processing skills, and social skills.
For information about the National Roster Music Therapy internship at Rise contact Veronica Fernandez [email protected]