Music Therapy
Sera School's Music Therapy and Adaptive Lessons are adaptive piano and guitar lessons taught by licensed music therapists tailored to meet the needs of specialized populations including; children and adults with developmental disabilities, people with physical disabilities, older adults, and people with learning disabilities.
Approach
These specialized lessons use a therapeutic approach in teaching the skills needed to play the piano and guitar. Some examples include:
- Use of task analysis, ie. breaking instruction into smaller steps, creating more manageable & easily obtained goals.
- Experiencing rhythm patterns through movement & beating on large drums before moving to the guitar or piano.
- Reinforcement of concepts through rhythm instruments, movement, singing & musical games.
- Use of color coded notation.
- Emphasizing an aural approach to learning written notation.
- Playing flashcard and large board games to reinforce music reading.
- Focus on the student's preferred songs and favorite types of music.
- Using pitch and rhythm patterns from the songs students are leaning.
- Encouragement of creative expression via improvisation & composition.
- Pacing the lesson to maintain attention through a variety of activities which vary the level of concentration needed.
Neurological Music Therapy
Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is an advanced level training for music therapists. NMT uses standardized treatment techniques based on scientific research of music and the brain. NMT is defined as:
"the therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system," (Thaut, 1999).
Neurologic music therapy is the therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory and motor dysfunction due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system. Neurologic music therapists have additional training in neuroanatomy/physiology, brain malfunctions, medical terminology and rehabilitation of cognitive and/or motor functions. Neurologic music therapists have completed an extensive training course through the Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State University. In addition, NMT’s must further their education with Fellowship training every 2 years.
Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) interventions are applicable to many populations including, but not limited to:
(970) 343-0819 • (866) 611-7558 
