Professional Development for Early Childhood & Elementary Music Teachers and Music Therapists

 

Sensory Songs

Music Considerations for regulation

Sensory Songs is a video course that explores music as a supportive tool for sensory regulation. This course features an occupational therapist and two music therapists who walk you through concepts such as: sensory processing, regulation and modulation, sensory seeking and/or avoiding tendencies, and music strategies for regulation. In addition to 3+ hours of video and a Zoom office hour, you’ll receive 14 ready-to-use songs created specifically for sensory exploration.

This course will give you:

  • Ideas and strategies from an OT and two MTs for incorporating musical and non-musical tools for sensory support

  • 14 ready-to-use songs created for sensory exploration including chords/lyrics and some notated leadsheets & recordings

  • Over 3 hours of video instruction

  • A Zoom Q&A office hour for further discussion

  • 5 pre-approved CMTE credits for MT-BCs (or a professional development certificate for educators and other professionals)

{MT-BCs get 5 CMTEs! Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


Literacy For Littles

using music to develop reading & Communication skills

Did you know that there are a multitude of pre-literacy skills that need to develop before a child is ready to learn letter names and sounds?

Music For Kiddos presents Literacy For Littles, a new 5-credit CMTE by literacy expert and music therapist Kathy Schumacher.

Kathy shares 25 years of experience and dozens of research-supported and music-based techniques that can support kids with reading and communication goals. This course includes: current research, assessment, phonological awareness, rhyme, syllables, phonemes, technology tips, and more.

This course will give you:

  • 72 ready-to-use songs/resources and 12 assessment tools

  • Over 3 hours of video instruction

  • A 215 e-book that has additional information and resources 

  • A Zoom Q&A office hour with Kathy

  • 5 pre-approved CMTE credits for MT-BCs or a professional development certificate for educators and other professionals

{MT-BCs get 5 CMTEs! Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


DIY Recording

Make a professional recording with garage band

In this mini-course, Jenn will walk you through the simplest possible studio setup and recording process that can produce a clean, crisp, and polished recording you can be proud of.

What do you need? A USB mic (we like this $100 Blue Yeti) and GarageBand. (And if you’re getting a little fancier, some nice headphones.) That’s it. **GarageBand is a music creation software exclusive to Apple therefore, this course is recommended for Mac users.

Music therapist? Music educator? Use these simple recording techniques to support your clients and students in a brand new way. Write and record a song, explore simple mixing techniques, let your client produce a song from start to finish… the possibilities are endless.

Do this mini-course in your own time!! It's one hour of pre-recorded videos, and one Q&A office hour on March 31st at 8pm ET. (If you can't make it, we'll send you the recording!)

{Music Therapists & Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


Guitar for Kids:

A success-based guitar curriculum for kids

Guitar For Kids is our new success-based guitar method for kids 9+ developed by Jenna Hardy Pedersen.

Berklee College of Music graduate and music educator, Jenna, is laser-focused on helping her young guitar students succeed (and stick with!) the guitar.

This method includes:

  • comprehensive guitar method PDF that details Jenna's step-by-step process

  • printable instructor's packet that includes worksheets and 14 ready-to-use songs

  • printable student manual

  • 25 videos that demonstrate course concepts and suggested songs

  • Zoom office hour so you can ask Jenna questions (a replay will be available)

  • A certificate for two professional development credits upon completion

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{Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


Empowering Little Leaders

Exploring race, identity & Equity in early childhood music

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How can we create inclusive and equitable early childhood spaces?

How can we engage young children in critical conversations about race, identity, immigration, accessibility, land ownership and religious expression? 

These are some of the important and necessary questions we will be exploring in the online course, Empowering Little Leaders.

This course was created by 3 music therapists with various identities and lived experiences in order to provide anti-oppressive resources to music therapists and music educators. They share their developmentally appropriate approach for engaging young children and their families in these critical conversations. It is by no means an exhaustive course, but we hope it will amplify voices of stakeholders from many communities already committed to this work while also providing specific ideas and resources that can immediately be put into practice in classroom and therapy spaces.

 

{MT-BCs! Get 6 ETHICS CMTEs! Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


Out of the Music Box

resources for music therapists & Music educators

Do you ever think about bringing more toys into your work? How about art, theater, dance, poetry, creative writing, or nature?

Out Of The Music Box is a new online course that expands our musical toolbox with inspiration from other creative modalities.

If you are feeling stuck in your work (online or in-person), burned out, OR you could just use some fresh, new ideas... you will love this crash course in creative resources that are kid- centered, high-quality, and yes... out of the music box.

This course will give you:

  • More TIME + less planning (we give you dozens of ideas and ready-to-use resources)

  • A creative boost and renewed energy for your work

  • New, kid-centered ideas to try with your most challenging clients and students

  • Genuine connection with other clinicians and educators (with opportunities to share your own ideas OR ask questions)

{MT-BCs! Get 6 CMTEs! Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


Lights, Camera, Telehealth!

Creative Remote Learning Resources

for Music Therapists and Music Educators

This comprehensive online course, Q&A office hour, and PDF workbook will help you:

  • Explore digital tools for providing high-quality music sessions and lessons online

  • Learn to efficiently record, edit, and share videos with straight-forward tutorials and simple step-by-step instructions

  • Discover new and creative ways to increase engagement and participation in live online music lessons and sessions with one-of-a-kind telehealth resources and ideas

  • Reduce telehealth and online learning overwhelm and build confidence in your technology skills and implementation

If online music tools feel a little bit intimidating or you haven’t had the time to figure your options out— this course is for you. You’ll be ready to step into the new school year with a renewed confidence that you are providing the best possible experience for your students and clients… without burning yourself out.

 

{MT-BCs! Get 5 CMTEs! Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


Social Media Marketing

for music therapists and music educators

A comprehensive online course + office hours + workbook that will help you:

  • Explore what digital marketing tools can help you reach a wider audience, increase your income, and customize your own career

  • Market ethically with generosity, community, and products that genuinely help people (no “ick” factor!)

  • Save months of frustration and build a baseline audience quickly and inexpensively

  • Learn current best-practices for blogging, Facebook, Instagram, email marketing, YouTube, and more!

Ever wonder how some music therapists and music educators are able to make a full-time income online? (Or a solid side-hustle? Or a location-based business that has a waiting list a mile long?) Stephanie is opening the vault! Peek into the good, bad, and ugly of inexpensively building and growing a business with social media marketing.

{MT-BCs! Get 5 CMTEs! Educators get a certificate of professional development!}


Movement Songs for Kiddos: Digital Album + Course

movement songs for kids ages 0-10

A digital mini-course and album including:

  • 12 professionally recorded movement songs + a bonus cool-down song for kids ages 0-10 

  • An online video mini-course featuring implementation tips for each song

  • A 23-page PDF with lyrics, chords & strums

  • Backing tracks for each of the songs

This course features music therapist Stephanie Leavell’s most popular movement songs alongside new, never-released songs. Her presentation of each song is short, simple, to the point, and easy to understand. 


Ukulele for Kiddos: A Simple How-To Guide

12 Mini Lessons for Parents & Educators

So your kid wants to learn the ukulele???

The ukulele is a simple enough instrument that you probably don’t want to invest in private lessons, at least initially.

With this online course and PDF workbook, you will get:

  • A simple method for teaching ukulele to kids ages 4-10

  • 12 mini video lessons + a 20-page PDF workbook

  • Color-coded chords with gradually increasing difficultly featuring 16 simple songs

  • Step-by-step success-based implementation