Tag: music therapy

  • Sing! Sing! Sing!

    Think back, when was the last time you belted out your favorite song? How did that feel for you? What is your relationship to singing songs? Car Singer? Shower Singer? Sing as you work? Sing with others? 

    What is singing as it relates to Music Therapy?  Is singing making sounds in pitch and rhythm to create a melody?  Is it an expression of a person’s current moods and feelings in the moment?  Does singing have to be a person who is pleasant to hear and enjoy?  Or, is singing just being yourself in the moment of making music? Do you have to be a “singer” to sing?   Let’s start a conversation about singing.

    As a board certified music therapist,  I believe every individual has the capacity to make music!  Perhaps, not always in use of sounding words in actual voice, but sometimes in the embodied movement to the spirit of the song when the body, “sings!”  Often, at the onset of music therapy, my own singing voice leads at first and then guides an individual or group.  Then, eventually, the client takes over finding the music within themselves in the dynamic therapeutic moment of transformation towards their own personal goals.   I work with a variety of ages each needing special care of their voice.  Research based Neurologic Music Therapy techniques are used to create individualized music therapy experiences for my clients.  Children and adults find their voice within music therapy. The goals with singing vary as it can empower people to communicate in many ways!

     Here are a few examples of clients who have engaged in neurologic music therapy: 

    • 3 Year Old with Down Syndrome in pre language stages of development is learning words through Developmental Speech and Language Training Through Music using songs from Music Together Within Therapy.
    • 20 Year Old with Autism with limited one to two word communication, but can sing whole 4-15 word lyric lines which follow natural speech patterns.  Such as “Hello, How Are You? I’m so glad to see you today!” Developmental Speech and Language Training Through Music techniques are utilized to create new neuropathways of ongoing communication.
    • 25 Year Old with Intellectual Disability who enjoys singing songs about many aspects of her live she loves.  This serves as a jumping off point for discussions of the people who support her and the activities she loves to engage in to enrich her life. Music in Psychosocial Training and Counseling  is the neurological technique used with this client who continues to work  on positive self worth and empowering her independence within her home while it is still safest to live with her guardian parents. 
    • 70 Year Old with Parkinson’s Disease who experiences softening of voice and monotone speech utilizes weekly one hour Therapeutic Singing session to help strengthen his voice to speak up and sound less monotone. 
    • 83 Year Old who experienced Aphasia including loss of expressive language after a stoke, works two sessions a week on both Musical Melodic Intonation Therapy and Therapeutic Singing to increase expressive speech, learn functional phrases, support memory, and read and understand lyrics to songs. I spoke about her journey earlier last year. 

    There is extensive research on these neurological music therapy techniques and can be found at this link

    Neurological music therapy is not necessarily about learning to sing well, but music is the motivator to reach a person’s non musical goals like communication and self expression to enhance quality of life. 

    What is your favorite song sing along to?   What is your loved one’s favorite music activity?   Let me know by scheduling a conversation about how Neurologic Music Therapy can assist you or your loved one’s own goals to increase the quality of their life. Click on the button below to schedule time for a chat soon. 

    “Where words fail, music speaks” – Hans Christian Andersen 

    Be well, 

    Ms. Carrie 

  • Music and the Brain: Stroke Rehab with Neurologic Music Therapy

    photos from depositphotos.com

    In March of this year, I received a referral to assess an 83 year old woman who had had a stroke which effected the speech areas in her brain causing global aphasia. Global aphasia is characterized by a severe impairment across all language modalities. Individuals have very poor comprehension, may be nonverbal, or produce verbal stereotypies (non-communicative repetition of syllables or words such as ‘to-ko to-ko’).

    Upon assessment, Mae (name changed for privacy), had full use of her arms and legs, but showed impaired understanding of following one to two step directions, forming correct words, and reading phrases correctly, but could sing most of a simple common folk song, Oh When the Saints Come Marching In. During the initial assessment session, Mae’s daughter, listening within ear shot of the session, said that was the most language she had heard from her mom since the stroke. Mae’s assessment showed she would be a good candidate for Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) and subsequent Musical Speech Stimulation (MUSTIM). Both therapies take a functional phrase, such as, “How Are You Doing?’ and put it to a simple melodic phrase, hum it, sing it, have the client sing it, and then repeated the process to where you can gradually fade it to natural speech. Mae has done quite well with her MIT and MUSTIM to where I often come into our session and naturally say, “How are you dong, today?” and she can say, “I’m Fine” or “I’m terrific!” Collaborating also with her Speech and Language Therapist, the therapist reports that Mae has scored higher on repetition of phrases which a person with global aphasia sometimes cannot do without mixing up speech in the process. After almost 12 weeks of therapy, Mae can say a list of 20 phrases in repetition, and with little musical cuing!

    Lately, I have been working on Mae’s cognition and response by asking, “What do you say when you greet someone?” Answer: “How are you doing?” We have also moved on to working on more expressive speech using Therapeutic Singing (TS) techniques. Mae looks at a picture and is asked, “Tell me about what you see in the picture.” This are familiar pictures attached to familiar songs, like all the things mentioned in the song, My Favorite Things, from The Sound of Music (Roses, Kittens, Dogs, etc…) Although, Mae is still working on strengthening her expressive language, singing and making music has been a key to help make new neural connections and rehabilitate her working memory and cognition. She is making progress towards her goals!

    Music Therapy for Stroke Rehabilitation can also work on other physical effects caused by stroke. Recently, I took a specialized training in Neurologic Music Therapy and now hold the distinction of “Neurologic Music Therapist” (NMT). This training is the result of over 25+ years of research into the science of music and the brain. This training allows me to utilize many research based neurologic music techniques to help specialize my music therapy more fully to specific neurological impairments caused by stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, traumatic brain injuries, dementia, and intellectual and developmental delays and disabilities associated with ASD, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome. This list is not exhaustive of how neurologic music therapy can help with rehabilitation.

    Check out these short videos on YouTube to see Neurologic Music Therapy in action from some of my colleagues in the field.

    Melodic Intonation Therapy with Therapeutic Singing: Much like Mae and I do together. Her progress has been similar:

    Neurologic Music Therapy with Patient with Left Neglect: This patient had a stroke which effected her ability to see and notice things to the left her visual field, even though her eye sight was fine.

    Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation for Walking: This video shows how the beat of music can help entrain the brain to the beat of music to help with walking stride issues due to the effects of stroke.

    As you read this, if you have someone in mind who could use this information, or would like a consultation regarding Neurologic Music Therapy for Stroke Rehab, feel free to reach out to me at carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com or call 615-390-3207 or sign up for a free 30 minute consultation.

    I also love referrals for all ages and stages of life!

    Be well and join the harmony!

    -Ms. Carrie

    Carrie Friddell, MT-BC, NMT

  • Seven Ideas to Make the Thanksgiving Holiday Special: Quarantine Edition

    Seven Ideas to Make the Thanksgiving Holiday Special: Quarantine Edition

    Make new family traditions this Thanksgiving!

    Hello!  Hello!  How Are You?  


    In years past, during the start of the holidays, I would be involved with choir performances for my music therapy groups. Last year, I recall I was very busy leading performances from the Rising Star Choir, The Metro Parks disAbilities Group, and the Peterson’s Choir for Parkinsons.   I recall feeling so proud of my groups for all their progress and accomplishments!   However, this year, 2020, has proven so very different.  I miss the smiles on all my choir members’ faces as they sing and perform!  I’m glad I have videos on the In Harmony YouTube Channel to go back to watch, remember, and hope for more great concerts to come. 


    This year, many of us are staying home and away from family as measures to social distance and reduce COVID spread. This feels very different too.   Even in my own small family unit I’ve been thinking of ways to connect with friends and family. I also want to make Thanksgiving Day special and festive for my kids an husband.  Here are seven ideas I want to share with you: 

    1. What food does you or immediate family members really love but do not have all the time?  Make an abundance of these.  Fo me it’s dinner rolls and deviled eggs, which only get served on holidays.  My kids go crazy for both!  
    2. Make that special dessert that you or your family crave, not matter if it is pumpkin pie or just good old fashioned brownies!  Involve the kids if they are keen to help out. 
    3. Spend a few hours watching a favorite movie or a binge of shows together.  Pop some popcorn or have that bag of potato chips you don’t often buy.  
    4. Go ahead and start decorating the house for Christmas!  
    5. Play your favorite music and have a dance party, even break out the Christmas music if you are so inclined.  
    6. Take a walk in the neighborhood at mid-day. Hopefully, the sun will be shining high in the sky! 
    7. Zoom or FaceTime with family and/or friends during dinner time and have dinner virtually “together”! 

    What are some of your family traditions? What are you doing new and different this year to keep Thanksgiving festive and fun? Drop a comment below and let me know what you are up to and to share more ideas! 

    As always, be sure to follow In Harmony Music Therapy of Middle Tennessee on Instagram and Facebook. If you have any questions about music therapy services, feel free to reach out at carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com. I’ll be announcing my January schedule soon, so keep on the look out for more updates in the weeks to come! 


    I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! 
    All the best, 

    Ms. Carrie

  • Important Update for August 2020 Going Forward

    Since March of 2020 I’ve seen varying social media posts either saying, “What’s Next 2020?” or “Things I’ve Learned in 2020”. The first statement speaks to the fact that 2020 has brought on some unfavorable changes, thrown us into a pandemic, and completely upended what we think of as a “normal” day or week. The later statement, seems to take a look at the bright side of change and how a person can grow and evolve with the changes. I personally, have felt both sides of these statements this year as some days have been better than others and I have rolled with the punches and also reflected on what is good about life as I know it. It has been a time to adapt to changes and look at how best to adapt to these changes in both home and work life. Even before March of 2020, I have been feeling the need to let go some parts of my work responsibilities. I have also felt the winds of change for a long time even as far back as the Summer of 2018. So, here I am in August 2020 and I’m making some necessary changes to In Harmony Music of Middle Tennessee and I want to let you know about them.

    I’ve been a music therapist coming up on 15 years now, and a Music Together Center Director for 8 years. I love my career! I love making music with kiddos and their parents! However, here is the crux of the matter, I am letting go of the Music Together Family classes and moving my work focus to music for therapy. I have closed my center location at the Groove Room in Hermitage. I plan to reopen my West End location at Blakemore United Methodist Church, when it is safe to do so, to children with special needs including kids diagnosed with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and other developmental and intellectual disabilities. I am continuing to offer teletherapy services to children and youth with special needs at this time. Music Together within Therapy uses the music from the Music Together curriculum to children with special needs reach their individual non-musical goals. Non-musical goals can include, increasing communication, strengthening gross and fine motor skills, working cognition skills, and increasing awareness of self and others.

    I will be reorganizing my mailing list and will send out notification and add a new form to my website within the next few weeks. If you are interested in hearing more about Music Therapy services please reach out me directly at carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com

    It’s with a heavy heart that I close my Music Together Family classes. However, there are many other great classes offered in and around Nashville and I’ve provided links at the bottom of this page (below the photo gallery) to the four groups I know who continue to hold family classes both online during this time and possibly in person in the near future. I’d encourage you to check them them out, especially, to continue building basic music competence which is so important to early childhood development.

    It is has been a pleasure serving over a hundred families over 8 years though Music Together Family classes! I look forward to continuing to serve as music therapist to many children with special needs and their families.
    Thank you for your support of In Harmony Music of Middle Tennessee!

    I wish you the best in life,

    Ms. Carrie
    Thank you for all the great memories!

    Check out these great organizations for more Music Together Family Classes!

    East Nashville: https://tennlittlebirds.com/

    West Nashville: https://musiccitymusictogether.com/

    Hendersonville: https://sumnermusictogether.com/

    Nolensville: https://www.musictogetherwithgretchen.com/

    Music Together LLC Class Locator: https://www.musictogether.com/class-locator

    Music Together art and logo design 
    Music Together art & logo design © 1992-2020 Music Together LLC. Music Together is a registered trademark. In Harmony Music of Middle Tennessee is licensed by Music Together LLC. For more locations: musictogether.com – (800) 728-2692

  • Music Therapy Parent Ed Moment: “One Little Owl”

    Hello Parents!  I have a song to share with you today! I use this song in my work as a Board Certified Music Therapist.  Check out this 2 minute video which teaches you the song so you can sing it at your home and lets you know how I use this song in my clinical practice with children with special needs.

    Want to know more about how music therapy can benefit your child?  Sign up for your FREE 30 minute teletherapy consultation to speak directly with me, Carrie Friddell, MT-BC, on how music can target your child’s specific needs.

    Schedule Appointment

    You can also reach me at carrie@inharmonymusicmidtn.com or call at 615-390-3207. 

    Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon!