Music therapy is just one of several therapies used at Daystar to achieve the best quality of life for our infants and their families. Music therapy, whose beginnings date back to the 19th century, is the clinical, evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Children with developmental disabilities can experience many positive outcomes from music therapy including improved gross and fine motor skills, social/interpersonal development, cognitive development, self-awareness, and speech and language development. A pilot study at the Institute for Music Therapy in Germany revealed significant developmental improvements including better hearing and speech, improved hand-eye coordination, and improved communication skills.
Over the past six years, Daystar has collaborated with the Upstate Music Therapy Center and has successfully utilized music therapy as part of our comprehensive program to promote the development of our infants. Daystar infants look forward to seeing our music therapists, who visit three times per week.
The primary goals addressed in music therapy sessions at Daystar are:
· To increase physical movement · To increase opportunities for development of speech and language skills · To stimulate cognitive functioning · To expose staff, parents and volunteers to various ways to stimulate and/or relax children using music · To expose Daystar infants to developmentally appropriate social and emotional awareness
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Day & Respite Programs > Therapy at Daystar >
Music Therapy |