Developing Early Verbal Skills Through Music: Using rhythm, movement and song with children and young people with additional or complex needs

Drawing on current research about the connections between music and speech, this book explains how and why musical activities can be used to support the mechanisms and processes needed for speech. Containing specific guidance on the physiological, neurological, and learning differences children face when trying to make sense of speech, including hypermobility, autism spectrum conditions, Down Syndrome, auditory processing differences and motor timing difficulties, this guide provides an in-depth evaluation into how you can enhance your practice. Discover evidence-based and easy-to-use activities such as how to use whistles for breathing, drums to support the ability to 'hear' or produce speech sounds, and how to use songs to support speech.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Chapter 1: Sound beginnings Chapter 2: Finding the heartbeat of music and speech Chapter 3: Rhythmic connections - communication, music and verbal language Chapter 4: Understanding rhythm difficulties in communication, speech and music Chapter 5: Making rhythm work - practical approaches Chapter 6: The foundations of voice: breathing and posture Chapter 7: Producing Voice Chapter 8: Understanding and supporting voice difficulties Chapter 9: Using singing and songs for speech Chapter 10: Making music work for speech and wellbeing Bibliography

About the Author :
Tracy Jeffery is Senior Lecturer in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion at Bishop Grosseteste University. She has spent the past 20 years exploring how music can be used to support children and young adults with speech and language difficulties.

Review :
Developing Early Verbal Skills Through Music is a truly fabulous must-read for all musicians working with SEND. Through reading this book the impact of music will become even deeper for both the participant and Music Facilitator. It's the book that wasn't there when I began work with SEND. Clear, accessible, and well written, finally a book that tells us why what we do is so important and how to improve it! I found reading this book a joyful experience. It opened my mind to the possibilities of deeper engagement with autistic people, with whom I work. It also gave me a new perspective on communication and interaction in a general sense. The book is peppered with insight, information and well-referenced encouragement to look afresh at how we use our bodies to create pitch, time, rhythm, words, voice and melody...and relationships. Armed with the learning we take from this book, we will be able to close ever tighter that circle of belonging in which an inclusive, healthy community can thrive. It is a book with a great heart and confident teaching. The book outlines developmentally appropriate methods to understand the role of music in children's lives through play, games, creativity, and movement. Tracy explores a holistic, artistic, and integrated approach to understanding the developmental connections between music and children. Jeffery weaves a stimulating and thoughtful narrative which draws on her extensive experience, professional curiosity and long-term interest in music in the context of special needs. I feel this book offers therapists and educators invaluable insight into supporting communication differences and disability. As a therapist, mindfulness teacher and educator I found this book to be well-evidenced and clear, with helpful practical examples. This book will without doubt be of interest to anyone applying creative approaches in therapy and education.