Creative Measures Music Therapy

02/18/2026

With Moore County Choral Society – I'm on a streak! I've been a top fan for 10 months in a row. 🎉

02/17/2026

Even if I didn’t love singing, it would make me happy to see these studies. Sing out!

Your voice holds power far beyond words.

According to a fascinating study, singing for just one hour can increase your body’s production of secretory immunoglobulin A, or SIgA, by up to 240 percent. SIgA is your immune system’s first line of defense. It coats the lining of your mouth, throat, lungs, and digestive system, blocking viruses and bacteria before they invade deeper.

Researchers compared people who sang to those who simply listened to music or sat quietly. The difference was clear. Singing led to a massive spike in immunity, while the other activities offered only minor changes.

The act of singing is not just emotional. It is physical medicine. Breath control strengthens the lungs. Muscle engagement improves circulation. Vocal vibration stimulates healing in the chest, face, and brain.

Even more impressive? Singing activates the vagus nerve. This nerve calms the body, regulates stress, lowers cortisol, and balances your immune system. It is the body’s natural switch between fight mode and healing mode.

This is not about singing well. It is about singing fully. Whether it is gospel in a choir, humming in the kitchen, or belting a pop song in the car, your immune system listens and responds.

Singing also boosts endorphins, creating a natural high that relaxes the mind and energizes the body. In a world overwhelmed by stress, that shift can be the medicine many people never realized they needed.

So sing like your health depends on it. Because science says it just might.
Your voice is more than expression. It is immunity in motion.

02/07/2026

Your two-day-old could be secretly judging your sense of timing, as new research finds we develop rhythm earlier than we first thought.

01/09/2026

It’s something I learned as a young music therapist. Sometimes client needs and the resulting session plan require me to bring a lot of stuff-instruments, visual aids, movement props.

11/05/2025

Sensory friendly visit with Santa event

🎅✨ Sensory Santa is coming to town! ✨🎅

Get ready for a magical, sensory-friendly holiday experience designed for families to enjoy at their own pace.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family registration opens November 1st
🛍️ Vendor registration is open now!

Don’t miss this special event — visit Moore County Public Safety for more information and details on how to join the fun!

10/17/2025

More calm fun at the fair.

If you’ve never heard of Sensory Day at the N.C. State Fair, that’s kinda the point, it’s one of the best things they do, and a lot of folks don’t even know about it.

It’s quiet, calm, and completely about inclusion.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, the fair takes a deep breath. The rides and games are open, but the lights and music are turned off. The vendors do the same. Even the stages trade big amps for soft acoustic sets. The loudspeaker only chimes in if someone’s lost — otherwise, it’s peace and quiet on the midway.

Inside the Graham Building, the “Bandwidth Chill Out Zone” is open all day with soft lights, gentle music, and a place to take a breather. Folks can check out noise-cancelling headphones or take part in fun, inclusive games built so everyone can join in.

It’s a side of the fair that reminds you what this whole thing’s really about, making sure everyone gets to be part of North Carolina’s favorite tradition. Inclusion isn’t just invited; it’s celebrated. 💙

09/06/2025

09/01/2025

Sensory friendly state fair!

Mark your calendars for Sensory Day at the N.C. State Fair, presented by Bandwidth Inc., taking place on Sunday, Oct. 19th! 🎉💙

Starting at 9 a.m., vendors, booths, rides, and games will operate without music or lights until 1 p.m. The music stages will play acoustic sets only with light amplification, and the public address system will only be used for lost visitor announcements.

Kids and parents alike can look forward to the Bandwidth Chill Out Zone full of tables, chairs, toys and more. We will have noise cancelling headphones available as well, for those who need them. Plan to join us for this fun and sensory friendly day at the N.C. State Fair!

08/23/2025

Music therapy IS healthcare! Our field utilizes evidence-based techniques by board certified therapists to address a range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Music therapy can appear in a multitude of settings like schools, hospitals, rehab centers, private practices, etc. Music therapy can make a powerful difference!

08/17/2025

Music and development for babies and young children

Exposure to music in infancy does more than delight—it structurally and functionally enhances the developing brain.

When babies both listen to and create music, key regions like the auditory and prefrontal cortex are activated, laying the groundwork for effective speech and musical processing.

Active musical creation—playing instruments or singing—is even more potent, tapping into motor, linguistic, creative, and mathematical networks.

Longitudinal studies reveal that musical training translates into tangible gains in verbal memory, reading fluency, pronunciation accuracy, and executive functioning, with these advantages persisting into later developmental stages.

Rhythm and melody themselves offer foundational support for grasping grammar and phonological nuances, meaning music underpins the very building blocks of language development.

Early musical environments help babies recognize patterns, sequence stories, and refine memory processes.

They’re also grounds for strengthening spatial awareness, emotional regulation, and bonding—particularly through shared lullabies or musical games.

At the neurological level, music fosters interhemispheric brain connectivity, enhancing both memory and language capabilities.

In essence, musical exposure during early childhood is a powerful, holistic tool.

It not only sparks memory and linguistic skills but also nurtures emotional resilience, cognitive flexibility, and attentive social engagement—all foundational to lifelong learning and development.

08/16/2025

Great summary of areas addressed by music therapy