Creative Measures Music Therapy

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

08/05/2025

Music therapy: science, art, healing, growth.

🧠 Why this matters to music therapy: Music activates motor, cognitive, emotional, and sensory brain systems all at once. Its reach spans from neurochemical regulation (stress relief, mood enhancement) to functional rewiring (speech recovery, motor planning)

This means it can be a powerful transformation force even when traditional therapies may not reach deep enough.

08/01/2025

I have a ukulele Mandy designed and when I use it in classrooms I like to describe Mandy’s journey to the teachers and students. I think this is lovely (and I learned how to sign this song years ago).

06/16/2025

Nice article about another practical use of music therapy.

A new study shows that music therapy is as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy at helping cancer patients and survivors heal emotionally.