Social Skills Training for Children through Music Therapy (5 credits)

Presented by Jeffrey Friedberg MT-BC, LCAT

Social skills can be difficult to teach because what seems like one simple interaction may actually involve many smaller skills: noticing cues, understanding expectations, responding appropriately, taking turns, managing frustration, and knowing what to do next.

Music can help break those skills into smaller, more concrete steps that children can learn, practice, and remember.

In this practical course, Jeffrey Friedberg, MT-BC, LCAT, introduces a music-based approach to teaching social skills based on the work of clinical psychologist Jed Baker, Ph.D.

You’ll explore 16 songs created by Dr. Baker and Jeffrey Friedberg, each designed to address specific components of social interaction. Rather than simply learning the songs, you’ll examine how they can become the foundation for assessing needs, identifying appropriate goals, planning social skills lessons, and creating opportunities for practice.

You’ll also learn how to move beyond the provided material and use the songs as a springboard for developing your own music-based approach to social skills instruction, allowing you to adapt what you learn to the individual children and settings in which you work.

In this workshop, you will learn:

How music can be used to break complex social skills into smaller, more teachable components.
How to use 16 social skills songs developed by Jed Baker, Ph.D., and Jeffrey Friedberg, MT-BC, LCAT.
Ways to identify and assess social skill needs that can be addressed through music.
How to connect individual social skills with purposeful music therapy goals and interventions.
How to structure music-based social skills lessons that move from learning to practice.
Ways to use songs to reinforce and help children remember social concepts and strategies.
How to adapt the provided songs and approach for the individual needs of the children you serve.
How to use the course material as a springboard for developing your own music-based social skills interventions.

Leave with 16 songs, a practical framework for using them, and new ideas for making social skills more concrete, engaging, and memorable through music.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will demonstrate 2 techniques in which to assess social skills

Participants will be able to interpret 3 short descriptions of behavior into social skills strengths and challenges

Participants will be able to formulate social skills goals and objectives for 3 cases based on provided descriptions and analysis

Participants will document 10 social skills training activities using music therapy

Schedule

15 minutes – Introductions & Overview

1 hour Background –

A. Overview of social skills training approaches

B. Overview of settings and populations

C. Overview of social aspects of music

1 hour – Social Skills Music Therapy Group

A. Marketing

B. Assessment

C. Treatment planning

D. Music Therapy approaches

1 hour – Music Therapy Activities to teach social skills

A. Songs

B. Movement Activities

C. Instrument Activities

15 minutes – Questions

Assignment (self study 1 hour)

CBMT Domain areas:

"II.B.6 Needs assessment within multiple domains of health and well-being (e.g., psychosocial, physiological,

spiritual, musical)"

II.C.1 Assessment data analysis and interpretation; Task Statement 21 Identify factors that may impact the accuracy of information gathered during an assessment (e.g., dominant language, precipitating events, medication use, health considerations)

II.D.2 Individualized treatment planning using evidence-based practices (e.g., professional expertise, research evidence, client preferences); II.D.7 Goal-directed music and non-music experience/intervention design

III.A.7 Music therapy methods used to support therapeutic outcomes (e.g., improvising, recreating, composing, listening, moving); III.A.10 Clinical adaptation of musicianship to address therapeutic needs

Social Skills Training for Children through Music Therapy is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 5 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credits.. The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.

Class Description