Tag: MUSIC MIRACLE

ways to improve motor skills in a cerebral palsy patient

Posted on by Escape Global

Last week was World Cerebral Palsy day and I thought to do a post that will be helpful to caregivers of Cerebral Palsy patients, children especially.

Cerebral palsy is a motor disorder that is caused by damage to the developing brain. It primarily affects an individual’s movements, balance, and posture. I want to show you practical ways to help a child who has cerebral palsy;

👉 Teach the child to play a musical instrument, this is what it’ll do, it will enhance flexibility and dexterity, which will in turn help refine gross and fine motor skills. A small drum with sticks for example or a small tambourine or a maracas. If you can not teach the child to play a musical instrument, you can employ a tutor if possible who is patient and capable of teaching the child.

👉 Encourage and model walking, dancing and doing exercises while listening to music, it will help strengthen the child’s muscles. It’s technically called Rhythmic auditory stimulation in music therapy, it is the synchronisation of sound and movement to facilitate improvements in biologically rhythmical functions. This rhythmic nature of music also helps to organize the child’s gait, it will teach movements timing to the beat of the music. For example modelling synchronisation of steps to lively music to improve walking speed, you can begin on a slow tempo and increase speed gradually if you are playing a live music and not a recorded one.

👉 The last but the most important is to engage in repetitions, when the results of the first try is pleasing, do not give in to the temptation of relaxing but keep on and on because the human brain is incredibly adaptable, but needs repetitive activities or exercise to become familiar with new functions.

I really looked forward to putting up a video that demonstrates what I have shared here but somehow I can not, please look out for it on my Instagram pages next week; @mercykaynimi or @escape_global. Don’t stop being grateful, I’m rooting for you always!

Kindly let me know in the comment box if this post was helpful.

Need counsel? Need help or have questions? Feel free to drop them here or if for confidentiality’s sake you don’t want to, kindly write to me; mercykayt@gmail.com.

Thank You.

HOW TO HELP A CHILD WHO HAS SPEECH DISORDER USING MUSIC THERAPY

Posted on by Escape Global

Children who have speech disorder may not learn or master language milestones as other children.

Few years ago I had a patient who had speech disorder, on first meeting he was quite curious to know how the guitar is being played, he also wanted to know how to accompany his voice with it so I gave him the guitar and taught him the placement of the G Major chord, he was able to try it out though his hands were not firm on it, I also taught him the placement of his hands to make the E Minor. He was able to interchange both chords but not conveniently. He sang and played though it felt like noise to everyone around but he enjoyed it and did not feel like returning home with his parents. In the atmosphere of music, he could vocalize.
This experience made me realize the need to teach few simple and helpful ways of working on a speech disorder.

👉 First is to allow your young one listen to music, it helps boosts cognitive functioning, put it on at different times of the day.
A particular study done in 2010 revealed that Children who listened to music closed the developmental gap faster than those who had no music therapy. Those with speech delays moved faster toward correcting speech or improving communication skills at all ages, from toddlers with speech delays to older children. The balanced rhythm of the music helps the child match the words to the beat, providing more measure than normal speech, and therefore helping the child learn how language works trouble-free.

👉 Possibly get a mouth organ to help in breath production and by mouth organ I mean the harmonica or a recorder.

👉 Engage in vocalization of vow and consonant sounds alike, I did a video exemplifying this on my Instagram page, be sure to check it out @mercykaynimi or @escape_global

👉 Engage in the turn-taking technique singing simple and familiar songs with short lyrics. For example, Twinkle Twinkle Little star. I exemplified that too in the video I made on my Instagram page.
The child will be able to pick the words of the shorter song better and will more readily repeat them to the beat.

👉Playing an instrument, such as an acoustic guitar, it also helps the cognitive development of children just like the story of the patient I shared earlier in this post.

👉 Make sure also that everything you are teaching is age appropriate and more importantly be grateful for every process, don’t compare your journey with another.

You are doing very well and I’m rooting for you!

Do let me know in the comment box if this post was helpful.

Need counsel? Need help or have questions? Feel free to drop them here or if for confidentiality’s sake you don’t want to, kindly write to me; mercykayt@gmail.com.

Thank You.

HOW YOU CAN TEACH A SPECIAL NEED CHILD WITH NO Background in music

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I have no background in music and I want to teach a/my child with special need.
I know the previous post may have got you wondering how you can teach your child music with no music inclination. I will be sharing few simple steps on how to teach your young one in such a way that it is beneficial to both you and them.


The first thing I’ll like to mention which I mentioned in my previous post is to OWN YOUR JOURNEY, I apologize for reiterating it but if you must make the most of this journey then you will part ways with impatience, comparison, ingratitude and be companions of gratitude any day any moment.


Focus on knowing your CHILD(REN): When preparing to teach music to your child(ren), focus on knowing them, understanding their personalities, what they love and will tend to. Knowing them means you will have to recall the times when they engaged in music, what their response was like, if they love calm or fast music, if they enjoy rhythm, whether they have ever been fascinated by a musical instrument, if there is any genre of music that makes them aggressive or feel frustrated. All these are to let you know that you must be a keen observer, it will help you know which to tone down on and which to elevate. Ask them questions and don’t feel bad if they don’t like what you envisaged them liking.


Focus on learning a musical instrument, be it Voice, Piano, Guitar and so on. Do not dabble into too many musical instruments, you can download videos online to learn, explore yourself and all other spontaneous ideas that might come in the process and as you learn, try engaging your child with it. The goal is to learn while they learn.


Keep things simple with your child. your child isn’t an adult that you would want to please by being prim and proper, you can say things like “Honey you know mummy or daddy is just learning to figure this out so let’s just go with the flow”. Your child will appreciate the commitment, vulnerability and simplicity you put into it. I remember when I just started playing the guitar and was visiting the hospital, because I didn’t know much I always wanted to cringe, then I realized from my interactions with each kid that they didn’t care, they just wanted the simple thing I could play then.


As you grow in teaching them, avoid being rigid, kids love to play and explore a lot and sometimes you might have a bucket list of how you want to teach music but they are just concentrating on one. I used to ‘overprepare’ and then when I begin sessions, they just always have something else they love to do. Do not rush them, give grace and watch how they explore just the one you’ve taught them. the joy is not in how many lessons you can pump down their brain but in the journey that is moving steadily. Be grateful!


Watch sessions on YouTube where children with special needs are engaged in Music Therapy, it will boost your confidence and you’ll have lot of innovative ideas on how to utilize music in helping your young one.


Paste colourful postcards containing illustrative affirmations in your music space. Affirmations like; I am smart, I am well-behaved, I sing well, I play my musical instruments well and so on. Just be creative about it.


Finally, as you teach them the little you’ve learnt, don’t stop learning also. It’s never bad to learn on the job, some days might seem frustrating but please do not give up, give grace.
You are doing so well and I am rooting for you!


Do let me know in the comment box if this post was helpful.
Need counsel? Need help or have questions? Feel free to drop them here or if for confidentiality’s sake you don’t want to, kindly write to me; mercykayt@gmail.com.
Thank You.

HOW TO UTILIZE THE GIFT OF MUSIC IN HELPING CHILDREN LIVING WITH AUTISM- FOR CAREGIVERS (Parents especially).

Posted on by Escape Global

I have worked with a couple of autistic children and one common thing I have noticed is that caregivers wish children will just respond using force. Force has never guaranteed response from anyone, it might work when you are present with them but when you are not with them, they will follow what they feel is cool. Here are ways to utilize the gift of music;

 Own your journey; this is the most important point in everything I’ll be sharing with you today. Many caregivers, parents especially have a pattern in their mind of how things ought to be based on a number of information they have read, seen or heard. They are quick to forget that every child is unique and how they are related with is key in healing. Owning your journey means taking it a step at a time and being thankful all the way. Be thankful for your child, be thankful that you are their parent and above all be thankful that Jesus has beautiful plans for them no matter the disability.

 Engage them in music at every instance: Studies show that children with autism can understand both simple and complex emotions in music and are more responsive to sensory stimulation compared with other children especially in music, even over speech or noise.
Music can positively impact children with autism in diverse ways. You can use songs to emphasize speech in children with autism who struggle with language. One technique is to sing with vocabulary cards in order to teach vocabulary skills, you can also play music videos like COCOMELON that teach all these using music. Singing can considerably enhance language skills in students with a type of autism that has language delays.
Music can be used to help a child with autism recollect important information when it is linked with a musical sound, like a melody or rhythm.
One critical study found that music can be used to focus students’ attention, keep those with disabilities on track and decrease their anxiety from stress. I once had an autistic patient who could hardly focus but would pause at the sound of a rhythm made, master it and give you the exact way he heard it.

 If you are musically inclined, try engaging them using music elements in the simplest form.
Music elements such as pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm and so on. When children listen to a piece of music, the combination of musical elements are in it. However, some children with autism are auditory sensitive and it makes them experience a lack of forbearance for sounds.
You can help them by using separate musical elements to simplify their music. For example; start with a song, you as the caregiver can try teaching in stages by isolating pitches on the piano first. As they get comfortable with it, you can slowly introduce the other elements one at a time. be sensitive to know when they are not interested in one element and when they are interested in another.

 Compose songs with the child’s name as song title, it has a way of building self-confidence. For example, in this part of the world, many people have native names. If your child has a native name, you can make use of the name interpretation to compose a song and still mention his or her name in it. It gives a feeling of being loved, being known and all the god feeling.

 Employ music to help the aggression they feel. Autistic children are most times frustrated because of the difficulty they experience in expressing themselves but music can help as it can keep them calm by lessening their feelings of anger. Try different genres of calming and sensory music, see what works best for your young one.

This is not an exhaustive list on how to utilize music in helping children living with autism and like I mentioned earlier, it’s a journey you should take at your own pace encouraging yourself and your child as you walk through it. This journey will be both beneficial to you and your child.
You are doing a great job and I’m rooting for you always.

Need counsel? Need help or have questions? Feel free to drop them here or if for confidentiality’s sake you don’t want to, kindly write to me; mercykayt@gmail.com.


Thank You.

LINKS:

W A L K I N G

Posted on by Escape Global

I remember reading Deforia Lane’s account of her patient who was about to have a bone marrow transplant and because of loneliness and anxiety had trouble sleeping. The suggestion was made to try Music Therapy and she did, she found out that he loved hymns so he decided to sing ‘Oh, how I love Jesus’.

He had his oxygen mask on earlier but because he needed to sing, he removed it. The nurse stepped in and was taken aback by this sight, she noticed the atmosphere had changed and there was something different about the way music made the kid feel, she took his blood pressure and exclaimed that it was the lowest she had seen in him.
To help his insomnia, Dr Deforia had him listen to music on a cassette player and in 20 minutes he slept soundly, first time in a long while…


I had to share this story because I didn’t understand the gravity of what Esther Odeyemi, my guest on this week’s Podcast went through when she had an accident. Her legs were going to be amputated due to the effect of the accident. She shared with me how she found it hard to sleep many times because she was depressed and couldn’t explain why she was in such pain. She found a light in her questioning season, it was music. It was music that gave her feet strength to walk again, it was music that helped her sleep soundly, it was music that gave her wings to fly despite the obstacles, it was music that lifted her head high when all she could see around was shame.


Her legs weren’t amputated, call it a miracle but till date she still limps while walking, she shared how she was able to overcome the depression that came with people jesting using music.
She’s a warrior in every sense and I’m thankful she’s walking.

You can listen to the full episode here👇https://anchor.fm/mercy-kay/episodes/W-A-L-K-I-N-G-Esther-Odeyemi-el0sse

PS: It’s been one year since I started sharing everything Music Therapy and it’s been a rewarding and stretching journey. If you’ve learnt something from this blog, please share in the comment section. It would mean a lot.


Such a joy reading from you.💚

M E M O R Y

Posted on by Escape Global

Some years ago I had this patient who had seizure, truth be told you could hardly get him to converse but they say where conversations do not work, try Music and voila music was set to do the miracle.

I found out from his caregiver that he loved drumming so we started with allowing him drum, he drummed on anything and it just made him hyper active the more but trust me the sight was so beautiful to behold, he was fourteen years so talk about ‘teenage shyness’, he didn’t have it. He was just a free-spirited teen.

After series of drumming everywhere and admiration of my guitar for a long time we now needed to work. Talking about admiration of the guitar, he pulled it very well and I was so careful so he’d not distune it because at that time I wasn’t perfect at tuning a guitar, I knew it’d take me time to get it tuned. I helped myself by pleading with him in a friendly manner to take it easy. Lol

He calmed down a bit and we were getting started on the next phase of the Music Therapy Administration, this time I was going to make simple melodies on the guitar and he was going to replicate it. It was my first time trying such so I sang a simple melodious song and in 2 minutes this hyper active teen had picked everything and was eager to replicate, I had this look of what??😲
This kid didn’t disappoint at all,he replicated it so well and this time around he took the guitar to try it, I allowed him and it was beautiful even though he didn’t know how to play but it was beautiful in my ears.

This experience taught me two things people who are ill are not looking for anything complex, they already feel the sickness is complicated and they want something simple to brighten them up, this is majorly why I do very simple songs.

It also taught me that Music helps with easy retention no matter the kind of ailment or personality a person has, when it comes to music they’ll remember more than they remember words.

I am certain you learnt something from this story, do leave a comment below.

I always love reading from you.💚

O V E R C O M E R

Posted on by Escape Global

Jesusson shared with us his journey into therapeutic music, how he played the guitar at an annual event tagged ‘PATIENTS’ DAY’, seeing patients in the hospital regain their confidence and joy just by doing music opened his heart to the aspect of Music and he’s been on it.

He’s one of the few people I know who sensed a call into music and told themselves since this is what I’ve been called to do, let me just study it and boom! He went in for music.
He shares Music on his YouTube channel Friday for Originals every week, you can check his music.

The highlight of my conversation with Jesusson Awotu-Ukiri was when he sang the song titled ‘ We shall Overcome’. I have always known this song since I was in secondary school and there’s this nostalgic feeling I had listening to him sing again.
That’s not even his story, he used to be a victim of depression, he was broke and so many other things were happening to him. Jesusson took to music in that season of His life as a companion, I find that music keeps us company when life’s journey feels too lonely a path to tread on, music is a place to find solace but not just any kind of music will do that. Jesusson and I shared how important it is to discern songs that are for us, some songs make us sink back into depression while certain songs awaken us and pull us from the pit of darkness we find ourself in.

As I always know, reading this story is not as good as listening to it from the one who owns the story, so click the link below to listen 👇
https://anchor.fm/mercy-kay/episodes/O-V-E-R-C-O-M-E-R-ekbt8u

Thank You and it’s always a joy reading from you.💚

S A L V A G E D

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Owonikoko Imisioluwa Olalekan my friend and dear colleague, we studied Music at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife same year and if there’s anything I’ve always known him for it’s his ability to explore what you call abnormal and use this gift of music he has to influence culture.


I will say I learnt a lot from my conversation with him and it was so real, no airs, just two persons laughing and sharing deep stuffs on the power that music has to heal.


My friend, Koko runs an organization called Music for Development that is committed to driving positive social change through music, I have known his passion to communicate healing through music to the girl child for four years and it’s been such a joy to behold his becoming amidst the many ups and down that life throws at us.

Koko shared his music miracle with me and I found it humbling because I never knew he had been through something that painful that almost became an addiction.
When he was in secondary school, he lived with a family and what he was subjected to daily caused a damage to his tender heart, we know how life throws us stuffs but it’s always different with a child or teenager, it could leave them broken if not salvaged. Everytime he’d inflict injury on himself using a razor blade, because of the emotional trauma he was subjected to growing up, he’d weep uncontrollably.


One of those injury-infliction days, he listened to the song He saved me by R Kelly and it felt like someone could finally understand what he was going through. It felt like R Kelly was counseling him through his music and so he made it a habit to constantly listen to his song, this helped him to overcome the habit of inflicting injury on himself with razor blade. The flip part is that he was able to bring healing to others.

He also shared something that is worthy of note, not every music will heal you, some will make you sink into depression and it’s left to you to choose wisely.

I believe Koko’s life story in general is very inspiring especially for those who have struggled with acceptance, he’s someone you should listen to. Here’s the link to the akara song he shared with us on the podcast, it is worth listening to 👇
https://fanlink.to/the-akara-song

Do share with me one or two things you learnt from this blog. Full story on my podcast, kindly click  here to listen 👇https://anchor.fm/mercy-kay/episodes/S-A-L-V-A-G-E-D-ejmhkl

I look forward to reading from you💜
Gracias💜

D O N O T S T O P

Posted on by Escape Global

I had the honour of having a beautiful podcast session with my dear friend Sarah Olayinka, we’ve known each other for 15 years or more and I think she’s so skilled in music that you can hardly know except you know her.
I literally pulled her out of her safe space to do this interview. One of the things that you’d constantly read here are stories of persons who have experienced the miracle of Music so that as you walk through life’s confrontation you can make it a habit to sing or listen to a song that brings you healing in every area you need one.

Sarah shared about four different personal stories where she experienced healing through, two of which were major Music Miracle.


She had just resumed the Predegree programme at the Obafemi Awolowo University Centre for Distant Learning and was always falling ill everyday in predegree and had this growth on her waist, it was protruding and it was painful so she’d cry often because of the pain. Prior to that time, getting the tuition fees was a challenge and her parents went through a lot just to get the fees. For some persons, the tuition fee was just a walk in park but for her it wasn’t.

To make matters worse, everytime she was at the hospital, the report she always got was that there was nothing wrong, this sort of made her travel home every weekend, bear in mind that there was really no money like that at home.
She at some point thought it was Appendicitis but was told it wasn’t so, you know it’s easy when you know what you are trying to get rid of but when you do not know, it can be very frustrating. This was the case with Sarah as the pain persevered, it made her travel from Ile-ife to Lagos every weekend.

One week after she attended her church’s Bible Study, she laid on her bed close to tears and in pain again singing;
The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.
That song resonated deeply within her and she sang it everytime like everytime and slowly the miracle was happening in her body. Not long after the nine month programme, she was miraculously healed and till date she is doing very well.

This is just one out of a number of experiences she shared with me. I’d implore you to listen to the podcast, kindly click the link below👇👇https://anchor.fm/mercy-kay/episodes/D-O-N-O-T-S-T-O-P-ejb2oh


If there’s anything Sarah’s many experiences taught me it is the power of consistently singing or listening to a song to birth the miracle you desire in your life. Every of the time she was ill, she took time to sing it over herself or listen to the song wash her pain away. It is the power of not stopping till you see your miracle.

I’d implore you to make this a habit, thankfully I’ll be putting up a song that’d help you through your day and beyond.
Do listen and as always Its always a joy reading from you.💜

M U S I C A L D E C L A R A T I O N

Posted on by Escape Global

You know when they say your words are weapon and you can either use it to your favour or use it to the detriment of yourself.
I was yet again in the company of parents who we normally care givers at the Emergency Paediatric Ward of the hospital.
They were a mix of tribe, largely Igbo and few northerners. I wasn’t nervous per say doing this with them even though I didn’t envision it while leaving for the hospital.
I think one of the things this journey is teaching me is to expect the unexpected and be prepared to deliver value at anytime.

I sat in the middle of the ward, strumming my guitar so the lyrics could pour forth, gradually the lyrics were on my lips and I had their attention.
If you’ve been following me, you’d know that I love short spontaneous music and I use it a lot in the hospital because I know it’s easy to remember few lines than lengthy lines and since one of my target is memory, having them remember the music when they hit despair then I know doing spontaneous music will work.

So the first song I did was on Peace and Health because lately I’ve been so endeared to the importance of always being at peace, I decided to gift them with a spontaneous music on Peace. These were the lyrics;
Peace to your body
Peace to your soul
Peace to your mind.

It initially took a while for them to learn this because they didn’t feel good enough to sing so I encouraged them by singing one line then patiently wait for them to sing the next. They were doing so well and at each point they did, I made statements like Fantastic! Awesome! Just so they’d be encouraged. I made sure they declared these lyrics over their kids.

They finally perfected this and then I thought to do another spontaneous that had the fusion of Nigerian Pidgin, Igbo and Hausa language so I asked for the meaning of peace in both languages and I got them.
Here is the Lyrics;
You no go beg!
You no go borrow
Zaman Lafia, Udo!

This was really the most interesting for them because they felt like someone could do a song in their language, there was this sense of belonging.
I made them declare this over themselves and family, making them realize that there’s life in the words they speak and situations should not determine what they speak, little did I know that there was a mother among them who had been declaring very negative words. One of the mothers pointed to her saying ‘You see what we were saying! Just try not to speak negative when things go bad’.

We sang these words again deliberately and the joy! So pure. I feel this moment with these parents changed me more than it changed them because I have become so conscious of what proceeds from my mouth.


I’m thankful that I do this, I leave wards feeling very fulfilled each week and the fact that I bring light, hope, joy, peace to lives humbles me.


This is #TheDiaryofAnAspiringMusicTherapist Episode 7

I’m sure you know by now that reading from you gives me much joy and I always look forward to it!