Last week, the prepared relaxation exercise I tried to use completely backfired on me... I used a new piece of equipment and students were too excited about it to calm down and actually ended up getting quite escalated! After two groups like that, I abandoned the idea (moving it to the gross motor slot at the *beginning* of group instead, much better suited for that!) and threw together something in the moment. I loved it and it was so effective and calming. It is going in the vault as a perennial relaxation favorite! I distributed ocean drums and rainsticks. I sang the chorus of " Listen to the Water ," at a slow and gentle tempo, accompanied by simple fingerpicking on my guitar, while students explored their instruments. After 2-3 choruses, with restful instrumental breaks in between, we passed instruments to the next person in the circle and explored a new instrument. This was so well-received. Everyone was focused and quiet....
School-Based Music Therapy Ideas