"Stormy Weather"

Caroline Beson, LPMT, MT-BC
Small Steps Music Therapist

“Rain outside
makes me feel happy;
Rain makes puddles,
and I jump in puddles.”

“This pitterin', patterin', beatin' and spatterin' drives me mad!” Atlanta had a lot of rain last year. And my area is got much more rain than  snow in our recent winter storm.

It certainly can be tough for adults who spend a lot of their time alone. I know that when I am alone on a rainy day, I am often hearing my “inner voice” with the same laments of that old song, “Stormy Weather.” But- I don’t have to let gloom and misery be my soundtrack. In my music therapy practice, I work with young clients who still have great energy and hope even on the rainiest days. Earlier this week, I wrote a short song with a group of young children that went like this: 



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I simply suggested “rain outside makes me feel…” and they agreed on “happy.” The opportunity to jump in puddles made all the difference in their appreciation of the rain. If only I could share the world of childhood creativity with more people in my community! I know that this interaction would have caused much of a stir in any nursing home or adult day care. I’d really like to share experiences such as this one through an “intergenerational music group.” It is a group of people in different generations whose purpose is to enjoy the company of those from another generation, and experience growth through musical interactions.

Collaboration between intergenerational groups such as young children and older adults in a music therapy setting can be a powerful medium for members of both groups. Old and young people are motivated by playful activity, and can do an excellent job of caring for one another. In a music group setting, everyone is gaining new experiences- trying some improvisation for the first time, testing a new instrument, or finding one’s own voice, either again or for the first time.  

So the next time you find yourself or someone you love brooding on a rainy day, see if you can bring a sense of childlike wonder into your life. If you are interested in starting an intergenerational music group, contact us: info@smallstepsmusicllc.com or 404-446-6945

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