Rebekah Tarplin, LPMT, MT-BC
Small Steps Music Therapist & Instructor

​Summer is the time for barbecues, picnics, and a wide variety of outdoor activities. A sensory friendly event is one designed to be less sensory stimulating and overwhelming. Having a sensory friendly approach often makes it easier for individuals with sensory sensitivities to participate in social activities and community events. Just a few simple steps can go a long way to make your event more sensory friendly for individuals with sensory sensitivities.
 
Tip 1: While some individuals with disabilities may not respond when spoken to, they may also be startled or upset by the softest sounds. If the event has loud background music or sudden bursts of sound, it may be helpful to turn down the music, or limit the music to one area.
 
Tip 2: Individuals with disabilities also tend to be more sensitive to touch and textures. Offer a high-five or handshake and allow the person an opportunity to decline. Having a designated “quiet room” may also be beneficial as a space to provide a break from crowds in needed.
 
Tip 3: Some individuals with sensory issues are highly aware of smells in the environment around them. Be sure to turn off or remove artificial air fresheners from areas used during the event. You may also request that staff or volunteers refrain from wearing perfume or cologne on the day of the event.
 
Tip 4: Some individuals follow unique diets or are averse to different tastes and textures. If food will be offered or available, be sure to have a wide variety of options and, if possible, provide a way for people to notify you in advance about special dietary considerations.
 
Tip 5: Lighting, especially bright lights, can be difficult for a person with a disability. Some may wear hats and/or sunglasses indoors due to their light sensitivity. Offer areas of dim lighting, or cover intense lighting in the ceiling with sheets or tablecloths.
 
If attendees know the event is sensory friendly, it may increase the chance people who may have been anxious about attending will feel more comfortable and welcome. If you are uncertain of what to do at any time, just ask; most individuals or their families will be happy to give tips and suggestions of how to help.

Please consider making all of your events sensory friendly!
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If you are interested in more information about sensory friendly events or music therapy and sensory integration, please contact us:
info@smallstepsmusicllc.com or 404-446-6945

I love “eye shopping” (my 12-year-old's term for meandering around stores for endless hours at a time without ever buying one single item) around stores like Hobby Lobby, Ikea, Michaels, Target, and other home style oriented shops.  Each time, my eye is drawn to the same words on posters and pictures: “Live Laugh Love.”  I think about all the areas of life that covers, but one important “L” is missing… Listen.  Listening is just as, if not more important than those other “L” words.  Think about how much we would miss in living, laughing, and loving if we didn’t listen to our inner thoughts, spouses, co-workers, children, and our surroundings. I challenge you to change your listening habits in a fun, simple, and powerful way!

Incorporating music into your daily life can make summer living, laughing, and loving even more fun! It's an easy way help you connect with the important people in your life while adding the listening component. If you aren’t already grooving to music for day to day tasks, try it by yourself or with your family.  Here are some music missions to keep you movin,’ groovin,’ and listening all summer:

Mission 1- Everyday tasks and music:  
Put some music on and get to work!

1. Working out
2. Chores
3. Repetitive Tasks (computer, seated work)
4. Cooking
5. Shower Time
6. Travel- road trip playlists, including songs related to where you are going
7. Ringtones – you can add different ones for people you talk to frequently

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Mission 2- Music “Moods” 
Create a playlist for different moods. You might even be able to pick up on someone else's mood by the music they are listening to.  Here are a few examples:

1. “Let’s Do this/Warrior/Workout Mode
2. “Pity Party”
3. “Forget You!”
4. “Kappa Cray Cray”
5. “I’m the Bomb”
6.  “It’s a Good Day”
7. “Time to Relax/Quiet Time”

 
Mission 3- For Your Ears Only - Music Time Just for You
**Schedule Your Personal Time as Appointments**

1. Mental Moment – listen to  music while you jot down everything on your mind
2. Playlists for what you are going through (i.e. lost love, found love, illness, etc.)
3. Pick your theme song!  This is the one that picks you up anytime you hear it.  It will change from time to time and that’s okay; but, have it handy all the time!

 
The most important thing to remember about music is to pick what you and your family like… it won’t motivate you, empower you, connect you, or keep you listening if it’s not your favorite stuff! Here are some of my family’s favorite artists and soundtracks this summer:

• Imagine Dragons
• Twenty-One Pilots
• Moana Soundtrack
• Angry Birds Soundtrack
• Selena Gomez
• Justin Bieber
• Ray Charles
• Pentatonix

  Don’t forget to Live Laugh Love and Listen…..
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If you are interested in connecting with your loved ones through music or finding more ways to incorporate music in your day to day activities, contact us:
 info@smallstepsmusicllc.com or 404-446-6945

When I joined Small Steps Music in 2015, I was so delighted to discover that Natalie Generally seemed to have a connection with so many community members. I was brand new to this area, and wanted to find ways to “plug in.” Natalie would tell me about present and past contacts in the school systems, clients that had been referred by a friend or family member, and when we went somewhere together, there was always someone there who knew her well and would greet her (and me!) with a big smile and a hug. 

So when Natalie invited me to Peachtree City Seventh Day Adventist Health Fair, I was very excited. I knew that I would have a chance to meet other healthcare providers, munch some salad from a salad bar, and give blood alongside other members of my community that cared about health. I did not realize that we would be welcomed so very kindly. 

We met a few exhibitors that remembered speaking with Natalie the year before at the same event. We met a Licensed Professional Counselor who related to us that she had seen this story about a music therapist coordinating with a popular music artist to help a patient meet rehab goals. We met a Speech Therapist and a Physical Therapist who empathized when we said that we serve seven counties. We met a Certified Life Care Planner who helps families affected by disabilities get the numbers that they need to project costs over time. We saw Raissa Chandler, Founder of Southside Support, who showed us a new, easier-to-navigate resource list for parents of children with special needs.

We came home with quite a few new handouts that may be helpful for us or the clients we serve. I know that the handouts and flyers that we went out went into good hands. Our community has been good to us so far, and we will continue to nurture the ties that bond us. After all, we are all in this together.

If you are interested in learning more, contact us: info@smallstepsmusicllc.com or 404-446-6945

“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