Tag: music

A new favourite

Playtime music is just the best! Nevaeh can often be seen on the court. On a recent sunny day, Nevaeh was interested in her shadow. She watched as she moved her body, raising her right hand and looking at the shadow changing. This indicates that Nevaeh’s awareness of herself and how her body moves is growing.  Watch Nevaeh in action hereIMG_0354

 

Nevaeh was picking up items from the court and bringing them to her face for closer inspection. She is aware of her surroundings and new objects in the space. Her curiosity about her environment is growing, and she is aware of any change in her surroundings.

New Talker and Music with Marilyn

At school, we are trailing a new talking device to support Nevaeh with her communication. To support Nevaeh we are working on positional language: above, below, left right. Soon we will get some guide bumps attached to the device allowing Nevaeh to orientate herself.

Nevaeh loves the colour and is quick to look for it in her equipment.

 

With Marilyn she played Twinkle Twinkle, and Row Row Row Your Boat. Nevaeh echoed Are You Sleeping? Nevaeh played Chopsticks with two hands before Marilyn copied her playing. Nevaeh played one finger on the black keys and waited for Marilyn to echo her. She kept repeating her melody.

A busy day

We took advantage of a fine sunny day and packed in a lot of outside activities. During our morning routine, we joined the class sitting on the mat, and then there was our daily Go Noodle. Nevaeh had a dance, and then we made our way over to music with Marilyn.

Nevaeh spread the fingers on her left hand. She attempted to touch just one key with her left thumb. At times we heard a lovely rendition of ‘Chopsticks”. This is a new tune from Nevaeh, I wonder where you heard this before.

After music we enjoyed the sunshine, bouncing on the new half-court and chasing our shadows. Our interest was then caught by the men working, cleaning up the trees, on the grass. The vehicles needed to be inspected, especially the white ute.

It was then back to the sensory room for some sorting and investigating objects above, below, left and right of an object that does not move. We are working on this to help Nevaeh navigate her Talker.

Next, it was off to RDA. Today we rode Lucy. Lucy wasn’t in a good mood. Lucy kept stopping, and would not move forward when we told her to move on. It was a lovely walk through Prossers Bush. Sam joined us and helped us with mounting and dismounting, by observing Nevaeh’s behaviour on the horse. Nevaeh did a great job of holding the front of the saddle during our walk in the bush. At times, she reached for the tree. We will need to keep our eyes peeled.

Music session with Marilyn

As well as practising our concert pieces Nevaeh joined in a duet with Marilyn. She showed a great deal of interest in the sound coming from the guitar, then joined in on the piano. I loved the way you are hitting the key accurately playing one note at at time, it is beautiful to see. There was lots on single note sounds today, some guided by Marilyn but others you have done yourself.  Your have such lovely pressure when you play, the notes are clear and you are using a  gentle touch on the keyboard to get the sound out.

A Busy Week at School

On Tuesday Andy, the speech and Language therapist came. After showing Andy all the cool things I could do on ‘Go Talk’, Andy gave me some Matchbox cars to play with. Cars are my favourite thing. There was a dump truck, and orange, blue and purple cars. I was so busy with them I wasn’t keen to give them back. Andy was kind enough to leave them for me to play with.

My teacher aides are working on me learning left and right. Andy was kind enough to suggest that you touch my left or right shoulder to help me remember. with the shapes in my learning time I am learning above and below. This will help me access the words I want on the ‘Go Talk’.

Fun day Thursday rolled around. We had an early music lesson Marilyn. I impressed her with using my second and third finger independently. The notes I can play are much sharper because I am only putting one finger on them.  I am am creating my own music. I have linked a video for you to watch.

Link to Video IMG_9009                                   Link to VideoIMG_9005

 

 

 

 

 

 

At RDA I had the opportunity to ride Lucy. My lead was helpful by telling me which way Lucy was going to turn. When Lucy stopped they encouraged me to tap my feet on Lucy’s side to make her move. When she didn’t, I said clearly “Go Lucy”. We went for a walk in Prossers Bush. I love the shadow’s created by the trees in the bush. We met a lady walking her black and white dog and I heard a Tui singing in the trees. I got to two short trots one before going into the bush the next when we exited. Lucy pushed in front of London and went up the hill back to the stables. The sun was shining and I had the best time. Sue helped me dismount lifting my leg back over the saddle. IMG_9

Harold Visited!

Nevaeh had a super exciting visit with her class to see Harold. Kelly, Harold’s teacher, left the star lights on for us today. It was super calm and Nevaeh lasted the whole sessioin with out headphones, or music. It is great to see Nevaeh participating with her class in school curriculum without adaptation. At the end of the session Nevaeh got a special pat with Harold, and Harold got a pinch on the nose .

 

Marilyn, Jackie and Nevaeh had a wonderful music session. Nevaeh was playing tunes independently with Marilyn’ guidance as to where to start. Your musical ability is boundless Nevaeh. We will need to ask Jackie if she has a video we can post to show off how clever you are.

 

On Wednesday Jackie, Sam and Nevaeh went to the library. Nevaeh got the opportunity to listen to stories in a different environment. It is great that Nevaeh is showing us how adaptable she, travelling to familiar places with different people, and familiar people taking her to different spaces.

When Andy asked Nevaeh if she wanted to go to the library on Tuesday Nevaeh used her Go Talk to answer no. It was a very purposeful ‘no’ because she had to search for the symbol on the Go Talk pad.

You surprise us every day Nevaeh with the wonderful things that you can show us you understand.

Music with Marilyn

Tinkle, tinkle, plonk, plonk! Nevaeh is getting so much out of her music session with Marilyn. In these lesson we can observe Nevaeh developing her fine motor skills. She is able to independently use finger one and two on her right hand with increasing accuracy. The left hand is being used intermittently and there is careful observation and increasing awareness of her hands on both sides of her body.

 

 

 

We are seeing this at RDA too. Nevaeh at times is holding the front of the saddle as she rides, this makes her side walker feel more relaxed. She is also clutching objects that catch her interest, the stars, planets and little yellow ducks in the water. Bobby was chatting to her about what she was looking at. Nevaeh would bring the object close to her helmet and then gradually lengthen her focus. When she was bored she tossed the object.

Shopping

Sam came to visit on Wednesday and Nevaeh went shopping. Sam purchased a bag of lollies at the supermarket for Nevaeh to share with the staff. Nevaeh then bought them back and put them in a bowl, and the on to the table in the staffroom with Olivia’s help. Nevaeh was really engaged in this process and enjoyed the experience.

 

Nevaeh has enjoyed her music lessons and we have put a keyboard into the break out room for her. She is enjoying practising the skills she is learning with Marilyn. We have noticed her engaging her left hand more in these activities.

Go Noodle is a such a favourite and it is great to see Nevaeh joining in a whole class activity. Mum got to watch throught the window today. It is cool to see Nevaeh enjoying herself in a group situation.                                                                                                                                              

Fun day Thursday

Lots of changes today but Nevaeh coped well, firstly there was a surprise to see Olivia today. After our roll and Go-Noodle in class there was some counting and then we went off to do our dancing. Mrs Hickford’s moves are not as good as Jackie’s, sheneeds to break out her dancing shoes.

After a quick sensory break we were off to music with Marilyn. Olivia got to take Nevaeh today. Nevaeh loves her session which included playing with her left and right hand together. WIth her right hand, fingers one and two, Nevaeh played some notes with Marilyn. Twinkle Twinkle featured as always, Kangaroo Kangaroo, Old Mac Donald and Wake up Charlie. We then introduced Hello Finger One and Hello Finger Two. Row Row featured along with Are You Sleeping. Nevaeh’s left hand played Ding, ding, dong.  We finished up with COloours of Sunshine.

Then it was offto RDA in a blue car… well that was a change. Nevaeh climbed in and out without assistance, great stuff Nevaeh! It is easier when the car is a bit lower. The new belt worked a treat allowing Nevaeh to concentrate. She held on to the front of the saddle for short lengths of time. Good girl.. I feel much happier knowing you are hanging on! Nevaeh showed a lot of interest in her right hand today, holding it up. She was wiggling her fingers independently in the sunshine. She also showed interest in a blue star that we gave her to distract her from hitting out.

Busy days

Last week Nevaeh completed her poetry activity with Olivia. She held her crayon and put pressure on the page to complete this wonderful art.

Nevaeh loves poetry, the rhythm and rhyme are great ways for her absorb new language.

Nevaeh is also working on sorting according to colour and developing fine motor skills with the posting activity that the OT has left for us at school. Her aides extend this sorting activity by counting the coins that Nevaeh successfully posts.

Nevaeh was funny today, she raced back to class on the way to music. Once she got in the door she as happy to Marilyn.  Toward the end of our time Nevaeh lead us in a ‘jam’ session . Marilyn played guitar, Mrs Hickford on the drum and Nevaeh starred on the keyboard.

Check out the link IMG_8780