Cue The Magic: Sing a New Song

In this interview, Dr. Erman Turkili, a violin professor from Turkey, shares his journey from studying violin performance in the U.S. to developing innovative music education methods tailored for early childhood and special education, especially for children with autism and other neurodivergent needs. He discusses his groundbreaking book, *First Steps of a Little Artist*, which teaches young children and those with developmental disabilities to play instruments like the piano and violin without traditional notes, using shapes, colors, and symbols instead. Erman explains how his method originated from personal teaching experiences with very young children and autistic kids. He emphasizes creating a positive, confidence-building learning environment. His approach is being adopted worldwide, including in academic research and pilot programs, and it has demonstrated remarkable success, such as autistic children playing the piano. Additionally, Erman talks about his ongoing plans to expand accessibility, including series of these books on different instruments and the possibility of a mobile app. He also shares personal insights about teaching his own young son with his methods, highlighting the independence and confidence his approach fosters. Erman invites interested individuals to connect through his website for more information and to share their experiences. The interview underscores the importance of innovative, individualized teaching strategies in music education for diverse learners.Erman's website: https://www.ermanturkili.comErman explaining First Steps of a Little Artist on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MC7PRun8BOU?si=U2hQI3G-atBL1pw9Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erman_turkiliTry This Tip: I Love to Brush My TeethWant your kiddo to brush their teeth without fights, tears, or meltdowns? This week’s Try This Tip is a fun, step-by-step song that makes brushing easy and even enjoyable! I wrote this song 16 years ago. It's dentist-approved and includes playful, dramatic starts to grab attention. Sing along to all the steps, and watch as your child builds a positive routine with giggles and smiles.  At the end of the episode, you'll hear a version in Spanish! Check it out and see how just a little singing can turn teeth brushing into a joyful activity.  #ParentTips #ParentingHacks #KidsActivities #TeethBrushing #musictherapy #Neurodiversity #AutismSupport #ChildDevelopment #ParentTips #TherapyTools #MindfulParenting #SensoryProcessing #EmotionalRegulation #TransitionsWithMusic #SelfCareForParents #CreativeParenting #MusicInMind #ParentSupport #HealingThroughMusic #TherapistsUnite #EmpowerParents #MusicMagic #cuethemagicpodcast #estherthane #etmusictherapy #globalmusictherapyproject #podcast #adaptedpiano

Esther Thane has specialized since 1996 in neurodivergent individuals & diverse needs. After over a decade on faculty at Capilano University, Esther continues to present, publish, and consult. In 2014, she completed Dr. Diane Austin's (Music Psychotherapy Center, NY) training program in Advanced Vocal Psychotherapy. Esther’s publication in the book: Voicework in Music Therapy, focuses on her innovative method of Vocal-Led Relaxation for Children with Autism. Esther created Meet In The Music© (MITM) music therapy curriculum, which is utilized by music therapists globally. She has received numerous awards including: 1. “Iconic Women Creating a Better World For All Award”, presented by the Women Economic Forum in New Delhi, India (2017), 2. “Peer Recognition Award for innovation and Advocacy”, presented by the Canadian Association For Music Therapy (2021), 3. Luminous Alumni Award of Excellence, presented by Capilano University (2024). Esther is also VP of UnitusTI- Mental Health and Diverse Needs Cloud. Connect with Esther Thane:🌐 Website: https://www.etmusictherapy.com📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/etmusictherapy 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etmusictherapy/▶️ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@etmusictherapyRooted in Music Relaxation Recordings: https://www.etmusictherapy.com/rooted-in-music/rooted-in-musicKey Takeaways from My Conversation with Esther Thane, Music Therapist ExtraordinaireJourney into Music Therapy: Esther shares how she followed her intuition into the field, drawn by her lifelong love of music and a transformative experience working in Germany.About ET Music Therapy: Based in Vancouver, Esther’s practice has been supporting neurodiverse clients of all ages for nearly 30 years, with a focus on creating fun, engaging, and mission-driven sessions.Team & Community: She built a supportive community of therapists to prevent burnout and foster collaboration, making the field stronger.Why Music Works for Neurodiverse Kids: Music is a universal, non-threatening language that captivates children, especially those with autism. It promotes motivation, success, and deep engagement.Using Music at Home: Tools like personalized playlists, exploring instruments, and recording relaxation tracks empower caregivers to support their kids daily.Transitions & Daily Life: Esther suggests singing preferred songs for smooth transitions and using music as a flexible tool to ease change and overstimulation.Empathy & Sensory Experience: She highlights how overstimulation affects everyone and emphasizes understanding sensory sensitivities, sharing insights inspired by Glenn Gould’s listening exercises.Core Philosophy: Children thrive when activities are motivating and successful—music naturally fosters curiosity and deeper learning.The Joy of the Unknown: Every session is unpredictable and rewarding; her favorite part of being a music therapist.Collaboration: She emphasizes working with speech therapists, OTs, and other professionals, blending goals into fun, effective activities.Resources for Families & Practitioners: Check out her website and downloadable relaxation tracks designed for home, school, and self-care.Final Word: “Meet your child in the music.” It’s all about connection, presence, and the magic that happens when we sing together.

Cue the Magic: Sing a New Song Podcast: Interview with Julie Guy and Angela Neve Meier from The Music Therapy Center of California, Inc.This week, Angie Kopshy sits down with music therapists Angela Neve Meier and Julie Guy to explore the magic of music therapy! They dive into how music can spark emotional regulation, teach life skills through social song stories, and bring more joy into daily routines. You’ll hear about their personal journeys, how parents can create music-rich environments at home, and why making life a musical experience builds stronger, happier connections with kids.Connect with Julie & AngelaThe Music Therapy Center of California, Inc. WebsiteFacebookInstagramYouTubeTune in and discover how small musical moments can lead to big breakthroughs!Music therapy combines the strengths of helping people and music.Music can act as a detour switch in the brain for accessing information.Social song stories help children learn and apply important life skills. Adding music to social stories can be even more powerful.Collaboration with other therapists enhances the effectiveness of music therapy. Parents can play a strong role by making sure all team members are connected and able to communicate with one another, by inviting all team members to IEP meetings, and by requesting music therapy at school. Collaboration between music therapists and educators enhances learning experiences. Advocating for music therapy requires demonstrating its necessity for a child's progress.Music can help with emotional regulation and calming techniques. There are many great songs created by music therapists with these specific goals in mind.Creating songs in music therapy can make learning fun and engaging for children - music is like glue.Parents can incorporate music into their daily lives to support their children's development.Understanding the mechanisms of music can empower parents to use it effectively.Making life a musical experience encourages play and creativity in children.Parents can enhance their child's learning by incorporating music into daily routines.Making up silly songs can engage children and make tasks more enjoyable.Music therapy sessions have hidden objectives that benefit children.Creating a musically rich environment can calm children and aid transitions. Using live music or recorded music can help children with transitions and routines.Music therapy can be really beneficial for children who learn better through auditory modalities.Small successes in music therapy can lead to significant changes over time.Julie Guy is a visionary leader, dedicated advocate, and board-certified music therapist committed to making music therapy accessible, impactful, and transformative. As the co-founder and executive director of The Music Therapy Center of California (MTCCA), Julie has spent over two decades helping individuals thrive by unlocking communication, functionality, and quality of life through music. She envisions a world where everyone, regardless of ability, can flourish as a valued member of the community—a vision that drives her work every day.Julie’s leadership has positioned MTCCA as a leading provider of exceptional music therapy services. Under her direction, the organization has grown to serve diverse populations, from children with developmental disabilities to seniors with dementia. She is also passionate about mentoring future music therapists and advancing the profession, ensuring that those entering the field have access to the tools, training, and opportunities they need to succeed.A respected thought leader, Julie has co-authored In Harmony Learning and Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse, resources that teach social, academic, and life skills through music. Her research has been featured in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, Imagine Childhood Magazine, and the American Music Therapy Association’s Leading the Way: Music Therapy Businesses of the Future. She has been honored with numerous accolades, including the ABC 10News Leadership Award (July 2024), the Profiles in Music Education Award (2015), and a California Legislature Assembly Resolution (2015).At the heart of Julie’s work is a belief that every person has a “best,” and music therapy can nurture that pursuit. Whether she’s developing new programs, advocating for increased access to services, or fostering a culture of excellence and inclusion at MTCCA, she remains passionate about transforming lives and inspiring hope—one note at a time.Angela Neve Meier is a board-certified neurologic music therapist, songwriter and co-owner of The Music Therapy Center of California. She received her master’s degree in neurologic music therapy from Colorado State University and received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education/Music Therapy from Wartburg College, graduating Summa Cum Laude.In 2015 she was awarded the Profiles in Music Education Award by the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory. This award is given out annually to recognize music educators who have made a significant and positive difference in the lives of students across San Diego. Also in 2015, she was awarded the California Legislature Assembly Resolution by the Honorable Marie Waldron, 75th Assembly District, Members Resolution No. 2184. She has been featured as an author in Provider magazine, for a research article on the benefits of music with older adults in a yearlong research study funded by Yamaha. She also has been a consultant for Yamaha Corporation of America with the “Passport to Music” course on Crystal Cruises. As an instructor this course, she traveled to Italy, Croatia and France in 2006, to England, Scotland and Ireland in the summer of 2008 and most recently to the Mediterranean in 2011.She has been working as a music therapist since 2000 in the San Diego area with children, teenagers and adults with autism. She has published several products including the In Harmony program, an educational product targeting speech and social skills through music. She is the music director of Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse and stars as Miss Angela. She currently serves as the Phase 3 Early Intervention Director for the Autism Tree Project Foundation in which she trains preschool teachers on inclusive music strategies; she also serves as the entertainment director for the San Diego Walk for Autism Speaks.She has also been a guest on the CW Channel 6 “San Diego Living Show”, KUSI “Good Morning San Diego” and NBC Healthfair. She has presented locally and nationally for organizations such as San Jose State University, Wayne County Speech and Language Association, Santa Clara County Speech and Hearing Association, La Sierra University, Headstart, the Autism Tree Project Foundation, Kids Included Together, the Autism Education Network, and the American Music Therapy Association.In addition to the above recordings, she has also released several albums including Flood Kids Band CD (2009), “To Be Holy” I’ve Been There, SOS Ministry Recordings (2001), and Out on a Limb, Child Heart Records (1998). She also serves as a worship leader through local churches including Flood Church and Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church.As a sibling of a brother with special needs, Angela has seen the power of music in making changes in her brother Luke’s life, and is dedicated to bringing that passion to the clients and families that she serves.Angela’s StoryEven though I officially began my music therapy career when I started college, the journey actually began much before that for me. Growing up as the oldest of three kids in the Midwest, I began to take on responsibility early on. Part of this was due to the fact that I was the oldest and the other was that my younger brother, Luke, was diagnosed as mentally and physically handicapped at the age of a year and a half. It wasn’t until he turned 21 that he was officially diagnosed as having Angelman Syndrome. Although I never made a conscious decision to go into music therapy because of him, I do believe his presence in my life cultivated a compassion and understanding for those with special needs. I saw firsthand many of the struggles families go through with a child with special needs. Despite his limited abilities, I have learned so much about life through Luke. Luke has very little to offer by the world’s standards and yet is very rich in wisdom. His wisdom comes from a simple heart that demands very little but loves much. Luke has always loved music as evidenced by his drastic change in motivation, attention and facial expressions when music is involved.Music has always been a part of my life, from writing songs as a little girl at the piano to participating in choir, band and several jazz groups in college. I released several original independent recordings and did concerts at local coffee shops and retreats while in college. Music has been my way of expressing what I see going on in the world around me. Seeing the impact of music on my brother’s life and experiencing it firsthand in my life, made me realize that music therapy was the career choice for me. I shadowed several music therapists in a high school science class and the rest is history. I consider it a privilege to work with older adults, families and children with special needs. I am honored and humbled to work with them in music therapy, bringing changes to their lives one note at time.#musictherapy #cuethemagicpodcast #ParentingWithMusic #ChildDevelopment #NeurodivergentJoy #EmotionalRegulation #CreativeTherapies #musictherapycenterofcaliforniainc #socialstorieswithmusic #musicisglue

Creating Safe, Musical Spaces for Growth with Emily RossEmily Ross joins me to explore the magic of music therapy and its role in helping children thrive. We talk about the importance of safe environments, the power of improvisation, and how music supports emotional regulation, communication, and connection. Emily also shares why parent involvement is essential, and how consistent, child-led music experiences can lead to real breakthroughs.Emily Ross, MA, MT-BC, began her professional career in rural Benton County public schools teaching general music, choir, and band to students K-12. After seven years, Emily recognized that many of her students had needs that she couldn’t address in the music classroom. She was moved to find a way to address those emotional and cognitive needs by pursuing an advanced degree in music therapy.Emily received her MA in counseling psychology/music therapy from Naropa University in 2003. Her emphasis throughout her master's program was on autism, culminating in her master's paper, entitled: Music Therapy as an Appropriate Intervention in Improving Communication and Relationship Skills in Individuals with Autism.For 13 years, Emily ran her private music therapy practice, Self Express Music Therapy Studio, and served as adjunct faculty in music therapy at Marylhurst University. From 2015-2018, she held a full-time position at Marylhurst as Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor of music therapy.Emily is excited to be back in private practice full-time while developing her dream of combining horses and music therapy with Hoofnhorn Music Therapy.Emily lives in Portland with her husband, Ted, and their cat, Nutmeg. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, quilting and singing. She played French horn in the Portland Wind Symphony for 18 years, and is now learning to play Celtic harp.Music Therapy experience includes:20 years in Private Practice (individuals and small groups)5 years Private School: Victory Academy (year-round school for children with autism)2+ years Public School: Salem Keizer School District, Clackamas ESD, Portland Public SchoolsSummer Camps: Creative Arts Day Camp (Marylhurst’s summer program for those with and without special needs)Prior to graduate school, Emily spent 27 months teaching English as a Foreign Language in the former Soviet republic, Kyrgyzstan, as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Being the first American to live in her village, she developed a deep compassion for the frustrations of limited communication skills.

Stephanie Leavell is an award-winning songwriter, a music therapist, and the creator of Music for Kiddos. This online education company provides high-quality music resources and continuing education for music therapists, music educators, and parents. Stephanie is a Berklee College of Music graduate and is passionate about using music to help kids succeed. She specializes in working with babies and kids through age 10.Insta: @music_for_kiddosFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicForKiddosWebsite: https://www.musicforkiddos.comYouTube: youtube.com/musicforkiddosSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0t9vTFNjGsjQMtfrJqgZ13?si=px9eIcyBTcSvh_fUat3P1wMusicForKiddos.com offers high-quality music resources for parents, music therapists, and educators. Parents can find engaging songs, free downloadable music, and educational tools designed to support child development. The site also features a podcast that provides valuable insights on using music to foster learning and growth. Additionally, parents can explore the blog for creative ideas and strategies to incorporate music into daily routines. Learn more at Music for Kiddos.

Marie Miller is a neurologic music therapist based in Maine. She owns and operates Rhythm and Strings Music Therapy, LLC, which provides group and individual services to children and young adults with disabilities ages 3-21. Marie is passionate about creating multisensory learning experiences for children and young adults. These experiences combine music, movement, and visuals to build skills in expressive and receptive language, motor skills, and sensory regulation.Instagram: @rhythm_and_strings_mtFacebook: @Rhythm and Strings Music Therapy, LLCYouTube: @Rhythm and Strings Music TherapyWebsite: www.rhythmandstrings.comMarie has great resources on her website, including: Where do you Sleep? a children's singable picture book about the sleeping habits of animalsMake it Multisensory - approved for 5 continuing education credits for music therapists (available again in April)Seasonal resource packages with chords, lyrics, printable visuals, and instructional videos for music therapists

For more information about The Global Music Therapy Project, please visit:WebsiteInstagramYouTubeSpotifyFor more information on our host, Angie Kopshy, please follow her here: LinkedInStoneface Honey