"Once a week our classroom is blessed with the gift of beautiful music! Students' faces light up and the general atmosphere of the classroom is lifted. Academic and functional skills are taught and supported through a medium unlike anything else!"
Beth J. Walters, M. Ed.
Autism Specialist/Sp. Ed. Strategist
My students love music and learn so much through the great music activities they experience during music therapy sessions. The songs/activities work on the skills that they are ready to learn and improve upon. The students are more "open" or "ready" to learn from music therapy. It has helped to improve upon their listening skills. They have shown improvement/progress on other skills from music therapy, too. It has helped the adults working with the students learn how to reach them better when working/teaching the students new skills or when reinforcing skills already learned. Music therapy is a very necessary part of their curriculum. I can't imagine the students not having this available to them.
Lori Jensen
Special Education Teacher
Wilder Elementary
Music Therapy has been a great asset for our students. It has offered them a unique environment for learning academic and social skills. They look forward to the music therapy sessions throughout the week!
Elizabeth Townsend
Special Education Strategist
The 4th and 5th grade students love music therapy. They look forward to coming every Monday afternoon. During the session they greet each other with a song and ask each other how they are doing today. They play music/rhythm games that the kids really enjoy and also work on spelling words and math facts using a rhythm. They always end with a good-bye song. All of the students enjoy working with Ms. Emily. This program has been very beneficial to the students.
Jaime Olson, M.S.
Special Education Strategist
As an Occupational Therapist within the school system, I work with several students who receive music therapy. Every one of my students has benefitted from participating in the music therapy program. The skills emphasized during music therapy reinforce the skills I am working on with students of all ages and abilities. Music therapy has opened doors for so many students who previously were locked into their disability. THANK YOU for bringing Music therapy into my students lives!
Teresa Dahlstrom, OTR/L
Occupational Therapy
Emily Wangen and UND music therapy students work with the Grand Forks Public Schools Adult Transition program weekly. During these sessions the young adults engage in singing, dancing, playing instruments, and writing their own songs. The impact on our students is so positive. We see them become more outgoing, expressive, and self-assured.
Joy, Krista and Keith - Transitions
Music therapy for our special needs students at Central High School is something they look forward to each Friday in our resource setting. Students are given the chance to take this class session as an 'elective' and are asked to participate cooperatively, in order to be included in class. Ms Emily & her team of UND music therapy students have presented them with a variety of music and rhythm activities, which are enjoyable for them. The time slots are divided between interest and skill levels when possible. I appreciate the support of the school system in providing this opportunity for our students.
Beth Carlson
Special Educator
Music therapy has been a very valuable experience for the prevocational students at Red River High School.
For students who have many and various abilities and needs this offers them an opportunity to do for themselves. They not only enjoy the music, but are learning without really knowing it! The young adults really enjoy their music time twice a week and would love to have to it every day.
Kathy Ashe
Red River High School
Special Educator
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