Author Archives: Chaney

I am a Board Certified Music Therapist who works in the Public School System. I work with teenagers who have moderate to severe autism. I also work with teenagers who have complex medical challenges. I was widowed in 2007 and adopted a child with complex medical needs in 2009. She is my pride and joy!

Songs of Love review

Songs of Love is a non-for-profit organization that makes free CDs for seriously ill children. As a music therapist and a caring individual who knows people benefiting from this kind of service, I have contacted them a few times. Though they often advertise that they make CDs for children who have cancer or other serious…

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What’s the Name of That Song?

Do you walk around the house with kids songs in your head and can’t get them out? Do your kids sing songs that you recognize but can’t think of the real words to? Here are some websites you can go to that will help you find those lyrics and tunes. Kiddles claims to be ‘the…

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Music Input

My daughter, Mary and I went away for the holidays. We spent a very long day traveling and she was unable to to get down on the floor and play like she likes to do. I noticed during the plane ride that she was pushing her hands together and almost popping her wrists. Later that…

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Music at Mary’s Preschool

I have not formally introduced myself. My name is Chaney. I am Mary’s mom. Mary turned 5 in October. She loves music, horses, Dora and going outside. Mary uses a DynaVox VMax for the majority of her communication. She also has a trach and a g-tube. Mary is diagnosed with Arthrogryposis, Agenesis of the Corpus…

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Engaging through music

I am a musician. I am a woman, a mom, a therapist, an advocate. a nurse, a chauffer, a maid and much more. But I am also a musician. I take any words and make them into a song. Whether the words are actually from a song or not, I can sing it. One song I think…

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Notes from a Musician Mommy

I hate these words “lets get some lab work.” My daughter, Mary, is a terrible stick. Her blood flows sooo slowly. Her veins collapse and they are hard to see in the first place. There has been one person at the children’s hospital that has been able to stick her on the first try, but do…

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A Note from the Musician Mommy

Working in the special education field can be challenging at times, but I have never looked at it that way. And it’s no wonder why: I grew up in a household with a child who required special education. Except, her education didn’t seem weird or outcast-like. It totally made sense. I guess it was because…

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