Week Four

So my weekend get-away in DC was just fabulous. It was so great to see some familiar faces, get lots of hugs, and one AMAZING back rub (to get out all my newly formed stress knots) from Kasha. I came back feeling so refreshed and I didn't even know I needed refreshing. My internship has also been really great this week, as usual. Got to do some observation with some younger kids. Met the cutest little guy with CP. He had this tiny squeaky voice that went up and down in the exact same pattern for everything he said. He really loved the piano so after every activity he would announce, "And now it's time to play the piano!!!" and would have to be redirected to wait until the end of the session. His PT was also in the session with us. She was able to do stretching that he absolutely would not tolerate in her sessions because he was distracted by the music. PT is very painful for him, but music is very motivating. He has a great voice and picks up on the melody and words to a song so quickly. It was really great to see the two fields working together for the good of the child. 

Yesterday we has our second Jr. High chorus rehearsal at my main school. Most of the kids that come to chorus are at the school for emotional disorders or severe learning disabilities. They need an environment with fewer students in the classroom and more one-on-one time with the teachers to that they can learn successfully. Things like chorus and band are opportunities for them to shine in ways they might not have been able to in their district school. There was one boy who sat to the side and didn't really sing very much, but approached my supervisor after wards to ask if she needed anyone to play drums for any of our songs. He said that he played in his old school and at his church. Since there just happened to be a drum set in the room my supervisor invited him to sit down and show her what he could do. She let him set the beat and then played with him on the piano. We started to draw a crowd in with the noise. She asked him if he knew "Eye of the Tiger". He didn't so she showed him how to start it off and then started playing with him on piano again. He just took off with it. By this time everyone from his class including teachers and aides were there singing along. He was fabulous. When it was over everyone cheered and he ran out of the room beaming because he didn't know what to do with his new found fame. It was one of those tear jerker moments you know, to see a kid who obviously had some pretty severe difficulties succeed and receive that much praise. Man was it cool. I think that I'm in the right profession folks :)