Developing Early Verbal Skills Through Music: Using rhythm, movement and song with children and young people with additional or complex needs

Drawing on current research about the connections between music and speech, Developing Early Verbal Skills Through Music explains how and why musical activities can be used to support the mechanisms and processes needed for speech.

Containing specific guidance on the physiological, neurological, and learning differences children face when trying to make sense of speech, including hypermobility, autism spectrum conditions, Down Syndrome, auditory processing differences and motor timing difficulties, this guide provides an in-depth evaluation into how you can enhance your practice.

Discover evidence-based and easy-to-use activities such as how to use whistles for breathing, drums to support the ability to 'hear' or produce speech sounds, and how to use songs to support speech.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1: Sound beginnings

2: Finding the heartbeat of music and speech

3: Rhythmic connections - communication, music and verbal language

4: Understanding rhythm difficulties in communication, speech and music

5: Making rhythm work - practical approaches

6: The foundations of voice: breathing and posture

7: Producing Voice

8: Understanding and supporting voice difficulties

9: Using singing and songs for speech

10: Making music work for speech and wellbeing

Bibliography