Music Therapist - Alexa Marsellos

Alexa Marsellos, a board-certified music therapist and music educator joins us to discuss how she implements adaptive music lessons for students of all ages and abilities. In 2023, she founded Neurobeat Music Therapy (@neurobeatmusictherapy), a practice dedicated to fostering growth, improving lives, and advocating for the transformative power of music therapy.

Quick Takeaways from the Episode:

• Music therapists work with people of all ages, and all diagnoses, utilizing music to achieve non-musical goals
• You don’t have to be a musician to incorporate music into your daily life and integrating it into fun learning
• Once you get home — give yourself grace. Your baby is learning and growing, and so are you!
• As your kiddo grows, they’re going to develop and outgrow methods that worked previously, don’t be afraid to try new things and to look for new strategies

Resources for finding children’s' songs:

• Super Simple Songs: Find simple, familiar songs in both English and Spanish, also on IG @supersimpleofficial
• Music for Kiddos: Music therapist and educator who writes music for children, also on IG @Music_for_kiddos
• Resound Music Therapy: Music therapist who shares songs and activities @resoundmusictherapy 

Social Media Accounts with resources and DIY activities:

• @Early.explorer: DIY Activities, Crafts, Play-Based Learning.
• @busytoddler: Ideas for hands-on play and support for others in their parenting journey.
• @dayswithgrey: playful activities for kids.

Brands that have sensory toys and also share resources: 

• @Lovevery: Products designed for the child's developing brain.
• @Learningresources: Educational toys.
• @Lakeshorelearning: Educational materials and toys.
• @Beginlearning: Products that promote early learning.

Music toys and instruments with links for unfamiliar ones:

• Thundertube
• Rain stick
• Ocean drum
• Bells
• Xylophone
• Toy echo microphones
• Maracas/ Egg Shakers 
• Tambourines 
• Drums
• Scarves 

Disclaimer - We have not been compensated by these organization in any way to share their resources and information with you. 🩵 

A special thanks to the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation for supporting the NICU Alumni podcast!

You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.

The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.