A Harmonious Partnership: Berklee College’s Center for Music Therapy Hosts Workshops with Horizons
Music is a powerful force – it can soothe a troubled mind, encourage movement, energy and laughter, and evoke a strong emotional response. Whether listening or performing, this valuable tool brings a rich, cultural connection to everyday life and is something Horizons for Homeless Children integrates in both our classrooms and culture.
With intentions to deepen this work, a new collaboration with the Center for Music Therapy at Berklee College of Music was born. This partnership brings music in research-based methods that support the well-being of children, families, and staff within the Horizons community.
Why Music Therapy?
Music therapy is a proven tool that has a profound impact on mental and emotional health, particularly relevant in response to high-stress circumstances like homelessness. Its benefits are far-reaching:
Strengthening emotional bonds: Music therapy helps caregivers and children attune to each other’s emotions, reinforcing essential bonds for healthy child development.
Reducing stress for caregivers: Music therapy offers caregivers effective tools to navigate stress in difficult circumstances. It also improves job satisfaction for staff by enhancing their ability to care for and connect with children in a fun and engaging way.
Improving cognitive and behavioral regulation while supporting social-emotional development: Music therapy helps children manage emotions and behaviors, providing structure and stability.
Staff Resilience: Music Therapy Workshops
The Staff Resilience Music Therapy Series launched at Horizons with a series of four workshops aimed at reducing burnout, improving emotional regulation, and fostering team cohesion among staff members.
The first workshop, held in January, began the series with a deep dive into Mindfulness with Music.
Mindfulness with Music
The opening session focused on integrating music to help staff cultivate a calmer, more focused classroom.
Led by an expert from Berklee’s Center for Music Therapy, staff members participated in hands-on activities that taught them how to use music to relax the mind and self-regulate. They also discussed the musical journey from infancy to adulthood, and ways to incorporate music for wellness opportunities both in the classroom and during personal reflection.
Participants were introduced to music-based mindfulness techniques that can be used to guide themselves and the children through stressful moments, and how sound and rhyme can create a peaceful and productive space. One example showcased how the use of a soft percussion metronome supported an infant during feeding time. Educators were then taught how music-based strategies can be integrated into routines and activities to support both the curriculum and the classroom environment.
“I really loved the workshop, since attending I’ve been using singing during transitions instead of raising my voice to get my students’ attention. It’s been very beneficial in getting the children engaged as we transition between activities. Singing is also a calming experience for me, as it is a joyful way to raise the volume of my voice. Sometimes my students sing along too!”
– Reyna Montilla Familia, Preschool Teacher
Looking Ahead: Workshops to Build Resilience
The upcoming workshops will continue to build on the positive effects of music therapy. The second session, Rhythms for Managing Stress and Transitions, will focus on body percussion, drumming, and call and response techniques to ease classroom transitions. In Group Music for Emotional Reflection and Connection (Session 3), staff will explore improvisational music-making techniques that help emotional processing and enhance empathy for the experiences of children. This session will teach staff how to guide students in expressing their big feelings through music. The final workshop, Building Classroom Resilience with Collaborative Music, will emphasize the importance of community and shared purpose. Through team-building activities, staff will create a collaborative atmosphere that encourages sharing and participation. By the end of the four-part series, Horizons’ teachers will be equipped with a diverse toolkit of music therapy techniques to enhance their classrooms and curriculum. Each session provides practical, research-backed methods that can be immediately applied to both personal and professional situations.
Building a Healthier, More Resilient Community
“We’re excited to partner with Berklee’s Center for Music Therapy to deepen and expand the ways music can support the children and families in our care. By empowering every staff member with a true therapeutic music program, we’re creating a classroom environment where music is a natural, everyday tool for emotional expression and resilience. This initiative strengthens our ongoing commitment to integrating music as a powerful, accessible resource for all.”
-Tara Spalding, Horizons’ Chief of Advancement and Playspace
As the collaboration with Berklee’s Center for Music Therapy progresses, music therapy will continuously be utilized in the classroom to enhance the bonds between caregivers and children, lower stress, and foster a more empathetic environment. By prioritizing the emotional well-being of staff and caregivers, this initiative is positioned to build a stronger, healthier community while reducing burn-out. With these comprehensive teachings, all will be better equipped to support children and families experiencing trauma through the effective and healing power of music.
This piece was written by Andrea Drag, a regular contributor to Horizons’ blog.
