Using a Music Therapy Collaborative Consultative Approach - World ...

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A number of observations related to Phillip’s IEP goals are no less interesting than
the foregoing findings. Phillip finally verbalized “Ba” for good-bye or flapped his right hand
quickly next to his leg as a good-bye gesture. Most of the time this quick response was not in
the order of the set greeting routine and was therefore coded as an error. Phillip also
verbalized the greeting part by saying “Heho” for hello, and exchanged the picture symbol
first with an adult prompt, then independently. Most of the time Phillip independently chose
a toy or material with which to play. He preferred going to the art area to draw with crayons,
play with playdough, or cut out paper pieces and glue them on a paper. Phillip seemed to be
less frustrated when transitioning from home to school. Many times he smiled during the
morning greeting time and independently approached his peers for greeting. Although he
was still physically too rough at times, peers accepted him. The implementation of the
intervention changed the classmates’ behavior and interaction toward Phillip. Peers
volunteered in singing and greeting him, or participated by giving their input to the song
(e.g., statements about the weather condition) while engaging in other activities. Some peers
had stronger relationships with Phillip than others. One three-year-old African-American girl
was particularly interested in interacting with him through the greeting song and was able to
get his attention. Phillip often chose her to greet and gave her the picture symbol or said
“Heho” to her. On many days more than two peers asked for a turn to say “Hello” to Phillip.
It should also be noted that the many consumers of this study (the classroom teacher, the
target child’s parent, and the parents of the other children in the classroom) believed that the
intervention was clinically effective and valuable. One of Phillip’s peers’ mothers said that,
prior to the study, her child had been intimidated by Phillip’s inappropriate behavior at
greeting time. With the implementation of the song, her child would run to school hoping to