iPad Nation

I promised to post about this lovely piece of new technology a while ago. Sorry it has taken so long!

 Our MT department now has an iPad to share between all of us for use in sessions. We live in an era obsessed with technology, and many of the kids we see have seen an iPad before, or love computer and video games. What I really love about the iPad is that you can do everything by just touching the screen, which is great for kids with limited UE use, or the use of just one hand, etc. And, since many kids are so used to computer games and the like, it makes for a GREAT distraction tool during Botox treatments and dressing changes, especially because the kids want to know what comes next, and what that pig is going to do if you tap on it. But, what does this have to do with Music Therapy?

Well.... there are a ton of awesome music-related apps for the ipad that are great for working with kids and teens alike. Some of my favorites (and a bunch are free!) are:

• Songify- Record yourself saying something, and the program puts in autotune and turns it into a song! This is especially great with computer-minded kids who are working towards articulation and speech volume goals in ST.
• Falling Stars- You click on different icons and drag to make different vines across the screen, then click on stars. The stars fall, hit the vines you made, and make music!
• Rhythm Racer- You move a spaceship around to catch different colored balls of light to get points. There are 2 different ways to move the spaceship. One way is to drag your finger across the screen (fine motor) and the other is to tilt the whole iPad (gross motor). Both are pretty tricky!
• Garage Band- On the iPad it's a tad different than on the computer. They have some pre-made loops, but it's more about you making your own beats, tunes on guitar, piano, or bass, and recording your own stuff. I especially like using it with teens.
• "Old MacDonald", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", and "Wheels on the Bus"- all interactive song books. I absolutely love them. Kids (and adults) can touch the different animals, people, and buses, and they move, make noises, etc.
• Tap Tap Revenge (and all its incarnations)- tap on the different colored balls when they hit the right spot. With three different lanes, it requires a lot of concentration and fast finger movements to get it right!
  

I also really like using the iPad with teens. Remember my "less-than-enthusiastic" friend? The iPad is a great reward tool for him, and garage band on the iPad gets teens to be a little more creative than just regular garage band, because they can compose their own beats to add to their songs.

As wonderful as it is, I want to be clear that it doesn't work in every situation, and it is JUST a tool that we can use. I love it, but in this day and age, it's hard to keep it from being your "go-to" item, so I often use it as my back-up plan, rather than my number one tool. Unless of course, it has worked well in the past, or is a good reward tool for a teen. Music Therapy is really so much more than taking out an iPad during procedural support, but it sure can be awesome!