Healing through sights and sounds

Growing up in Vestavia Hills, Ashley Frazier always had a passion for music and helping others. She studied voice, guitar and piano and also enjoyed working with special needs children.

When it came time to go off to college, she decided to choose a program that would combine her two passions.

“I knew I either wanted to be a special education or music major,” Frazier said. “I chose the music therapy program at the University of Alabama.”

After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in music therapy from UA, Frazier completed a music therapy internship at United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham: Hand in Hand, where she provided music therapy at a preschool and adult employment facility. She has worked with premature infants all the way up to elderly patients, proving her ability to reach people of all age and abilities.

“A lot of people don’t know that music therapy can be used across populations and in educational and hospital settings,” Frazier said.

Frazier said music therapy aims to improve socialization, promote self-expression, enhance communication and increase motor development. This spring, she will begin Grace Notes Music Therapy, a program stemming from the Conservatory of the Arts at Vestavia Hills United Methodist.

 She is currently screening clients for individual and group sessions. Group sessions start at Song Birds, (0-3 years) and go all the way up to Rock n’ Rhythms (18 years and up).

Frazier leads a variety of musical activities with the children using singing and instruments such as the guitar, piano, maracas, rain sticks, shakers and bells. Beyond instruments, she uses pictures, scarves and puppets that allow for different teaching approaches depending on a client’s need.

“The children love anything to do with animals or food,” Frazier said. “They sometimes find it easier to talk to a puppet than a real person.”

Using musical inspiration that spans from The Beatles to Justin Bieber, Frazier creates raps and songs that help the children use their communication and motor skills while also having fun. She recalls how one child loved the game Angry Birds, so she created a rap they could sing together.

“It’s about taking things they love and adapting them,” Frazier said. “We do rapping and rhyming and use a lot of dance movements.”

When Frazier takes out a colorful scarf for one of her activities, she asks a child to say or sign the color of the scarf. For group sessions, she uses different props, rhythms and movements.

“The children like to have something in their hands so I use a lot of sensory, textured things,” Frazier said. “The fun part is the kids don’t even realize they are learning.”

Frazier feels elated when a child progresses, such as when a nonverbal child starts to sing after a few months. She says music therapy is so much more than the name implies.

“We work off the client. We have very specific goals. We don’t just play music for them,” Frazier said. “I email a session report to the parent or caregiver to show their progress.”

Frazier’s enjoys most those key moments that remind her she is reaching people through music and movement in a unique way. She also works with physical therapists and speech therapists in the area to meet a wide set of needs.

“It’s great to see the young ones do something for the first time,” Frazier said. “Even if it’s something like saying the color purple. I really just want to see people succeed.”

For more information, visit vhumc.org/ministries/coa/school-music/musictherapy.