Tyler received her Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University in Music Therapy, with a minor in Family and Human Development. She has dedicated the majority of her life to music, and has seen the power that music can have when we use it in our lives.

Tyler has her own Music Therapy private practice (Wray of Sunshine music therapy) where she primarily works with Hospice patients, and does group music therapy in special needs classrooms. She also occasionally holds Mommy and Me music classes called “Play with me Music” in the Ogden, UT area.

Tyler is passionate about music, and knows that implementing music in the classroom, as well as at home, has so many research-based benefits. She created Music for Littles because of her passion in sharing how to have fun musical experiences at home with your children, even if you aren’t a musician.

 

What inspired you to pursue a career in music therapy? Can you tell us a bit about what music therapy is?

I’ve always been musical. I’ve been in choirs since I was 5 or 6 up through college, and I taught myself how to play multiple instruments growing up. I think music has always called to me in a sense. I love how you can immerse yourself in a song, and it really helps you process your emotions, and release them in a cathartic way. Growing up whenever I was sad, I would sit down at the piano and play moonlight sonata. My mom still hates that song to this day! 

When I learned about music therapy as a career, I knew I had to pursue it, and all I wanted was to help people with music the way music has helped me in my own life. 

Music therapy is a research based allied health profession, along the lines of occupational therapist, speech therapist, physical therapist, etc. We use music to address non-musical goals. So basically, I’m a therapist that uses music as their medium. When I’m working in special needs classrooms, goals look like, increasing verbalization, increasing eye contact, increasing impulse control, increasing pre-academic skills like counting and numbers, etc. And, I use music to address those goals. With my hospice patients, the goals are very different, but I still use music to address them. 

We use musical interventions like singing, songwriting, lyric analysis, instrument play, and improvisation. My Instagram (Music for Littles) isn’t considered music therapy, but music is a powerful teacher, so I started that account because I think using music to bond with our kiddos can be so rewarding, and so fun, and I wanted regular parents to have access to fun songs that help them strengthen their relationship with their kids, while also learning new things and practicing important skills at the same time. Plus I’ve seen the benefits of using songs at home (and in classrooms, and in music therapy sessions) firsthand so I just have to share! 

 

If you could create a soundtrack for a child's typical day, what songs or genres would you include?

I would add songs like Mr. Sun, maybe some fun movement songs (The Kiboomers have some GREAT songs!), songs that get the imagination going, obviously songs about food like “On Top of Spaghetti” and lower energy songs like lullabies to wrap the day up, such as “Baby Mine” or “Lavender Blue.”

 

How do you think parents can use music to make everyday tasks, like getting ready for bed or cleaning up, more fun?

Music is a great motivator! It also can make not so fun tasks much more fun. Adding a little song about brushing teeth, or washing hands can help kids be a much more willing participant in those activities. I like to put Disney music on the speaker when we are cleaning my daughter’s room, and that makes it much more fun too. Remember the Barney clean up song? That was ingrained in us as kids and it can still be used today to help cue to our kiddos that it’s time to clean! Honestly, the possibilities are endless. 

 

Do you have a special song or activity for when a child is feeling grumpy or upset?

I think the most important thing to do when you have a kiddo who is upset is to get down on their level, and empathize with them. Let them know that it’s okay to be upset or angry! There are a lot of songs that talk about feelings, and can help teach your little one to recognize their feelings, and lead to healthy coping skills. Even something as simple as “if You’re Happy and You Know It” can be changed to fit the needs of your child. Are they sad? Sing to them “if you’re sad and you know it raise your hand” and that can help them admit how they are feeling without having to verbalize it, which can be hard for little kids. Have a little one who struggles with their temper? Give them an “angry drum” and every time they feel angry, they can go play that drum as loud as they want to help them express those feelings in a safe and healthy way. 

 

What's a fun fact about music therapy that most people don't know?

I would say every fact about music therapy? Haha! Just kidding. One cool thing people probably don’t know is that music therapy is used with infants in the NICU to help support their breathing, help them learn how to suck (huge for preemies) and help parents bond with their baby. 

 

What are your favorite products at Copper Pearl?

Copper Pearl swaddles are some of the ONLY swaddles I will ever use with my babies! I’ve used them with all 3 of mine. They are so soft and stretchy, and work better than any other swaddles in my opinion. Plus, there are SO many fun prints of pajamas to choose from and they are all buttery soft.