Crafty sessions

At the BHC, I have had the opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary team with art therapists. Some people might disagree, but I think music and art therapy can go beautifully together. We must accept that not all of our clients will respond to music therapy. There are some people that just don't like music (I think I read that it was less than 1% of the population?). Where you can't connect with someone through music, you may be able to build that relationship through art.

I must be respectful however in insisting that we do not claim that we are practicing art therapy. After all, I would not want someone who did not have the training and credentials I have to call themselves a music therapist. Similarly, unless you are working side by side with an art therapist, do not tell anyone that you are implementing art therapy.

So, a simple, fun, and music-related craft project: a rainstick! Great for children and adolescents, these rainsticks can be decorated with construction paper and require little more than (safety) scissors, paper, and tape. this entire project comes from Enchanted Learning.

Supplies:
Paper towel tube
Aluminum foil
Small dried beans (like lentils), unpopped popcorn, dry rice, or tiny pasta
Construction paper
Glue
Scissors
Crayons or markers

Task Analysis:
1) Place one end of the paper towel tube on a piece of construction paper. Trace around the end of the tube to create a small circle.

2) Lift the tube from the piece of paper and set aside. Around the circle drawn on paper, draw a bigger circle that surrounds it.

3) Complete the circles by drawing "spokes" between the two circles. Cut out the circle, then cut along the spokes.

4) Use tape or glue to secure the construction paper to one end of the tube.
5) Cut a piece of aluminum foil 1.5 times the length of the tube.
6) Shape aluminum foil into two "long, thin, snake-like shapes.

7) Coil the snake-like strips into springs. Put the foil springs into the tube.
9) Fill the tube 1/10th full with the dry beans.
10) Repeat steps 1-3 on the other end of the tube.

11) Decorate as much as you want.