TH UR SDA Y , N OV E M B E R 3 , 2016
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KendallCountyNow.com
Reading, writing and rhythm Oswego woman works in schools as music therapist By LYLE R. ROLFE news @kendallcountynow.com
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hen Michelle McCallough started college back in 1996, she was not sure what she wanted as a career. She knew she wanted to work with music, but was not sure how. McCallough was not sure of her future but she definitely wanted it to include music. Her other interests were science and psychology. After talking to her Colorado State University violin teacher, he suggested she consider becoming a music therapist where she could apply all of her interests. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in music therapy and went back for her master’s at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb because this was the area in which she wanted to work. At NIU she received her master’s degree in special education. She received her music therapy certification through the American Music Therapy Association. And if you’re like most people, your idea of what a music therapist is or does probably is not correct. “A music therapist is not a person with headphones, or who plays piano in a hospital or nursing home. It’s a rare major but to be fully credited, I needed 120 undergraduate hours and then spend 1,200 hours teaching. This allowed me to use music as I had hoped to,” she said. “I work with social and academic skills with students. Special education is where my interest lies. Music is a fun universal language for kids with various problems. Music therapy makes them think they’re having fun while really reaching goals that we can teach them without them knowing they are learning,” she said. Everything she does is live – no recordings are used. Live music moves the patient in a different way to help their motor skills, speech and social skills. Her specialty is working with pre-
Lyle Rolfe for Shaw Media
Michelle McCallough, a music therapist, teaches classes at the Circle Center Elementary School in the Yorkville, other Yorkville area schools, and the Kendall County Opportunity School in Oswego. school and elementary school students who have autism or have learning disabilities. She teaches classes at the Circle Center Elementary School in the Yorkville, other Yorkville area schools, and the Kendall County Opportunity School in Oswego. The Opportunity School is an alternative school for kids who need additional educational supports than can be provided in regular or special education classrooms. They have emotional/behavioral disorders or other disorders and need special instruction, she said. McCallough can be recognized walking down school hallways by the guitar strapped on her back and sticking up
above her head. She pulls a rolling cart loaded with her other instruments – blocks, castanets, shakers, and numerous other items. “I have a huge closet of instruments for different classes, groups and other situations. But no recordings of any type,” she said, adding that she sometimes uses a piano if there is one in the classroom. Student participation is about the same with either the piano or guitar. Rhythm instruments such as maracas or tambourines can be used during a music therapy session. When she begins playing the music, she also sings to the students. As she plays, she encourages the students to join
in on the singing. With some songs each student has a part so she works to see that they join in at the right time. McCallough is a violinist and performs with the DuPage County Symphony Orchestra, but does not use the violin for these classes. “It would be difficult to apply to this type work,” she said. She teaches an average of five groups each day representing about seven kids per group, or about 175 kids every week. She sees the same students once a week, every week. Her largest class is nine students but four to five is best. Classes run for 30-45 minutes.
See MUSIC THERAPIST, page 6