Education Taiwan Project #20567

Give a Music Magician to Developmental Delay Kids

by Taiwan Fund for Children and Families

Project Report | Sep 5, 2018
Transitioning before Transforming

By Wen Hung | Project Leader

Tina loves to play handbells.

Tina, a 6 years and 7 months old girl. She is on the autism spectrum and receives grandparental care in a single-parent household. She joined our class in August, 2013.

“Tina could sing nursery rhymes with me and love hand clapping and grooving at home. We have seen her significant improvement with cognitive skills, facilitating a better social adaptation during 4 years in TFCF. Before transferring out, Teacher Tseng has also provided an easy way to learn the pre-number concepts through music. Therefore, I was relieved to know that she could go to a general kindergarten. That's a load off my mind and I am so happy to see her change.”

- Message from Tina’s grandmother

** Tina is the fake name due to the fact that the privacy and safety of individuals is respected.

Many children with special needs graduated one after another in our center. There are many factors to consider for the transition planning of developmental delay children. We hope to see the best transition for all children. Therefore, we provide the learning of pre-number concepts through musical elements. For example, we mark the numbered musical notation on the colorful hand percussion bells, and let children learn numbers by playing handbells. We are grateful to see that Tina learned to recognize the numbers from 1 through 10 simply and also has memorized the order of numbers. She even could play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on handbells. Music therapy can help Tina build her focus and stop engaging in those other self-stimulatory behaviors.

We have seen the potential possibilities of all children when serving them in TFCF Taichung City Child Development Center. We know we have to carry on our duties and let developmental delay children learn in a music-filled and pleasant environment. We hope their growth never stops. With a life full of possibilities, they have the potential to keep building on their progress after being graduated and transforming to a new and better life afterwards. Thank you for your donation and support!

Wish you all the best!

With gratitude,

Wen Hung

Matching games for Tina

Learn the words and sing

Practice number concept skills

I can match them well.

Play handbells with numbered musical notation

Well done! Tina!

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Jun 13, 2018
I am not hopeless now!

By Wen Hung | Project Leader

Yun was engaged with figurenotes

Yun, who is a 6 years and 6 months old girl with development delay, joined our class in August, 2016. The developmental delay is associated with impairments in motion, language and cognition. Her brother is an elementary school student with special educational needs. They live in a single-mother family now.

“As I remember that Yun could neither speak clearly nor walk/stand alone when she joined the class at the beginning. With the attraction of musical therapy, it was not so hard for her to participate in the class. Such as the keyboard experience through Figurenotes training, it involves finger and hand skills and improves the hand control well. I was very happy when Yun matched the colors correctly and played the keyboard by her own fingers at the first time.”

- Message from Teacher Yu

“It's been nearly two years since Yun received the assistances from teachers and volunteers in the class.I saw her continued growth and continual progress being made during this period. I noticed her singing and walking at home, and I knew that my little girl has progressed dramatically. I saw her self-confidence and happiness. It’s unbelievable and wonderful to have these changes and I am not hopeless now. With your support, I will be stronger to overcome the challenges in the future.”

- Message from Yun’s mom

** Yun is the fake name due to the privacy and safety of individuals is respected.

Currently, there are 75 children in the musical therapy course every month. Because of your donation, we are able to continue our services and provide the helpful course to developmental delay children in Taichung. We will keep the project rolling and help more developmental children to grow up happily. You will support parents of children with developmental delays to change their future! Thank you!

Wish you all the best!

With gratitude,

Wen Hung

I needed help to walk at the beginning.

Joined the activity.

Played a Glockenspiel.

Held the hand of my classmate.

Enjoyed crawling and climbing on structure.

Walked down the stairs alone.

Show time!

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Mar 20, 2018
Play what they see!

By Wen Hung | Project Leader

I could recognize the color!

Henry, who is a 4 years and 6 months old boy with Down's Syndrome, joined our class in August, 2017. The developmental delay is associated with impairments in motion, language and cognition.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to offer Music Therapy with Figurenotes to children in TFCF. Basically,the children play what they see! This is a system that works very well for children with special needs or disabilities. Especially to Henry’s case, it did help overcome language and cultural barriers between us.

Teachers, volunteers and parents/caregivers all play vital roles in Henry’s learning. We saw his significant progress within 7 months. He is one of the major members in our percussion group and can raise his hand now when I call out his name in the class. Even he can't speak properly till now, I believe he will be able to speak out clearly afterwards.”

- Message from Dr. Liza Lee

** Henry is the fake name due to the privacy and safety of individuals is respected.

This year, we’ve learned a music notation system called 'Figurenotes'. It is a simplified system that uses colors and shapes instead of traditional notation. This system can enable children with Down's Syndrome or Autism to develop their musical skills and learn to play an instrument.

We provide the music therapy course for children with special needs every month. It has a wonderful healing effect that cannot easily be compared to all the other therapies. All of developmental delay children in TFCF Taichung City Child Development Center benefit from music therapy offered by you. We will continue the program and hope you could support the cause through your participation and feedback. We will carry on this duties professionally and provide the Music Magician to our lovely children yearly with all of your support. Thank you!

Wish you all the best!

With gratitude,

Wen Hung

Henry was really engaged with figure notes.

Held hands with classmates. Happy!

Show time! (Henry, middle one)

Enjoyed the class

Joined the show

Joined the activity

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