Mainstay Music Therapy, Inc.

**note that all product links will direct you to the item on Amazon**

It’s that time again—our annual roundup of Music Therapists’ favorite session tools! From tried-and-true essentials to fun new discoveries, these picks are sure to inspire your next session. Take advantage of this week’s sales to snag something new, and be sure to peek at our previous years’ lists for even more music therapy ideas and session inspiration. See our 2021 List Here

1. Several of our team members have and recommend this 44 key Casio SA76. Our therapists are traveling throughout their day so having a small, lightweight piano is key (ha- pun!)! We have been impressed with the sound quality for most settings and definitely give it five stars for portability!
2. While not specifically benefiting clients in sessions, you are definitely giving yourself some self-love by investing in Loop Earbuds. I personally use these in my ‘louder’ sessions simply to help myself remain regulated after 4 sessions in a row of drumming….IYKYK
3. Let creativity strike by having some good old fashioned Pool Noodles available to use however the mood strikes in therapy! Our therapists have used them to create a play-based theme, as safe sword fights, to create walking paths or even as adaptive mallets!
4. The benefit of having an I-Rig for composition sessions is pretty self explanatory. These are a great tool to have to hook up regular instruments to your computer/ipad to do some recording work!
5. The longer you’ve been a music therapist, the more you need a Meditation Pillow for you to use in sessions where floor sitting is frequent. Bonus points for this exact version because it can be easily wiped down, which is a must when traveling from house to house.
6. The Mainstay team has really been exploring how we can better incorporate the sensory needs of the individuals we support. One way is with this Thera Putty. Another, unpictured, but VERY popular component of our clinic space is this Sensory Swing!

7. The Mainstay Team is powered by coffee. This Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker has been a great addition to our clinic office. We love that it is versatile to brew a single cup, a travel mug to grab on your way to community based sessions or a whole pot for team meeting day!
8. Our clinic is organized almost exclusively with SlatWall panels. While sold on Amazon, I highly suggest you check at your local hardware store first, as they are likely much more cost friendly there. Amazon is great for the black Vinyl Slatwall Inserts, Slatwall Hooks, Slatwall Hangers
9. Steering Wheel Desk – This picture speaks for itself and is carried over from last year’s Favorite Things. Our cars are often our offices and the small things like tables are extra valued.
10. Each of our clinic therapy rooms has some version of a Desk With Wheels that are great to utilize in sessions for visuals, a computer or ipad stand, a chimes table, or as a portable recording studio.
11. This Binder Tower Cart is a great addition to the office! Not only does it hold binders of boomwhacker music, songwriting templates and client preferred music books, it also holds piano sheet music books, kleenex and hand sanitizer!
12. We have gone through several types of chairs for use in our therapy rooms and these white Egg Chairs, as we call them, have held up well with occasional tightening! Again, a theme for our selections, they are wipable and sturdy!

13. Our old standby and one of my personal favorite instruments to use in sessions, Boomwhackers. In case you didn’t know, our Shop has many boomwhacker color coded song sheets (Like Count on Me and Firework) available that will help you play songs like by just matching colors together!
14. The Lapharp is such a creative instrument! The music sheet slides under the strings and acts as a ‘song map’, where you follow the notes from left to right, plucking where each note picture exists under the strings. This can address so many goal areas simultaneously. *chef’s kiss*
15. Resonator Bells are always a favorite, but I like this set in particular because it throws in a depth perception component AND does a great job at helping you visualize the ‘upward’ motion for higher notes and the ‘downward’ motion as you go lower in pitch.
16. A classic go-to these days is a Tongue Drum/Tank Drum. Whatever you call it, the tones it produces is almost instantly relaxing. I also appreciate that there is no ‘wrong way’ to play it – everything sounds good!
17. A lesser known instrument, the Otamatone, is a Japanese instrument that can be very fun to explore. You play it by swiping up and down on the neck!
18. These Gathering Drums are very much larger than they appear. They produce such a rich sensory experience, and are a great addition to your instrument stash!