Dr. B’s Professional Blog Spotlight: Harmonic Changes
In this blog, Dr. Ballardo’s professional spotlight is on Melissa Sommers, the CEO and Owner of Harmonic Changes Therapy Services. Melissa is a board-certified music therapist and neurologic music therapist (MM, MT-BC, Certification #08171). For information about music therapy and the specific services that Harmonic Changes offers individuals across the lifespan, please read this blog post.
Dr. Ballardo: Melissa, can tell the reader a bit about what first inspired you to become a music therapist?
My journey to become a music therapist began many years ago. I was the oldest of 4 children, and my youngest sister was born when I was 7. Shortly after she was born, my family realized she was developing a bit differently than the other 3 of us had. It was then they received the diagnosis that she was born with a malignant brain tumor. During her time with us, I quickly discovered that the only thing that consistently calmed her down was me playing piano. This was on the hard days. The days when she had had chemo, radiation, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and/or speech therapy, etc. I had been playing piano for about 3 years at that point, so I also learned I had to stat playing her preferred songs, and once she was rocking to the beat of the song, that was my cue I could transition to practicing what I was learning in my piano lessons. When she passed away, I was 10 years old, but this experience fed my passion to use music to connect and help others as I had with my sister.
I continued my music education through middle school and into high school. When I was selecting a university to attend, I picked a state school with the intent of essentially creating a Music Therapy degree. To my surprise, during my first week of classes, I met another student who said her major was Music Therapy! I had a quick conversation with her and realized this was EXACTLY what I was looking for. I immediately headed to the registrar’s office and changed my major to Music Therapy. (thank you, Universe). This was the first decision I made without consulting my parents and have not looked back since!
Dr. B: Thank you for sharing the meaning of your personal and professional journey of becoming a music therapist. It sounds like you have been passionate about music and helping others from a very young age. Can you talk more about your professional identity? What helped you move forward with your professional goal of becoming a music therapist?
After I graduated, I decided I did not want to stay in the Midwest anymore, and headed out as far west as I could – Los Angeles. I worked in pediatrics for the first 7 years of my career. During that time, I also went back to school and received my master’s in Music Therapy with a focus in neurologic Music Therapy, completed advanced trainings in DIR®/FloortimeTM (Social-emotional play-based therapy), and worked my way to being the head of the Creative Arts Department at the non-profit clinic I was working at. All this experience really started my curiosity in branching out outside of only pediatrics. While still my passion, I had a growing desire to support a wider age range. I slowly started building up contracts and clients and was able to step away in 2014 to solely work for myself!
Dr. B: It sounds like there were various stepping stones along your journey of becoming the CEO and founder of Harmonic Changes. Is this when you decided to start your music therapy practice?
My business, Meli Music, grew quicker than I could have ever imagined, and by the end of 2014, I had subcontractors working for me, and by 2017, everyone was employees. In 2018, after 11 years, I decided to move back to the Midwest. This has allowed us to continue growing in Los Angeles and now in Chicago! As the company grew, so did the individuals we are able to support. I also continued advanced trainings, and now have completed:
Music Therapy assisted childbirth
creative arts birthing childbirth educator workshop
Bonny Method Guided Imagery (intermediate level)
Postpartum Music Therapy
Birth Music Consultation
Neurologic Music Therapy
We currently are supporting individuals of all ages (prenatal to end of life) and all abilities! As the company grew, and our supports grew, I felt the name Meli Music no longer represented our very strong, competent, and qualified team. So, in 2019, I began exploring what needed to be done for a name change and re-branding. I spent the majority of 2020 filing paperwork, creating a new logo and brand, new flyers, new website, etc. We officially launched our new name in 2021 and are now Harmonic Changes Therapy Services! This will allow us to continue expanding the support we provide to our communities, with the ultimate plan on adding more expressive arts therapists and allied health professionals to our team! Lastly, we also jumped full speed ahead with being a clinical internship site to support new Music Therapy professionals with their internship experience!
Dr. B: What are the ages and special populations that you provide services to at Harmonic Changes Therapy Services?
Melissa: At Harmonic Changes Therapy Services, we truly support all ages and abilities. From prenatal music therapy to end of life/hospice, and all the stages of life in between! My mission when starting my own business was to not say no to a client needing services, so our team is skilled, trained and experienced to really support all ages and levels of need.
Dr. B: Can you tell us about the meaning of Harmonic Changes’ name?
Melissa: When I first started my business, the name was Meli Music, because it was just me in the beginning. As our team continued to grow, I felt we really outgrew our name. Instead of it being just me, we were now a very skilled, trained, and competent team of therapists. As I really dove into brainstorming a new name, I wanted it to represent who we were, and the services we currently offer and those we plan on offering. I wanted to have some music element in the name, but not have it be exclusive to music, hence Harmonic. Then ultimately in therapy, you are hoping for change, hence change. Our tagline is: Connect. Inspire. Create. Grow. And these are really the 4 pillars in which we provide support and services!
Dr. B: Harmonic Changes has various services to offer individuals across the lifespan. What is your favorite age to work with?
Melissa: This is such a tough question! Personally, I enjoy working with each client. And in complete honesty, my favorite age varies on my mood and the day! I think what I really value the most is the variety in each day, working with individuals of all ages. I love that I can start my morning out with a little kiddo, and then go to facilitating a small group at an assisted living facility, and end my day supporting a group in a mental health/recovery facility.
Dr. B: What are some of the therapeutic benefits of music therapy and has the pandemic impacted the way Harmonic Changes provides services?
Melissa: YES! This is something that we are really excited about actually! When the pandemic hit, we were able to move everything virtually over a weekend. Our entire team really jumped into action and supported this transition, and it really was seamless. As the time has gone on, we have obviously learned more and finessed the experience a bit. We have really found that some individuals feel more comfortable on the video/telehealth platform than in person – it feels safer to share things when you’re in the comfort of your own home and cannot feel everyone looking at you. We have also utilized the features such as share screen and whiteboard a lot to supporting song writing, visual schedules, lyric discussion, etc. Personally, I feel these experiences are, more times than not, more seamless virtually than in-person. Additionally, the virtual platform has created more opportunities (out of necessity) for kiddos and parents to strengthen their relationship and bond.
Dr. B: Harmonic Changes is offering a parent-child bonding program. Can you tell us more about Harmonic Sprouts? This seems like such a wonderful way to support parent-child bonding and I’d like the community to learn more about this FREE virtual program that meets weekly starting in April.
Melissa: We are so excited about this new program! It will be primarily facilitated by our supervised interns, and will focus all on supporting child development, parent/child bonding, creating a network and community for parents, and provide education on ways to integrate music outside of the program to connect with your child. Music is such an integral part of learning and development for kiddos, and we are so excited to help support our communities through this free program. Additionally, because it will be virtual, it is open to any and everyone!
Dr. B: What would you like parents to know about Harmonic Sprouts? How can Music Therapy help assist the brain development of a child ages 0 to 3?
Melissa: Music Therapy supports brain development in a variety of ways. To begin with, your child began hearing around 16 weeks in utero, and has been listening to the sing/song speech of anyone mom was engaging with. The baby has been hearing any music mom has been listening to as well! Once the baby is born and enters the world, a huge shift happens. Now they are here! In Harmonic Sprouts, we will be utilizing specific songs, instruments, and support to enhance the development of each kiddo. Music is the only thing in our world that is not only process on both hemispheres of our brain but has the capacity to be processed in every square inch of our brain (not all at once). Music helps with learning our ABC’s, rhythm supports and organizes movement, music enriches memories, connects deeply with emotion, releases hormones that support breast feeding, bonding, love, and connection, not to mention all the nonverbal ways you can communicate through instrument play, sing/song, etc. All of this knowledge will be integrated into our Harmonic Sprouts program through interactive experiences, education moments, and tools and tricks to take out of the program and utilize! The program is setup on a revolving 6-week curriculum, each week focusing on a different domain of development. This will really allow families to attend any and all weeks, as the content will be adaptable to where each child is developmentally.
Harmonic Changes is currently providing music therapy services remotely during the pandemic. Harmonic Sprouts is a FREE event that runs on Monday mornings starting April 5th. To schedule a music therapy appointment, register for Harmonic Sprouts, or enroll in other music therapy services, please contact Harmonic Changes:
Harmonic Changes’ email: info@harmonicchanges.com or melissa@harmonicchanges.com
Phone number: 818-394-0649 (company number) or 747-777-0451 (direct)