Music Therapy With Purpose at the Easterseals Transitions Program
Music therapy can look like a party, but there are serious goals behind the fun. For participants in the Easterseals Transitions Program, weekly music therapy sessions are more than just a joyful jam session—they’re a meaningful part of their personal growth and skill development.
Once or twice a week, a group of participants in the Easterseals Transitions Program rides a bus to the Dolnick Learning Center at Purdue University Fort Wayne. There, instructors and students in the university’s music therapy program lead an hour of rhythm, dance, and problem-solving that boosts emotional well-being and builds essential life skills.
Creating Harmony Through Drums, Songs, and Support
On a recent Thursday, seven participants from the Easterseals Northeast Indiana Transitions Program were joined by an Easterseals staff member and a team of Purdue Fort Wayne music therapy professionals for a group session. Instruments included an array of percussion like hand drums, glockenspiels, xylophones, and tambourines.
While it may sound like a music class, the true focus is therapeutic. As participants make music, they also make decisions, collaborate, and cope with challenges. These sessions create a space where individuals learn how to work through anxiety, manage emotions, and support one another in a safe, creative environment.
Music therapy instructor Deveana Schieler allows participants to take the lead, choosing songs and guiding the mood of the session. One group favorite is “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which fills the room with energy, laughter, and community.
Emotional Growth Through Music and Friendship
Sometimes, someone in the group might struggle with anxiety or sensory overload. When that happens, other participants offer support by giving them space and encouragement. “They’re super-supportive of each other. That’s really awesome to see,” said Schieler, who is in her second semester working with the Easterseals Transitions Program.
Many of the individuals in the program are also members of the Easterseals Northeast Indiana choir, and they bring their passion for music to these therapy sessions. A recurring favorite is “Lean on Me,” a song that perfectly represents the support and unity the group embodies.
“With this group, we do a lot with coping skills—like who they can talk to when they’re upset, and what they can do to get through hard times,” Schieler explained. “We use music and conversation to explore those things.”
Personalized Music Therapy Encourages Self-Expression
In a smaller room nearby, participant Shatory works in a private session with instructor Kristine Agen and music therapy student Madison March. Though they also practice “Lean on Me,” their pace is more deliberate, focusing on personal expression and self-reflection.
Shatory adds her own lines to the song: “Lean on God / Lean on Mom…” while also playing the piano and tambourine. For her, these private sessions offer a space to reflect, express emotions, and build confidence in her own voice.
“I like the piano. And the drums!” she later shares with a smile.
A Therapeutic Approach With Real-World Impact
The goal of music therapy in the Easterseals Transitions Program isn’t to teach music, but to help individuals grow in vital areas of life. As Agen puts it, “Therapy is focused on personal goals such as communication, academic, motor, emotional, leisure, and social skills, whereas lessons have the goal of teaching an instrument.”
These sessions help participants develop skills that extend far beyond the music room. Whether it’s learning to regulate emotions, strengthening social connections, or simply building the confidence to express themselves, music therapy is an essential part of the Easterseals Transitions Program’s commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities.