March is Music in Schools Month, a time to celebrate the many ways music supports learning, creativity and connection for students of all ages. At High Desert Education Service District (HDESD), music also plays an important role in helping young children with developmental delays build communication, social and motor skills.
For Samantha Spaciano, a speech-language pathologist with HDESD, music is both a professional tool and a personal passion.
Spaciano works with children in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) programs across Deschutes County. With more than 12 years of experience in early intervention, she supports young learners who are developing foundational communication and language skills. Music has become a natural and effective part of her therapy sessions.
“Music helps children engage in ways that traditional approaches sometimes can’t,” Spaciano said. “The rhythm, repetition and movement create opportunities for children to practice communication and connect with others in a joyful way.”
HDESD’s EI/ECSE programs serve more than 700 children under the age of five who experience developmental delays or disabilities. For these young learners, early support is critical in building the skills they need for school and life. Music can play a powerful role in that development by supporting language acquisition, self-regulation, motor coordination and social interaction.
In therapy sessions, Spaciano often uses songs and musical activities to encourage children to practice sounds, words and turn-taking. Music can also help children feel more comfortable participating and expressing themselves.
Outside of her work at HDESD, Spaciano continues to share her love of music with families and communities across Oregon. She performs in a children’s band called The Party Animals, with songs inspired by her many years doing speech therapy in preschool classrooms.
“Kids learn so much through music,” she said. “It creates a space where they feel confident trying new words, moving their bodies and interacting with others.”
Community support helps make these experiences possible. A recent grant from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation is helping HDESD continue bringing music-based learning opportunities to young children with special needs across the region.
During Music in Schools Month, HDESD celebrates educators and specialists like Spaciano who bring creativity, compassion and innovation to their work every day — helping children find their voices through the power of music.
Samantha Spaciano, HDESD Speech Language Pathologist accepts grant aware from from Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation for Music is Magic Program.