“Rhythms of Routine” uses structured rhythmic patterns to help clients build, practice, and internalize daily living routines with greater confidence and predictability.
Instructions:
- Identify the Routine
- Let client(s) choose or create a routine to focus on:
- Morning routine
- School/Work routine
- Bedtime routine
- Meal routine
- Therapy/Activity prep routine
- Break that routine down and provide 3-5 steps in visual or written form:
- Example for Morning Routine
- Wake up
- Brush teeth
- Eat breakfast
- Get dressed
- Leave the house
- Example for Morning Routine
- Let client(s) choose or create a routine to focus on:
- Assign Rhythms
- Help client(s) choose or co-create a short rhythmic pattern that represents each step:
- Examples:
- Wake up – “Ta Ta” (Quarter – Quarter)
- Brush teeth – “ti-ti-ti-ti” (steady eighths to mimic a brushing motion)
- Eat breakfast – “Ta ti-ti” (Quarter – 2 eight notes)
- Get dressed – “Ti-ti ta” – (2 eighths – quarter)
- You can make up any rhythms and make them more complex if appropriate for the group
- Examples:
- For non-verbal clients you can use 2-3 rhythm card options as a visual choice
- Help client(s) choose or co-create a short rhythmic pattern that represents each step:
- Build the Rhythm Routine
- Stack the patterns in order of the determined routine
- Write them out on your whiteboard so client(s) can see them visually
- Have the group or individual practice the rhythms slowly at first
- Introduce dynamics and tempo elements:
- Determine when changes like these are appropriate
- For example: in a morning routine, you may start off slow and soft because you are sleepy and build faster and louder as you gradually wake up and move through your routine
- Determine when changes like these are appropriate
- Stack the patterns in order of the determined routine
- Routine Run Through
- Let client(s) rehearse the full routine rhythm without stopping
- Provide strong downbeats for transitions
- For groups:
- Take turns being the “routine leader”
- Can record the routine for client to take home, if appropriate
- ADAPTATIONS
- Use body percussion instead of percussive instruments
- Use apps like Garageband to make your rhythms
- For a mental health setting:
- Focus on more of a wellness routine instead of a daily routine (example in the downloadable printouts)
- Use the rhythms to externalize internal states
- i.e. “How my morning feels”, “What anxiety sounds like versus what calm sounds like”, “The rhythm I want to carry into my week is…”.
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