Music Therapy Professor Guides New Grant-Funded Project Serving the Church’s Youngest Members

Alejandra Ferrer brings clinical expertise to Creative Arts Collective-funded project integrating music, faith formation and early childhood development

A new national grant is supporting an interdisciplinary project that uses carefully designed music to support children and families during the earliest stages of life. The project is led in part by Dr. Alejandra Ferrer, associate professor in Belmont’s Music Therapy program. 

The project, “Children in the Church: Learning to Follow and Lead with Music,” is one of ten initiatives nationwide selected for the Create, Education & Network Grant from the Creative Arts Collective for Christian Life & Faith. 

Spanning a year of work, the project brings together experts in music therapy, early childhood education, neuroscience, medicine and pastoral leadership to create original songs and resources for children from newborn through pre-K. 

“What makes this project distinctive is its intention,” Ferrer said. “Every musical choice — tempo, dynamics, structure and language — is shaped by what we know about child development and neurological safety, especially for children in sensitive settings or with unique sensory needs.” 

Led by Ferrer (pictured left) alongside music educator Jayna Gross (center) and scientist and singer-songwriter Dr. Ciara Reyes-Ton (right), the team is developing 21 original songs that address a wide range of experiences. Some pieces introduce biblical stories and values in age-appropriate ways, while others are designed to comfort infants, support children with sensory sensitivities or offer space for families navigating grief, loss or nontraditional paths to parenthood. 

Building a Foundation in Evidence and Faith 

Before composing began, participating songwriters completed a full day of interdisciplinary training led by music therapists, educators, physicians and developmental specialists. The training ensured that every song would be grounded not only in creativity, but also in evidence-based practice. 

“Music is powerful, but it needs to be used responsibly, especially with very young children,” Ferrer said. “This project is about making sure music is not just beautiful, but also safe, accessible and truly supportive.” 

Several songs will be paired with curriculum materials and piloted in church preschool settings, helping educators and ministry leaders engage children through music that reflects both faith and developmental understanding.

Other pieces, such as lullabies written for infants in neonatal intensive care units, will be shared directly with families and hospitals, accompanied by guidance on healthy music use for babies. These songs will again be sung and recorded by Belmont student group Jazzmin. 

Music as a Common Language 

While the project is rooted in Christian imagination, many of the songs focus on broadly shared values like kindness, belonging, patience and care for others. That approach allows the music to meet families where they are, regardless of background, while still contributing meaningfully to early faith formation. 

“Children are deeply musical by nature,” Ferrer said. “Music gives us a way to communicate comfort, meaning and values long before children have the words to do that themselves.” 

All publicly released music and resources from “Children in the Church” will be made freely available online, extending the project’s reach beyond participating churches and hospitals.  

For Ferrer, the work reflects how music therapy expertise can inform faith-based spaces, offering a model for how research, creativity and care can come together to serve children and their families.