Mission: We strive to make music accessible and empowering for all. 

Developing Melodies, established in 2006 (as Brown Music Therapy), is a music-focused therapy center developed by Meryl Brown MM, MT-BC, DT, Neurologic Music Therapist. We offer music therapy, developmental therapy, music enrichment groups, music lessons and early childhood music experiences in Bloomington, IL. Developing Melodies enriches the community by using music as a vehicle to induce change in order to meet the needs of each individual client while maximizing his or her strengths. Developing Melodies provides services for over 500 individuals each year. 

Meryl Brown MM, LPMT, MT-BC, DT, Founder and Clinical Director, is a parent, music therapist, Jewish professional, song leader, musician and small business owner. She has been a board certified music therapist in Bloomington-Normal for over 15 years, having founded Developing Melodies Music Therapy Center in 2006. She is a graduate of both the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam (Music Education) and Illinois State University (Master of Music, Music Therapy).

While her preferred clinical work currently focuses on babies and children in Early Intervention, Meryl enjoys working with many people; children and adults. While in both her undergraduate and graduate work, Meryl played French Horn and Piano, she is now proficient on guitar and ukulele as well. In 2016, Meryl led the “SOAR-ing Ukes” group on stage as they performed with the Wellington Ukulele Orchestra. 

Meryl has had publications in “Imagine: An Early Childhood Music Therapy Magazine” and has held trainings and presentations with organizations across the country, discussing music therapy, early childhood development, business ownership and work-life balance as a working parent of young children. 

In 2019, Meryl was an honoree as a “20 Under 40” Professional in McLean County. In that same year she became Vice-President and shortly after, President, of Moses Montefiore Congregation in Bloomington, IL.

Outside of work, Meryl enjoys time with her children and husband at softball tournaments and ballet recitals, and she works hard raising money for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as co-captain for “We Got The Runs… For The Kids”, St Jude Runs Team or volunteering with her Kiwanis Club. She can also be found helping lead Shabbat services as a songleader or leading children in T’filah on Sunday mornings at Religious School. 

Spending time outside is her most happy time; in the pool, kayaking, running, cycling and hiking. When stuck inside, there better be a decent fire, a great book or a Syracuse basketball game.

Amy Ersland is an early childhood educator originally from Des Moines, Iowa. She attended Illinois State University in Normal, IL, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Music and ultimately her masters degree in Reading. Amy taught for ten years in the public schools before staying home with her daughters. In addition to teaching here at Developing Melodies, she is also teaching music at Mulberry School in Normal, IL.

Amy serves on the Board of Trustees for the Normal Public Library and spends a lot of time at the library with her family; participating in children’s programming, choosing books and materials for their students and also herself. 

Outside of work and service, Amy and her husband Scott stay busy cheering on their three daughters at sporting events and music programs throughout the year. 

Amy has been teaching piano lessons since 2016 and specializes in instruction for new beginners and using a variety of techniques to reach many different learning styles. Amy started with Developing Melodies in 2023.