MUSIC THERAPY"Music is everybody's possession"  - John Lennon

What is Music Therapy?Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.  Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. 

Music therapy interventions can be designed to: promote wellness manage stress alleviate pain express feelings enhance memory improve communication promote physical rehabilitation.

- American Music Therapy Association

Why Music Therapy?1. Music includes both right/left brain concepts:

“right brain“– creative, intuitive, visual, looking at ‘the whole picture’ Right brain elements of music: creative writing/lyrics, imagery, feeling/mood enhancement, reflection “left brain” – structured, details first, organized/sequential, analytical Left brain elements of music: rhythmic/predictable, structured through set of rules, predictable pitches for each key of music, mathematical in time signatures

Quantitative Relationships in Music

Based on degrees, numerical values, and formulas

Why Music Therapy?2. Music is relatable and applicable to all:

regardless of social class, ethnicity, geographical location (America, tribe in Africa, village in Ecuador), economic class, life experience, etc * present in all cultures

3. Naturally occurring in environment/society: heartbeat, all things moving to rhythm/vibration, pitches/sounds, musical presence in TV/radio/ads/movies, musical presence cultures (graduations, deaths/funerals, war, weddings, etc), cycles (rhythmic patterns) in nature/time/calendar

Where do music therapists work?     psychiatric hospitals

rehabilitative facilities medical hospitals outpatient clinics day care treatment centers agencies serving developmentally disabled persons community mental health centers drug and alcohol programs senior centers and nursing homes hospice programs correctional facilities halfway houses schools private practice

How is music therapy utilized in hospitals?    Music is used in general hospitals to: alleviate pain in conjunction with anesthesia or pain

medication elevate patients' mood and counteract depression promote movement for physical rehabilitation calm or sedate, often to induce sleep counteract apprehension or fear lessen muscle tension for the purpose of relaxation

(including the autonomic nervous system)  provide coping skills for procedures provide grief support

How is music therapy utilized in nursing homes?

Music is used with elderly persons to increase or maintain their level of physical, mental, and social/emotional functioning.

The sensory and intellectual stimulation of music can help maintain a person's quality of life.

Music can trigger memories associated with specific life experiences

How is music therapy utilized in psychiatric facilities?

Music therapy allows persons with mental health needs to: explore personal feelings make positive changes in mood and emotional states have a sense of control over life through successful

experiences practice problem solving resolve conflicts leading to stronger family and peer

relationships

How is music therapy utilized in schools?

Music therapy is implemented as part of child’s treatment plan to support IEP goals (Individualized Education Plan).

Music learning is used to strengthen nonmusical areas such as communication skills and physical coordination skills which are important for daily life.

How does MT make a difference with Young Children?

- Stimulates senses - Involves child at many levels- Provides quality learning and maximum participation

through the joy of play- Can help teach child to manage pain & stress (coping

skills)- Provides success-oriented concepts leading to

confidence and positive self image- Encourages socialization, communication, and motor

development- The brain processes music in both hemispheres which

can stimulate cognitive and other functioning- American Music Therapy Association

What is Autism?Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. Autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects each individual differently and at varying degrees. - http://www.autism-society.org

Characteristics of Autism (may

include): Delays or abnormal functioning in :

social interaction, language as used in social communication, symbolic or imaginative play

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities

Qualitative impairments in communication

Qualitative impairment in social interaction DSM IV

Music Therapy Treatment of Autism

First and Foremost: Client Goals

Assessment: (The “getting to know you” period) * Measuring strengths/abilities, areas of need/deficiencies, interests, and other related factors

Treatment Plan: (Setting goals and objectives) * Based on assessment findings, MT will determine goals/objectives for MT treatment

Treatment Sessions: (MT treatment begins) * Sessions consist of music based activities to facilitate improvements in areas of need, leading to progress in goal/objective areas

Sample Goals/ObjectivesGoal 1: Follow verbal commandsObjective 1.1: Client will follow verbal commands (“sit

down”, “stop”, “pick up the ball”) aeb demonstrating action prompted, requiring no more than 2 prompts. Cl will perform this in at least 75% of total MT treatment sessions.

Goal 2: Facilitate/improve nonverbal communicationObjective 2.1: Client will appropriately participate in

nonverbal communication activities aeb using PECS, signs/ASL, and/or gestures as applicable to given activity/situation. Cl will perform this at least 3 times/session, and in at least 75% of total MT treatment sessions. (see handout for abbrev. key)

Examples of how certain elements of music are used to elicit certain response/work toward goals:Utilizing Elements of Rhythm:

1. “Entrainment”the body becoming in sync with dominating rhythm …

2. Bilateral rhythm creation for cognitive prep

When both sides of the body work together to create steady rhythm, both left and right hemispheres are engaged, leading to heightened cognitive attention

Utilizing elements of Pitch:

1. Creating a need for completion, “finish”

unfinished melody = similar to unfinished feel of a question in speech

What does a typical music therapy session include?Session activities may include, but are not limited to:

playing instruments lyrical analysis music improvisation musical games musical stories music and imagery music performance receptive listening music and movement song writing relaxation techniques

*** All activities within a session focus around client goals and objectives included in client’s Music Therapy Treatment Plan.

Activity Concept Examples: Child with learning/cognitive delays:

i.e. sing and play a song with numbers that help them to count by 5's.

Child with gross motor delays/low strength/incoordination: i.e. activity involving music and movement (walking, jumping, running to a certain beat until movement becomes more fluid and/or increase gait stability, coordination)

Child with medical or anxiety related diagnosis resulting in increased/sporadic breathing/heart rate: i.e. activity that facilitates relaxation and/or teaches the client relaxation techniques to implement as needed. Often, MT will first assess what (exact) types/specific pieces of music are perceived by the client as “relaxing”. Things such as bpm (beats per minute)/time signature, timbre of instruments, musical makeup, etc. of a piece of music can effect this. I often send home a cd of this music to be used when needed.

Child with auditory response delays : i.e. activity which incorporates a deliberate start and stop in the music, and assist the child in stopping his/her movement when the music stops.

Child with behavior related needs: i.e. activities that involve spoken commands/tasks which the client has to follow, resulting in positive feedback and/or reward/token system

Transitioning / Gaining Attn

“Open, Shut Them”

“Boom Ti Ada”

A Glimpse into Music Therapy Interventions

Photography byBen Williams

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MT Activity Examples:

• Cognitive skill• Color identification• Visual attention• Indentify items• Speech/verbal

clarity

“Pumpkin, Pumpkin”

• Visual Attention• Social Skill• Eye Contact• Decrease Social

Anxiety

“I Love to Look in Your Eyes!”

• Cognitive Skill• Cognitive Attention• Visual Attention• Impulse Control• Picture matching

“Can You Find It?”

• Auditory Attention• Auditory

Processing/Response

• Impulse Control• Cognitive Skill• Follow Auditory

Cues“I’ll Do It All Myself!”

• Identification of Emotions

• Expression• Anxiety Release• Post Trauma

Piano Song

• Emotional Health• Coping• Anxiety Release• Post Trauma• Emotional Outlet

“The Rain Song”

Slideshow

Cabasa for Sensory InputTrack 3, Liquid Mind Putumayo African LullabyForest Gump Suite #16

The Rain Story

See attachment for story For use with “The Rain Song” by J Grooms

Goals:•

Facilitate/Improve copying skills

• Facilitate ability to self manage

• Improve mood/promote feeling of well being

• Provide outlet for anxiety/emotion

• Facilitate expression and identification of emotion/self

Links:

http://www.jgmusictherapy.weebly.com (my website)

http://www.jgmusictherapy.blogspot.com (my blog)

http://www.musictherapy.org (AMTA website) http://www.autismhangout.com (Web

Autism Resource)

*see my recent webinar on MT and Autism here

Contact Info

Jessica D. Grooms, MT-BC

(843) 364-4332

Email : jdaisi13@gmail.com Web: http://

www.jgmusictherapy.weebly.com