Music Therapy

Music Therapy By Sarah Carr and Deanna Flook

Ice Breaker• Close your eyes• Listen to the music and write down how you

feel when listening to it• What affect does music have on your

mood/emotions?• Have you ever heard a song and it triggers

memories of a past time? • Every human has an innate connection

to music (

Agenda• Ice breaker • What is Music Therapy?• Who are Music Therapists?• Evidence Base• Strengths • Limitations• Music Therapy vs. Music

intervention • The role of the consultant • Who benefits from music

therapy?• Class Activity

What is Music Therapy?

• Aims to promote, sustain and develop emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health

• Based on the principal that, through music, certain parts of the brain are stimulated and reconditioned to take on different functions

• Makes use of rhythm, movement, and speech dynamics to promote attention, self-awareness, and communication

• A Music Therapy session might include singing, making vocalizations playing various instruments (either percussion or melodic), or listening to music.

• Each therapy session has a set of goals and objectives that are unique to the group or child and therapists are trained in performing assessments, treatment plans and progress reports

(Cook, Klein & Chen, 2012).

Who are Music Therapists?

• Must obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree in music therapy training

• Music Therapist Accredited (MTA)• Credential given to most music therapists• One thousand hours of internship

• Music Therapists study music and it’s impact on human behaviour• Music therapy models, approaches and techniques• Cognitive, neurological and psychosocial

development.• Perform assessments, treatment plans and progress

reports (Canadian Association for Music Therapy, 2012).

Evidence Base

• 1985 World Federation of Music Therapy was formed• This international collaboration led to a more prominent

impact in the research literature around music therapy• Today there still remains a need for improvement in Music

Therapy’s clinical research base. • Mrázová & Celec (2010) looked at twenty-eight studies on

Music Therapy and stressed the need for a more homogeneous and systematic approach to research

• Current studies lack reproducibility and consistent eligibility requirements (Reschke-Hernandez, 2011)

Strengths of Music Therapy

• Can be used to help achieve goals in all areas of development

• Can be used with children of all abilities• It can be adapted for those with different physical,

cognitive, social and behavioural needs• Adapted musical instruments• Songs with varying actions• Complexity of songs including numbers, letters and

shapes• Length of songs• Turn taking, listening to others, asking questions• Aggression, short attention span

Limitations of Music Therapy

• Costs• Music Therapy Association of Ontario (MTAO) average

recommended rate is $115 per hour• This includes an initial assessment, progress reports and

discharge notes, done individually or in a group setting• Limitation of trained Music Therapists and agencies where

it is offered• Teachers are not trained in music therapy and cannot

provide the same assessments and progress reports

(Music Therapy Association of Ontario, 2014)(Cook, Klein, & Chen, 2012)

Music Therapy Vs. Music Intervention

• Music Therapy must be implemented by a registered Music Therapist

• Music Therapy has assessments and progress reports and goals

• Music Intervention is the use of musical elements by anyone to help encourage development

Role of the Consultant

• Make referrals to Music Therapy/ Encourage Parents to self-refer• Blue Balloon, New Song Music Therapy,

Friends of Music Therapy (Sick Kids), Kerry’s Place, Bloorview

• Encourage ECE’s and Parents to implement Music Interventions

• Education on Music and it’s benefits on development

Who Benefits from Music Therapy and Intervention

• Children and adults of all abilities can benefit from Music Therapy and Musical Intervention

• Those with all abilities can benefit in some aspect and developmental area

• Deaf and hard of hearing can also benefit from Music Therapy through adaptations and selected activities

Activity• Get into 6 Groups (approximately 6 people per

group)• Using the scenario and materials you are

given, brainstorm musical interventions • Ensure that the musical interventions help

work toward the goals and objectives for the child

• Share your ideas!