Music Therapy

1. Music Therapy By Sarah Carr and Deanna Flook

2. 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 (

3. 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

4. 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).

5. 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).

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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!