Music Therapy is a relatively new therapy. Music has long been credited as a brain stimulant. Studies have even shown that students in music classes and education programs are measurably better on standardized tests and in many aspects of the academic world. That is why Music, over the last 60 plus years has been used in the health care industry. Music Therapy is a growing trend in helping heal autistic children. With all of the medicines out there to help autism, the parents need to know that there are alternatives and combinations that may best help their child.
Music Therapy originated in treatment hospitals for World War II Veterans. The doctors and hospital staff realized that the musicians needed training to interact with the patients. They originally had just played music in the hospitals around the patients and did not have any training other than their music training. These realizations lead to the creation of the first college degree program for Music Therapy at Michigan State University (Cutting Edge Therapies p 242-247).
Different venues, from children to Alzheimer’s Patients use Music Therapy (AMTA). According to the American Music Therapy Association “Music Therapy interventions can be designed to: Promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improved communication, and promote physical rehabilitation”. All types of people including people with not existing medical conditions benefit from therapy, and that therapy can incorporate all types of music. A News Paper Article in New Jersey even states that Music Therapy has uses for anything from birth to adults. The AMTA States that “Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accompl...
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Music therapy can be combined with occupational to increase the benefits of the special education services. A significant challenge people on the autism spectrum face is effectively communicating their thoughts, desires, and emotions in a socially acceptable way. Using improvisation in music therapy can help students on the spectrum express what they are feeling. Learning to use musical elements such as dynamics, tempo, timbre, and form, can help this population demonstrate musically what they need to communicate. For example, if they are feeling sad, they might improvise with a slow tempo. If they are angry, their improvisation might be loud and fast.
“I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music” (Billy Joel). Although most listeners may not have the same technical experience in music as Billy Joel, it is easy enough to see the effect it has in a person's every day life. Music has the ability to pick us up when we are down, carry you back in time to a cherished memory, and transform silence into a symphony that can move one to tears. Music therapy is simply an application of the life that music creates.
Music therapy is defined as “a systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using music experiences and the relationships that develop through them as dynamic forces of change.” (Bruscia). Wilber’s quadrants breaks down major psychological theories and music therapy models into four quadrants (Abrams). These areas are the individual interior, individual exterior, collective interior, and the collective exterior (Abrams). The individual internal focuses on the therapeutic goals and the inner psychological process of the client (Dr. A. Meadows, personal communication, Sept 2014). The individual exterior focuses on skills and behaviors where the goals
In summary, it is very reasonable to determine that music therapy has been a pronounced development. It has aided an abundance of people with dealing with all sorts of different issues they are faced with in everyday life; from emotional issues to illnesses. However, music therapy is not for everyone. There are many different types of therapies available for patients to choose from if they feel if music therapy isn’t for
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Due to the positive effects on cognitive, communicative, and behavioral functions, physicians and therapists treating individuals with autism spectrum disorder should incorporate the use of music therapy into their patients’ treatment plans.
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Music therapy not only works on adults in the workplace but also on premature babies, infants, and children as well.
Developing a Theoretical Framework for the Use of Psychodynamic Music Therapy in the Treatment of Selective Mutism in Children with English as an Additional Language: A Heuristic Case Study” (BAMT, 2017). Her research was to look at selective mutism, “a severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations” (NHS, 2016). In this research study Kate Jones talked about how the children with selective mutism would come into a room which contains many instruments, in which they will pick up any instrument of their choice and start to play it. Music therapists will play along with the children and have what is considered as a “musical conversation” through the instruments. This gradually develops the confidence of the children and gives the children an alternative way to converse and interact with people (BBC Radio 3,
After great practice, Josh Clark learned to spell his last name. This may not seem like a grand accomplishment, but for Josh, it is. Josh has down syndrome. He attends weekly music therapy sessions and his parents are seeing great progress. Mother said, “Within a week, he learned how to spell ‘Clark’. Without music therapy, it would have taken several weeks or several months. So how does music help Josh to learn at a faster rate than without music? Josh’s music therapist knew that Josh was accustomed with the song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” so she used that to help him learn. Josh listened to her sing each letter of his last name to the familiar tune. His mom thinks, “Music therapy helps him to focus. He loves it. He’s always loved music.” It is true that music is a large part of everyone’s lives, whether it is listening to it or playing it. Josh also loves playing the maracas, so his music therapist uses the maracas as a reward for spelling his name. To the average person spelling a name is no big deal, but to Josh’s family and friends, it is much more than that. “He takes a lot longer to learn, but there are a lot more small triumphs,” his mom says (AMTA 2014). This family has seen great results from the music therapy and they are not the only ones. As more people with various therapeutic needs begin to see the benefits of music healing, it has become one of the best forms of treatment.
Autism spectrum disorder is a disorder in which many children struggle with. Children, who have ASD, struggle with communication and social interaction. With this disorder, there are many things that can be put into place for a child who has ASD to be able to function “normally” on a daily basis. Music therapy is one strategy that has been proven to be very successful with a child, who has ASD, to be able to function “normally;” especially when it comes to their social and communication skills.
UCP, . "Benefits of Music for Children with Special Needs: Tips for Parents and Educators." United Cerebral Palsy. N.p., 2012. Web. 12 Jan 2012.
Music therapy is the use of music and or musical elements by a qualified music therapist with a client or group in a process designed to facilitate and promote communication, relationships, learning, expression, organization and other relevant therapeutic objects in offer to meet physical, emotional, mental, social, and cognitive needs. There are many things that make music therapy. A few elements that contribute to music therapy are tone, rhythm, harmony, melody, and timbre. There are many reason as to why people try music therapy. A few would be coping with illness, managing problems, and overcoming impairments. When someone is thinking about music therapy the first step is getting a bachelor’s degree. There is also places that will let you
Music Therapy is the prescribed use of music and musical interventions to restore, maintain, and improve emotional, physical, physiological, and spiritual health and well-being. These are the key elements which define interventions as music therapy. Music Therapy is goal oriented and provides a system to work towards a specific therapeutic goal and objective. Goals identified can include communicative, academic, motor emotional and social skills. In the end the music development learned in the sessions hopefully have a relaxing, positive effect on the client’s physical, psychological and socio-economical functioning. Music Therapy became a profession in 1950 with the establishment of the National Association for Music Therapy and the American Association for Music Therapy Association. (AMTA) There were nonmusical goals set for the professional setting. “They included: improving communication skills, decreasing inappropriate ...