RESONATE
"There is no one part of the brain which recognises or responds emotionally to music. Instead, there are many parts responding to different aspects to music: to pitch, to frequency, to timbre to tonal intervals, to consonance, to melody, to harmony."
-Oliver Sacks
what is music therapy?
According to American Music Therapy Association, “Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualised goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” In other words, it involves the use of music as a therapy to help individuals cope with their physical, emotional, cognitive and social distress. This type of approach is administered by qualified doctors known as music therapists who work in a wide variety of settings from schools and senior centres to rehabilitation facilities, medical and psychiatry hospitals, etc.
types of music therapy
Active
This is a type of music therapy where the patients engage themselves in the making of music (vocal or instrumental).
e.g. Composing songs, lyrics, singing, playing an instrument, etc.
Receptive
In this type, patients passively listen to live or recorded music.
Stages of treatment
Familiarisation
Music therapists start the healing process by getting familiar with the client. They try to establish a rapport and understand the patient’s distress, personality, his/her needs, likes, preferences and interests through interaction and observation. This step determines the course the therapy will take.
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Formulation
Once the therapists are acquainted with the likes and requirements of the patient, they lay out a plan of action in order to assist and reduce the patient’s discomfort.
This plan of action includes:
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Setting up milestones and the final goal of the therapy.
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Deciding the type of therapy (active or receptive, vocal or instrumental).
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Deciding on whether to conduct a one-on-one session or a group session.
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Determining the number and the frequency of the sessions.
All these decisions depend on the individual’s personality and his/her physical and mental condition.
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Administration
Now we come to the stage of execution during which, the professionals keep a track of the patient’s progress. They work in collaboration with the patient’s family and other doctors to reach their pre-determined goal.
scope
Music therapy started off as a remedy for war veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury during the World War II. The positive responses from the afflicted, increased the awareness of the need for knowledge of the therapeutic nature of music.
Today, with increased activities in the field, this approach is effective with a wide range of medical disorders like heart stroke, cancerdementia, aphasia, Alzheimer’s disease and psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD and the like. It is also widely used with mentally challenged and autistic children.
LISTEN UP!
Lakshmi Suparna, a music educator, talks about her battle against cancer with music at the front line.
healwithharmony
Relate
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