Therapeutic Elements of Music

In the year 2010, Dr. Deanna Hanson Abromeit, professor at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, presented A Closer Look at the Therapeutic Function of Music, a presentation at the American Music Therapy Association's Annual conference. I was unable to attend the presentation, but she was kind enough to send me a copy of the powerpoint for my files.

How many of us really analyze the way we use music with our clients?

How do you describe the reasons why you sing a specific song at a specific tempo for a specific client?

Every so often, the music therapy listserv erupts in a discussion about the appropriateness of sharing therapeutic music experience ideas. One camp feels that we should not share ideas with one another due to the fact that it diminishes the individualization we offer to our clients. The other camp wants new ideas on how to engage clients providing them with novel and interesting experiences. I can understand the point of both groups.

There is a danger in becoming a therapist who cannot interact without having a script. Being told what to do with each and every client does diminish the individual nature of music therapy. If the therapist cannot adapt the musical stimulus to accommodate the needs of the client, then the therapeutic benefit of the music is not realized.

There are also many times when I am planning a session thinking that I cannot stand the idea of singing the same old song yet again. I enjoy hearing new songs and having new musical formats to use with my students.

Now - the rub. A therapist is not a therapist unless he or she can manipulate the elements of music to reach each client and assist the client towards his or her objectives and goals.

There is so much more to music therapy than playing music for a person. If that were the case, anyone would be able to play a CD or a guitar and call it music therapy. Music therapists have to be able to not only adapt musical elements but to speak about those adaptations to people who need to know what we do.

Example - here is a chart that I use when I am developing therapeutic musical experiences. I use it to think about how I can adapt my musical presentation to engage my clients in the experience.

Melody	Pitch	Rhythm	Dynamics	Harmony

Form	Tempo	Timbre	Style	Lyrics

Chart adapted from Hanson-Abromeit, D. (2010). A Closer Look at the Therapeutic Function of Music. Presentation at 2010 American Music Therapy Association National Conference: Cleveland, OH.

So, I end up writing down everything I can think of that fits under each of these categories. If I can adapt the element, I state that in the box. Here is a completed example:

Melody	Pitch	Rhythm	Dynamics	Harmony
Scalar	5 pitches; easily adapted to accommodate client preferences	Macrobeat - pulse	Variable to accommodate client preferences and to engage client attention to task	Major Tonality - Ionian

Form	Tempo	Timbre	Style	Lyrics
Strophic	Variable to accommodate client preferences and to engage client attention to task	Variable to accommodate client preferences and to engage client attention to task	Form of Children’s song	Variable to accommodate client preferences and to engage client attention to task

Chart adapted from Hanson-Abromeit, D. (2010). A Closer Look at the Therapeutic Function of Music. Presentation at 2010 American Music Therapy Association National Conference: Cleveland, OH.

For this TME, the pitch, dynamics, tempo, timbre, and lyrics can be adapted to accommodate the client's unique characteristics and needs. I can sing the song at a very slow tempo to assist the client in coordinating her oral motor skill so she can sing along with me. I can change the sounds of the instruments to avoid sensory aversions. I can change the lyrics to personalized the song and emphasize specific situations and desired behaviors.

This awareness of how I can change the music in each one of the therapeutic music experiences I share with my clients assists me in being an advocate for music therapy. When I am asked why a music therapist is so important, I am able to demonstrate why my services are more effective than a musician who walks into a session and plays. I can also demonstrate that I can often get more response using music than entertainers.

The last thought that I have on this topic is that we, as music therapists, have to be constantly demonstrating the therapeutic benefits and elements of music to the people that pay us. We have to show others how our expertise (music as a therapeutic medium to reach non-musical goals) makes musical interactions more valuable to clients. In order to do this, we have to know and understand our medium.

We always have to go back to what makes us, us. Music.

Music.