TME Tuesday - The Loco-motion



I often use recorded music in my sessions - there are some out there who do not feel that recorded music is appropriate for a music therapy session, but I do - no apologies here. My adolescents strongly identify with performers and specific performances, so I look for ways to use recordings and familiar songs in sessions with my clients. This is a TME that allows me to either use live music or a recording to facilitate movement - structured movement within a group setting.

Therapeutic Music Experience
The Loco-motion
Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC
Purpose: To provide opportunities for motor development; motor sequencing; receptive language

Source: Words and music by Gerry Goffin and Carole King © 1962 (renewed 1990) SCREEN-GEMS EMI MUSIC, INC. TME idea © August 1, 2012 by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC.

Materials: Music source – either functional instrument or CD player and CD; OPTIONAL: Movement cards to structure the dance

Environment: Group members need plenty of space to move around

Song:
_____. (1995). Classic Rock. Hal Leonard: Milwaukee, WI, p. 130-133.

Procedure: R = Reinforcement opportunities; C = Redirection/Cue opportunities; A = Assessment

  1. C=ask group members to spread out around the session space 
  2. C=start music with the lyrics 
  3.  C=model movements as they are mentioned in the song

a.       Swing your hips
b.      Jump up
c.       Jump back
d.      Make a chain
e.       Chug-a-chug-a motion
f.       Holding hands
4.      A=assess if group members are able to coordinate movements to music
5.      R=reinforce all attempts by group members to complete the movements as presented in the song

Therapeutic Function of Music:
The music provides the structure for the coordination of movements within the parameters of the musical elements. If the music is performed live, musical elements of tempo, pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and lyrics may be adjusted to accommodate the needs of group members to engage attention or to provide enough time for group members to coordinate their movements. If recorded music is used, there is less flexibility in changing the musical elements.

Melody
Pitch
Rhythm
Dynamics
Harmony
Composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Live music – variable and easily adjusted to encourage group member engagement
Live music – variable and easily adjusted to encourage group member engagement
Live music – variable and easily adjusted to encourage group member engagement
I, vi, IV, V7

Form
Tempo
Timbre
Style
Lyrics
Verse and Chorus
Live music – variable and easily adjusted to encourage group member engagement
Live music – variable and easily adjusted to encourage group member engagement
Early Rock and Roll
Live music – variable and easily adjusted to encourage group member engagement
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.

Adaptations:

  • Simplify the movements to accommodate client needs


Extensions:
  • Change the movements using movement cards to assist in client memory and sequencing skills
  • Use movement cards to assist clients who can read in remembering the motions

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear AMTA

Dear American Music Therapy Association: I am debating long and hard about remaining in this relationship. I have been in this relationship since college, and this is not a decision that I am taking lightly or without great cost.  I am not happy with what you are bringing to this relationship. Now, I have been a selfish partner over the past several years - mainly because I am not feeling like we share a common mission anymore. It is easy for me to place the blame on you, but I know that this is not all on me. I have tried to be invested in communication and support and understanding, but everyone comes to a time where enough is enough. I am trying very hard to decide if the benefits that you provide to me are worth the feelings that I have about where I think you and I are going. I am not sure that our destination is the same anymore, and this makes me sad. To be completely honest, I am only in this relationship these days for the music therapy interns. I don't think that is a hea...
Read more

Songwriting Sunday: Repetition

Image
One of the things that I find to be helpful with my client population (children, adolescents, and young adults with dual diagnoses) is repetition of phrases, lyrics, and music. As a result of 30+ years of working with this population in various iterations, I have found that my clients respond the most to songs with three repeated phrases to prime their responses with a different phrase to communicate the important part of the experience. DISCLAIMER: This is not a definite way to write music for clinical interactions. This is what seems to work well with my particular group of human beings. Don't go to your supervisors and tell them that I told you that this is the ONLY way to write music - It is NOT! You have to find what works for your clients and for their clinical goals. Since my clients respond well to this type of song, I tend to write songs in this format more than any other. What I have found is that my clients remember these songs more than the ones that I do in different f...
Read more

Being An Internship Director: On Hiatus

Image
It has been long enough since I have had an intern that I am seriously feeling like I have little to say on the subject. At the same time, I am currently writing Chapter 5 of my general internship handbook, so I am able to write about being an intern and what types of things to think about during this important time in our professional development. It is a strange place to be in, and it is one that is a bit challenging for me. Right now, I have had three vacant internship positions since the beginning of the calendar year. I will have a vacant position next month and that will be an entire year of rejected offers. In the past nine months, I have offered positions to three applicants who have declined. It is interesting how people complain that there aren't enough internship programs, but programs like mine are empty. I guess there aren't enough internship programs that pay large stipends (which mine cannot) out there. I get it. It is interesting to me how we have moved from an ...
Read more