TME Tuesday - Frustration



Here is a TME that I use with my students who have very low frustration tolerances. We discuss our ways of handling frustration.


Therapeutic Music Experience
Frustration
Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC

Purpose: To provide outlet for emotional awareness; to increase emotional awareness in others; to encourage self-examination regarding emotions; to acknowledge emotion of frustration; to problem-solve appropriate responses to feelings of frustration; entrainment to steady beat; social interaction

Source: Original song by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC. © May 8, 2012 by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC.

Materials: None required; OPTIONAL: dry-erase board and marker to assist in songwriting and problem solving or Frustration Song Blank (see below)

Environment: Group members close enough to the therapist to easily hear the song.

Song/Chant/Words: (I can't figure out how to upload an audio file to the blog, but I'll try to get that onto my website...)

Frustration  X xx X     Frustration  X xx X    Frustration is a way to feel.

I feel frustrated when I don’t get my way.

When I feel frustrated, I yell and scream and have a fit.

Frustration  X xx X

*Replace underlined words with personal expressions from group members.

Procedure: R = Reinforcement opportunities; C = Redirection/Cue opportunities; A = Assessment
1.      C=introduce concept of frustration through modeling the facial affect and behaviors displayed by group members during frustrating moments
2.      C=ask group members to identify the emotion being displayed
3.      A=assess whether group members can identify emotion in another person
4.      R=reinforce group members who can correctly identify the emotion. Redirect group members through guided questioning such as, “What is my mouth doing? What are my eyes doing? Do I look happy? Do I look sad? Do I look angry?” Reinforce with identification of correct answers.
5.      C=start singing song, placing personal words in place of the underlined words.
6.      A=assess whether group members are attending to the song or the emotion being presented
7.      R=reinforce appropriate responses and redirect inappropriate responses often displayed when others express emotion
8.      C=continue to sing song, changing words and responses as appropriate.
9.      C=encourage group members to take leadership role, changing the words to the song as appropriate to their own responses to frustration
10.  A=assess which group members will take the leadership role
11.  R=reinforce all contributions to the conversation.
12.  Repeat steps 5-11, continuing the song until group members start to show s/s of disinterest or boredom or until time is complete

Therapeutic Function of Music:
The music provides the framework and setting for the discussion surrounding the emotion frustration. The minor tonality illustrates that the emotion is not typically a pleasant one. The repetitive rhythmic figure provides a time to process the verbal information into meaning for group members. The elements of pitch, dynamics, tempo, timbre, and lyrics are easily adaptable to encourage participation and engagement from group members.

Melody
Pitch
Rhythm
Dynamics
Harmony
Scalar
Variable to accommodate preferred ranges of group members
Steady – on the beat; no syncopation
Variable to engage attention and engagement of group members
Minor tonality

Form
Tempo
Timbre
Style
Lyrics
Strophic
Variable to engage attention and engagement of group members
Variable to engage attention and engagement of group members
None identified
Variable to engage attention and engagement of group members
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:
·         Do not offer others the leadership role, but describe their responses as observed in other situations

Extensions:
  • Make book of frustration strategies and responses, using group members as examples and models – Use the book to prompt singing and interaction during the TME




Frustration Song Blank
Frustration. Frustration.
Frustration is a way to feel, frustration.

I feel frustrated when ______________________________________________________________________________
When I get frustrated, I ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Frustration!

My Name: ________________________
The Date: _________________________
 

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