TME Tuesday: July

Happy Independence Day!! It is also World Music Therapy Day - I'll write more about my opinions about that tomorrow. Here's the therapeutic music experience (TME) for today!!

July!
Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC
Therapeutic Music Experience



Purpose: To stimulate reality awareness; to encourage reminiscence about summer and Independence Day holiday; reality orientation; calendar concepts

Source: Original song. © 2000 by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC. All rights reserved.

Materials: Accompanying instrument; OPTIONAL: calendar, month header or name of the month

Environment: Group members within earshot of therapist

Song/Chant/Words:
I                                                                                     V7
Flash, Boom. Crash, Zoom! Firecrackers light up the sky. Flash, Zoom, Crash,
                                                I
Boom. This is the month of July!
 

Procedure: R = Reinforcement opportunities; C = Redirection/Cue opportunities; A = Assessment
1.      C= start singing song.
2.      A= assess whether group members show attentive behaviors to the music or therapist.
3.      R= reinforce attentive behaviors of group members. Redirect group members who do not appear to be paying attention through proximity, use of names, or other techniques.
4.      C= repeat song, leaving off the last word. Wait for group members to supply last word.
5.      A= assess whether group members can complete the song with the word, “July.”
6.      R= reinforce all attempts to complete the sentence. Correct those who are wrong – possibly use phrase such as “which month has fireworks?” to spur memory.
7.      C= repeat song until all group members appear aware of the month. To assist in this, therapist may ask group members for other activities common in the month of July. Replace words “firecrackers light up the sky” with group members’ suggestions.

Therapeutic Function of Music:
The music acts as a container of information. The lyrics offer the setting and the cue for the desired response. The lyrics can be altered to include information offered by group members to assist in reality orientation.

Melody
Pitch
Rhythm
Dynamics
Harmony
6 note melody; short phrases; alternates between downward motion and upward motion
Variable based on needs and preferences of client(s)
Syncopation
Variable based on needs and preferences of client(s)
Major tonality; I, V7, I

Form
Tempo
Timbre
Style
Lyrics
Strophic
Variable based on needs and preferences of client(s)
Variable based on needs and preferences of client(s)
None
Offer reality orientation cue. Can be changed to increase attention to the music and to increase reality orientation 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:


·         Write new versions for the different months of the year.
·         Use the wrong month name purposefully to see if group members are attending to the lyrics.


Extensions:
  • Move from song into discussion about summer/July activities
 

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