TME Tuesday:

Therapeutic Music Experiences (TMEs) are my foundation for everything that I do in my music therapy sessions. I do not make formal session plans. I haven't really done that since I had to as a practicum student way, WAY back, so I have to have something to organize my thoughts and experiences for my clients. My TME plans do that for me - they organize me and allow me to provide robust treatment for my clients in sessions.

(As I am writing this, I am hoping that the recent font issues that I have had have been rectified.)

I have kept the basic format of writing the things that I do in sessions that I learned way, WAY back. I start off with a purpose statement - this is where I brainstorm all of the goals that will be addressed by the TME. I rarely write clinical objectives in this area because I believe that objectives have to come with the client - it is my job as the therapist to make the TME match what the client needs. Instead of trying to anticipate future objectives, I look at the goal areas that are possible with my TMEs.

There are so many things that can be addressed during one musical experience. I am always challenged to find as many as I can, but I also accept that there are things that I will miss. TMEs are never completely finished!

Here is a TME Tuesday post from March 27, 2018. Search the label, TME Tuesday, to see more of these posts from years past if you are interested in some of my ideas. Also, consider subscribing to my monthly sing about songs mini edition if you would like a monthly dose of session planning ideas and TMEs. There are new products coming, so stay tuned to this blog or to my website.

I love writing negative emotion songs - I guess that's what I'll call them. It's a song that recognizes an emotion or situation that is not always the most acceptable in society and acknowledges such emotion or situation. I often sing about bad friends, feeling frustrated, and nasty food. I have several "I Like" therapeutic music experiences (TMEs) that I've written over the years, but I find that my students request the "I Don't Like" TMEs more than the others. 

Here's one. It is also a bit of a complaining song, which I really like right now! If you'd be interested in the sheet music, drop me a comment, and I'll send you a link!

Therapeutic Music Experience

I Don't Like...

Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC

Purpose: To provide opportunity to express emotions about things not preferred in musical format; to engage in conversation about opinions; receptive language; expressive language; attention to task; leadership development; creative expression of emotion and opinion

Source: Original song. © September 17, 2012 by Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC

Materials: Guitar or Keyboard; OPTIONAL: pictures of desired and undesired objects or experiences

Environment: Group members in location where they are able to see and interact with the therapist easily.

Song/Chant/Words:

In minor key

i         v     i        v               i           v     i              v

I don’t like eating veg’tables. I don’t like anything at all.

i                                       iv                                v                       i

There are many things that I don’t like real well, and I will say them all!

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

1.      C=start singing song, replacing underlined words in song with personal dislikes, modeling desired behavior

2.      A=assess whether group members are singing along

3.      R=reinforce all attempts to join in the music making process through verbal and nonverbal means. Redirect attention of group members who are not attending to the task

4.      C=repeat song, changing lyrics again to reflect other things not preferred.

5.      Repeat steps 2 and 3

6.      C=offer leadership of singing experience to group members

7.      C=continue to provide accompaniment to group members who act as leaders

8.      A=assess whether group members volunteer to lead the singing

9.      R=reinforce group members who act as leaders

10.  Repeat steps 1-9 until group members start to show s/s of boredom, disengagement, or when time runs out

Therapeutic Function of Music:

The music provides a socially appropriate outlet for expressing dislikes of objects, situations, and other thoughts. By putting these expressions of negativity to music, group members can offer insight into their preferences and non-preferred things in manner that should not be socially inappropriate. The music contains several elements that can be easily adapted to accommodate differences in processing speed, articulation, and other elements of participation. These elements include timbre, pitch, dynamics, tempo, and lyrics. All of these elements can be changed to provide group members with success during the TME.

Melody	Pitch	Rhythm	Dynamics	Harmony
Minor key, mostly downward to illustrate frustration musically	Variable to accommodate group members’ preferences	Macrobeat	Variable to accommodate group members’ preferences and needs (sensory and attention needs)	Minor

Form	Tempo	Timbre	Style	Lyrics
Variable – due to improvised nature of lyrics and experience	Variable to accommodate group members’ preferences and needs (sensory and attention needs)	Variable to accommodate group members’ preferences and needs (sensory and attention needs)	None	Variable to accommodate group members’ preferences and needs (sensory and attention needs)

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:

·         Offer pictures or word cards with preferred and non-preferred items

Extensions:

• Start discussion about opinions and facts