Music Therapy Commons^™

Adapting Instruments, Not Students: A Study Of Adaptive Musical Instruments, Cheyanne Maria Chapin

Honors Program Theses

The purposes of this study were to (1) create a categorized listing of adaptive instruments divided into categories that can help music therapists decide which clients can utilize them and for what purposes and (2) evaluate the anticipated enjoyment and sound rating of a select number of adaptive electronic instruments. For Part 1 of this study, children with special needs, with the help of their parents, were invited to take part in a questionnaire related to the impression of four select adaptive instruments (Light Block, Skoog, JamBoxx, SpecDrums). Participants were asked to watch videos of the four instruments and rate …

A Proposed Music Therapy Protocol For Trauma-Informed, Culturally Aware Practice With Migrants At The Us-Mexico Border, Mackenzie K. Conner

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper reviews current literature surrounding therapeutic work done with the migrant population and considers it through the lens of future music therapy interventions to be done at the United States (US)-Mexico border. The migration process across the US-Mexico border is often filled with danger and treachery, leading to trauma responses, such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder. These traumatic experiences are augmented even further if there is a detention period or separation of families. In work reported by psychotherapists, counselors, and expressive arts therapists, there is often a focus of building empowerment, resilience, and coping skills. Yet …

Antidepressants Versus Music Therapy: Which Treatment Is Better For Treating Depression In Parkinson's Disease?, Emaan Dawood

Virginias Collegiate Honors Council Conference

Music and medicine are merging to treat depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Antidepressants, the current standard, demonstrate mixed effects in clinical trials, warranting other treatment options. Here, I compare music therapy to antidepressants in the treatment of depression in PD via literature review. Studies of depressed PD patients undergoing music therapy and/or antidepressants were reviewed with attention to variables including depression (on a patient-reported outcome) that were measured pre- and post- therapy. In the music studies, improvements were seen in depression. Methodological inconsistencies across these studies, a paucity of studies, and small sample sizes, however, necessitate more research to reach …

3d Printing: The Effect Of Adapted Mallets On The Participation Of Children With Severe And Multiple Disabilities, Vienna Sa

Pacific Journal of Health

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in two measures of participation for a small sample of children with severe and multiple disabilities when using adapted mallets for instruments. The two measures of participation were: decibel level (dB) and frequency of sound produced. Three children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old participated in a single music therapy session testing four different popular adapted mallets, and a control mallet. A 3D-printed mallet grip was among the adapted mallets and was customized to the individual’s hand contour. The sessions tested all five mallets in random order …

Evaluation Of The Matadoc And Comparison Of Auditory Musical, Non-Musical, And Live Music Therapy Stimuli To Increase Awareness And Sense Of Self In Patients With Moderate And Severe Dementia: An Exploratory Case Study, Nicolas A. Espinoza

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The severe stage of dementia (SSD) can cause the loss of self-awareness, affecting the proper assessment, treatment, and care. The Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness of Disorders of Consciousness (MATADOC) is a validated and reliable tool to measure awareness in DOC populations and it might be able to track awareness levels in people with SSD. Also, there is a need to identify effective treatments with people with SSD since pharmacological treatments have shown limited and even negative results. Both live music therapy and music listening of recorded songs have evidence of positive effects.

Purpose: The purpose of this …

Exposure, Knowledge, And Experience Of Graduate Students In Communication Disorders On Treating Speech/Language Issues In Adults With Neurological Disorders Using Singing-Based Therapy, Tassie Lee Murphree

Student Theses and Dissertations

There are speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who use singing while in therapy to treat a variety of disorders for adults with neurological disorders. This study was conducted to investigate graduate student exposure to, knowledge of, and experience with utilizing singing in therapy with this population. Specifically, this survey was distributed to first- and second-year graduate students in communication disorders. The survey consisted of both general and specific questions to more effectively analyze the students’ familiarity levels with the topic, overall. The results indicated that the majority of students demonstrated limited knowledge of and exposure to singing in therapy. The students’ comfort …

Willowcreek Middle School Alternative Program: Successfully Working Through Trauma, Debra B. Ekdahl 6061

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Willowcreek Middle School in Portage Indiana is not your typical alternative school. We offer trauma informed practices in place of student expulsions. A safe structured environment, reduced class time, academic strategies, mindfulness, yoga, and community service, all help to provide the educational and social/emotional support necessary to help students at risk reach their potential and eventually transition back to the traditional classroom.

Diversity In Music Therapy: A Treatment Model For Lgbtq+ Affirming Care, Elaine O. Slusser

Undergraduate Arts and Research Showcase

The aim of this paper was to synthesize available literature and research on music therapy services with LGBTQ+ individuals to propose a treatment model for LGBTQ+ affirming care. According to data collected by the Williams Institute in 2018, 4.5% of Americans identified as LGBTQ+, and the report reaffirmed the professional responsibility of music therapy professionals and students to provide ethically sound and identity-affirming services to this population (The Williams Institute UCLA School of Law, 2018). Further, the data supported the claim that providing quality services to this population was not a specialty concern and carried professional and educational considerations. As …

The Observed Effects Of Recreation Jamstix™ Use On Mood: A Pilot Study, Destiny Henn

Augsburg Honors Review

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the changes in mood before and after a one time improvisation with a Jamstik™ in order to understand if and how the experience will produce a statistically significant method for quantitatively addressing mood in music therapy. Participants (N: 15) were a convenience sample of male and female college students. Using the Quick Mood Scale (Woodruffe-Peacock, Turnbull, Johnson, Elahi, & Preston, 1998), this research compared pre- and post-test measures in participants' moods after a 15 minute improvisation session with the Jamstik™ while the researcher accompanied on a drum. Results indicated immediate and …

Musical Activities Between Father And Toddler In Local Music Centre In Klang Valley, Yee Farn Kang

Student Works (2020-2029)

Historically, different forms of musical activities, including singing, was one of the earliest ways of parents to bond with their children. Lullaby or other forms of singing has been used for ages to encourage or teach children necessary skills required in future. As recent studies signify, the effects of the music education from the early ages can have very positive effects on the children. Meanwhile, by growing the popularity of musical early childhood programs the number of researches on outcome of these classes are increasing. However, there are not many researches in which the focus specifically aim the effects of …

A Systematic Review Of Scientific Studies On The Effects Of Music In People With Or At-Risk For Eating Disorders, Francesca Testa, Sarah Arunachalam, Annie Heiderscheit, Hubertus Himmerich

Faculty Authored Articles

Background:The prevalence of the three main eating disorders (EDs) anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) is increasing, and a growing number of patients with EDs is seeking professional help. Thus, there is a need for additional treatment strategies in EDs. The aim of this review was to summarize the literature on the benefits and risks of music as well as the evidence for its therapeutic application in people with EDs.

Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic literature review on scientific studies on the effect of music in people with or at risk …

Interprofessional Research In Guided Imagery And Music: Working Collaboratively, Alison E. Short, Annie Heiderscheit

Faculty Authored Articles

Interprofessional collaborative research has been gaining momentum as a leading research practice. The challenges posed by the complex nature of the world and healthcare require new and different solutions. These require the diverse skill and collective work of multiple disciplines. As a result, funding agencies are giving priority to interprofessional collaborative research rather than single discipline research. This article focuses on one method of music therapy practice: The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), where practitioners typically work alone. It reviews interprofessional collaboration in current GIM research literature and explores how GIM can benefit from this type of …

Bridging The Music Education Gap: Designing A Curriculum For Students With Autism To Be Taught By Pre-Service Teachers, Josie Schultz

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This paper contains 20 music lessons written and designed for the elementary students enrolled in the Kelly Autism Program at Western Kentucky University. The Kelly Autism Program serves local students diagnosed with autism and offering educational support and after school services. The program in previous years had music classes however, because the staff had no formal training in music, these lessons were forgotten about when staff members resigned, and new staff were hired. These lessons were also limited in content, the lessons in this thesis have been designed to be taught by teachers with little musical training. Each lesson has …

Resting-State Connectivity Of Auditory And Reward Systems In Alzheimer’S Disease And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Diana Wang, Alexander Belden, Suzanne B. Hanser, Maiya R. Geddes, Psyche Loui

Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Music Therapy In Geriatrics, Suzanne B. Hanser, Amy Clements-Cortés, Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, Concetta Maria Tomaino

Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Modern Science And Ancient Wisdom: Tools For The 21st-Century Musician, Seth Quay

Piano Pedagogy: Masters Research Projects

Throughout human history, music has served as a powerful tool for healing, often associated with cultural ceremony, ritual and meditation. The emergence of the Music Therapy profession in the 20th century continues to utilize the medicinal effects of music as an aid in treating psychological and physical ailments. Advanced research methods now allow us to study the brain and nervous system alongside the acoustics of music to discover principles for meaningfully applying music as therapy. How can musicians apply these principles, through practice, performance, programming, and teaching, to reach larger audiences - reaching more than the typical single-person audience of …

The Role Of Verbal Skills In Analytical Music Therapy, The Bonny Method Of Guided Imagery And Music, And Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, Elizabeth Ingram

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of verbal skills as an intervention in music therapy practice in three models of music therapy: (a) analytical music therapy (AMT), (b) the Bonny method of guided imagery and music (BMGIM), and (c) Nordoff-Robbins music therapy (NRMT). Data were collected from three interviews that included each professional’s use of verbal skills in their respective model of music therapy. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: (1) definitions of verbal intervention/verbal skills, (2) population dependent, (3) use of lyrics, (4) music as therapy vs music in therapy, (5) musical-verbal …

A Culturally Situated Perspective Of Music Therapy In Hungary, Sylvia E. Foldes-Berman

Theses & Dissertations

Little to no research has been done on the history, development and current practice of a specific country’s approach to music therapy. This study examines the development of music therapy in Hungary with regards to cultural influences, which the researcher has a unique understanding of as a first-generation Hungarian-American. Three Hungarian music therapists were invited to participate in qualitative interviews in Hungarian. After transcribing and translating the interviews, the data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis in order to locate themes, patterns and viewpoints. Five themes and one sub-theme emerged. These themes included: a) process of becoming a music therapist, …

From Student To Practitioner: Formal Music Education’S Influence On The Practitioner’S Informed Music Therapy Practice, Daniel M. Salaway

Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to understand further the relationship between the music therapist’s personal experience in formal music education and their music therapy practice. Key questions asked by the researcher included how music therapists describe, view, and conceptualize their own experiences of formal music education through the lens of music therapy practice. Data collection included semi-structured interviews from three practicing music therapists. The themes revealed within the data were organized into areas of intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences. Results of this study included themes of self-realization during music learning, identifying musical identities during early formal music education, personal uses of music, gratefulness …

Training Music Therapists And Music Therapy Students To Provide Trauma-Informed Care: Training Development And Pilot Feasibility Study, Mckenna B. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Adverse childhood experiences are considered a serious public health problem and can lead to complex trauma. Due to the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in the general population, it is likely music therapists frequently treat clients who have experienced trauma; however, there appears to be no published research on music therapy training and education regarding validated trauma-informed approaches. This study examined the impact of a three-hour educational training on music therapists’ knowledge of trauma-informed care and perceptions of preparedness to practice trauma-informed music therapy. Seven training attendees chose to participate and completed a pre-test and post-test covering demographic information, knowledge, …