Music Therapy Commons^™

Music And Sustainable Development Goals: Telling The Story, Mark Reimer

Journal of Global Awareness

Now, 10 years after the United Nations adopted its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the music profession continues to work toward being a responsible partner in the health and preservation of the planet and its inhabitants. By transcending social barriers, music promotes cultural awareness and mutual understanding, encourages creativity, and enhances emotional well-being, outcomes vital to the global goals of health, freedom, peace, education, equality, prosperity, and environmental sustainability. The article includes various examples of how music performers, educators, composers, and scholars are creating or adopting new practices that are mindful of reducing the carbon footprint, yet financially feasible in their …

Community Engagement In Music Therapy: Reflections From The Field, Jess Rushing, Denise M. Cumberland

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This paper reflects on a music therapy community engagement project that incorporates clinical training, service learning, and community music therapy. Two faculty members and a practicum student in a Midwestern university engaged community members connected to Parkinson’s disease to create a music-based program. We offer a conceptual framework that connects approaches situated within community music therapy (CoMT) qualities and community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles. We share project processes, findings, and recommendations, emphasizing all as equal stakeholders.

Music As Medicine: The Impact Of Music On Pain Reported After Surgery, Anastasia Pike, Gregory T. Chesnut

Journal of Global Awareness

The impact of music on subjective reporting of pain and anxiety has been increasingly described in medical literature. Multimodal methods of alleviating postoperative pain and anxiety, including the use of live or recorded music in perioperative settings, have been shown to improve patient-reported pain levels and, in some studies, to result in decreased opioid usage. The overprescription of opioids after surgery can contribute to long-term abuse or trafficking of medications, and the use of non-opioid medications, alternative methods of pain relief, and environmental/auditory stimuli offer new mechanisms to promote safe opioid prescribing while improving both pain control and patient wellbeing. …

Music Therapy's Application On Developmental Milestones Throughout Childhood And Adolescence, Paige Whisler, Sarah Daughtrey

The Agora

New Mexico State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Music Therapy is a relatively new degree, and awareness of music therapy's definition, applications, and profound impact remains limited for many. Music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based practice that can foster change and improvement for diverse needs and goals across all age groups. In particular, children and adolescents can benefit significantly from music therapy, as it supports developmental milestones crucial to their growth. Treatment plans build upon a clear understanding of milestones for effective interventions and tailor techniques and applications to age-appropriate expectations. Completed in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of …

Music Therapy In The Scope Of Psychology: From Asylums To Contemporary Practice, Rachel A. Mirsen

Psychology from the Margins

This paper explores the historical ties between music therapy and psychology, tracing its evolution from its origins in asylums to contemporary practice. By examining historical records and recent case studies, the dynamic interplay between music therapy, psychological practices, and sociocultural factors is highlighted. The paper compares the use of music therapy in the 20th century, particularly in psychiatric asylums, to its modern-day applications, focusing on two healthcare facilities in New Jersey: Overbrook Hospital and Bancroft NeuroRehab. Through this comparison, it becomes evident that music therapy has gained legitimacy and specialization over time, transitioning from recreational activities to evidence-based, individualized interventions …

Lyrical Stillness, Madhav Patel

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

“Lyrical Stillness” is a poem I wrote during my radiation oncology rotation, during which I was provided the opportunity to learn more about multidisciplinary cancer care while delving deeper into radiotherapy. Cancer can be an overwhelming disease process physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Patients undergoing treatment often experience stress and anxiety with the uncertainty of their prognoses. In this poem, I describe a patient receiving radiation therapy whom I enjoyed speaking to about his favorite hobby: bird watching. During his subsequent radiation treatment sessions, I decided to play a CD of mockingbirds singing in a tropical forest, in the hopes it …

Diversifying Community Connections, Courtney Belt

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

The focus of this reflective commentary is building authentic relationships with a wider variety of community partners toward greater collective impact and equity in community experiential learning. During my time as Clinical Coordinator in the University of Dayton undergraduate music therapy program, we have added 11 new practicum placement sites with one additional starting Spring 2024. The addition of several of these sites stemmed from music therapy faculty discussions about the desire to serve a greater diversity of clientele in our music therapy practicum courses and expand learning opportunities for music therapy students. In this paper, I describe our decision …

Harmonious Healing: A Review Of Music Therapy, A Humanities-Based Approach To Alzheimer’S Disease Treatment, Rohan K. Desai

Kentucky Undergraduate Journal for the Health Humanities

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease often characterized by memory loss, confusion, and overall cognitive decline. The aging global population has, in recent years, highlighted the fundamental lack of pharmacological treatments for individuals facing an AD diagnosis. In response, a growing body of research has shifted focus to non-pharmacological humanities-based interventions. One such intervention has been music therapy (MT). Music-focused measures have shown great promise as a method of slowing cognitive decline, but mixed results in the literature warrant the need for further investigation. Often, socioeconomic barriers can limit an individual’s access to drug-related treatments, but the affordable …

Music And Academics: The Ultimate Mashup?, Emmah Keller

BUHealth

Music surrounds us. It is a significant part of our daily lives. People listen to music in a variety of settings and for multiple reasons. Students often listen to music while studying, in hopes of increasing productivity. Others listen to music as a way to relax before an exam. Yet...is there proof that music is beneficial for academic performance? Research shows that music and academics is a good mashup. Study after study reveals that music has several benefits for students. It reduces anxiety, improves focus and concentration, and enhances cognition. These all result in improved academic performance. So, students who …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of The Mover Program For Treating Attention Deficit In Children (Mover: Movement Opportunities Through Vestibular Engagement Rhythm), Lindsay B. Williams, Camille Skubik-Peplaski

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of participation in a movement- to music program on the attention span of elementary school-aged children who have attention deficits. The hypothesis was that participants would demonstrate improved attention on the Test of Sustained Selective Attention (TOSSA) (Kovacs, 2015).

Methods: This quantitative study involved nine children who participated in four movement-to-music sessions with a staggered stop over a period of six weeks. The study incorporated a single group pre-test/post-test design, and a non-parametric Sign Test was utilized to analyze data from the TOSSA subcategories of concentration, detection, …

Instrument Selection In Geriatric Residential Facilities, Lexi Fowler

Merge

No abstract provided.

Accommodations For Underserved Students In Music Education, William M. Refuss

The Corinthian

This research examines socioeconomic status and its relation to accommodating students with special needs where access to specific technologies and equipment is limited. For students who need costly accommodations where socioeconomic status affects access, other methods of accommodation need to be found. This paper focuses on the specific goals in a music education classroom and how students with disabilities struggle to achieve such goals without accommodations, as well as examining different personnel and technologies in which access is limited when examining the financial impact. Such accommodations include music therapists assigned to the school, inclusion classrooms, modified instruments, and other technologies …

Healing The Mind And Soul With Art And Music, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Gracie Fisher, an artist and composer based in Santa Barbara, California, provided the cover art for the Fall 2020 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “The Fruit of Spirit” is a 16” x 20” oil painting on canvas. When a rare neurologic condition left Gracie paralyzed from the neck down, art and music helped to heal her mind and soul. Upon returning home from the hospital, Gracie’s wish was to create an inclusive environment where children of all abilities could engage in art and music. She founded the Grace Fisher Foundation so others could experience the healing …

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 …

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 …

Finding Harmony In Health For Treating Addiction: Support For Women In Recovery Through Music Therapy, Molly Rea

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Molly Rea is a senior music therapy student at Purdue University who is minoring in psychology and holds an Associate of Science in Liberal Arts degree from Ivy Tech Community College. She has gained clinical experience over the past three years by bringing music therapy to individual, nursing home, hospital, and group rehabilitation settings. She aspires to open and manage an integrative holistic healthcare clinic to address needs of individuals living in disadvantaged communities where mental health resources are scarce. Her passion lies in mental health awareness and she hopes to address conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and suicide …

Healing Through Music Therapy, Hayoung Lim

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article explores the field of music therapy as a healthcare profession to benefit various clinical populations and the way in which music therapy is a whole-person approach to healing for people with cognitive, physical, and social needs.

A Failure Of The Music Industry: The Frustration Of Women Of Color, Christina Estes-Wynne

Backstage Pass

Throughout the history of the music industry, women of color have not received the same recognition as their male counterparts because males have dominated the industry resulting in lack of female representation. Women have been oversexualized reducing their clout in their fields and the lack of acknowledgement of success, which discourages future generations of colored women from attempting to reach their highest potential.

Ticketmaster Verified Fan, Nicole Wasnock

Backstage Pass

No abstract provided.

Alzheimer's Disease And The Impact Of Music Therapy: A Systematic Literature Review, Hayley Guess

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

Although a cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has yet to be discovered, several non-pharmacological treatments can improve patients’ quality of life and provide temporary relief from the disabling symptoms. One of these treatments is music therapy. This systematic literature review evaluates the existing research on the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and music therapy, with a narrowed focus on familiar music therapy, the potential mechanisms of action that explain the efficacy of this intervention, and the resulting nursing implications that may be utilized in practice. A search of the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) database returned …

The Appearance And Effects Of Music Therapy In The Solid Organ Transplant Unit, Tracey J. Elliott

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

Patients admitted to the solid-organ transplant unit face a plethora of physical, emotional, and psychological challenges. Risk of infection, perception of pain, depression, surgery complications, and exhaustion are just a few hardships that a patient may face while hospitalized. Patient need areas thus serve as goal areas for the hospital support staff. While intervention is provided to patients in a variety of forms, music therapy is an effective means of treatment due to its multi-faceted nature; a music therapist can address a variety of goal areas with any given patient. The first section of this paper will briefly outline the …

Eldoret, Kenya: Creating A Music Experience For Street Youth, Michael J. Peters, Ethan C. Wahl

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The authors of this essay completed an advance pharmacy practice experience in adult medicine at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. In this article, they describe their efforts to establish a music experience program with the Tumaini Innovation Center for street children while on rotation in Eldoret, Kenya. Through the foundation of the program, they hope to provide an outlet for the children to express themselves while filling a gap in fine arts training provided by the center.

Relational Power, Music, And Identity: The Emotional Efficacy Of Congregational Song, Nathan Myrick

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

Relational Power, Music, and Identity: The Emotional Efficacy of Congregational Song

The power of congregational song to unify (or divide) people along various lines is well documented. Yet, how this process of uniting or dividing is accomplished has proven necessarily difficult to document. This paper examines the complex and polyvalent factors that contribute to the meaningfulness of congregational music making, seeking to offer a synthetic, conceptual framework with which to engage this often murky milieu.

Employing interdisciplinary research techniques drawn from sociology, ritual studies, and ethnomusicology, I construct a conceptual framework with which to understand the profoundly formative power of …