Music Therapy Commons^™

Assisting Elders With Dementia In Residential Settings Through Music Therapy: A Literature Review, Benjamin Burke

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Dementia is one of the most prevalent diagnoses for elders causing strain and debilitation of their social, mental, physical, emotional, behavioral and psychological faculties. Due to the nature of this condition, treatments for dementia have been structured to aid and improve the well-being and quality of life for those afflicted. Some of the goals that assisted-living services establish include reducing anxiety, increasing levels of comfort, improving mood, memory care and bettering verbal processing. Music therapy has been an intervention that assists with establishing these goals and implementing strategies resulting in short-term and long-term effects for those receiving treatment for dementia. …

Effects Of Therapeutic Music On Improving Depressive Symptoms Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents, Yi Jin

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Depression is a common mental disorder that can contribute to both physical and psychological suffering (Skinner, 2014). The prevalence rate of depression is especially high among long-term care facility residents (CounsultGeri, 2018; Lolk & Andersen, 2015). The purpose of this EBP project was to establish a protocol incorporating therapeutic music as an adjunct therapy for managing depressive symptoms among residents of a long-term care facility in the Midwest. Roy adaptation model (Roy, 2009) was utilized as the theoretical framework, and the model for evidence-based practice change (Rosswurm & Larrabee, 2009) guided the project implementation. A total of 13 subjects were …

A Study Of Music: Music Psychology, Music Therapy, And Worship Music, Jessica Whittemore

Senior Honors Theses

There are three specific fields related to music: the psychology of Music and how it affects human brain and functions, the methodology of Music Therapy and how it affects individuals undergoing treatment, and the psychological effects of Worship Music and how it can be used in music therapy. Music therapy is a growing field in which the therapeutic outcomes greatly benefit the patients. The overall purpose is to create a greater understanding of music and music therapy in order to a provide a system for introducing group worship services into music therapy to ultimately bring spiritual healing to individuals.

Language Of Music And Its Psychophysical Foundations, Marina Korsakova-Kreyn

Lander College for Women - The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School Publications and Research

Application of music in rehabilitation medicine requires an understanding of the mechanisms of music perception. This article discusses differences in character of the basic melodic elements and addresses some of the specifics of tonal space. Colloquially, music is called the language of emotion. Bearing in mind that high-level cognitive functioning in humans is inseparable from affective consciousness, investigating the mechanisms of emotional processing belongs to an important area of cognitive sciences. Studying music perception can help to advance methods of music therapy and to elucidate major aspects of human consciousness.

Using Music Therapy As An Adjunct To Pharmacologic Therapies For Chronic Pain, Andrea L. Rosenberg

Theses and Graduate Projects

Chronic pain affects more than 1 in 4 individuals in the United States. Many patients are being prescribed opioids to manage this pain, leading to an immense problem involving addiction, overdoses, and preventable deaths. Music therapy has been shown to provide “music analgesia,” improving anxiety, depression, and mobility problems associated with chronic pain conditions. The most benefit was seen when the music was known to the patient, the patient had a role in choosing the music, and when the music had a beat of less than 120 beats per minute. These promising results include a wide variety of chronic pain …

The Experience Of Music Therapy During The Weaning Process Of Patients Receiving Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, Stephanie M. Morris

Theses and Graduate Projects

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a medical intervention used to assist the respiratory function of someone who is medically compromised. Patients need to wean from the ventilator in order to resume breathing on their own. A spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is used to determine one’s readiness to be liberated from the ventilator. Music therapy is the use of music interventions, facilitated by a board-certified music therapist, to address patient-specific goals within a therapeutic relationship. Music therapists working in an intensive care unit (ICU) may focus their clinical work to address the stressors, fears, and medical complications associated with vent weaning. The …

A Kentucky Pioneer In Music Therapy: An Oral History On The Life And Career Of Lorinda Jones, Emma Powers

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Lorinda Jones, MT-BC, is the longest practicing music therapist in Kentucky. She began her work as a music therapist in 1995 and built a private practice, which expanded over the course of the next 20 years to include services in 16 counties. Ms. Jones’ perspective on the growth of music therapy, both within the state and nationwide, as well as her extensive knowledge of Appalachian folk music, makes her an invaluable resource to Kentucky music therapists. The purpose of this study was to present a historical account of the life and career of Lorinda Jones, to gain her perspective on …

The Roles Of Absorption In Music Therapy, Michael John Russo

Theses & Dissertations

Absorption refers to the phenomenon of total attentional engagement. The purpose of the current study was to gain a preliminary understanding of the roles that absorption may have in different music therapy approaches. The research questions were: a) How might music therapists know when their clients are in states of absorption?, b) How might absorption influence the ability of music therapy clients to progress towards therapeutic goals?, and c) What is the potential relationship between absorption and music? Three music therapists with self-identified expertise and experience in conceptualizing absorption in music therapy were interviewed about their observations and opinions of …

The Experience Of Songwriting In Music Therapy For Adults With Intellectual Disability, Jasper Lewis

Theses & Dissertations

This research study investigated the lived experience of adults with Intellectual Disability (ID) in a music therapy songwriting session. Three study participants, referred to here as Emma, Anne, and Abdoul, took part in individual songwriting music therapy sessions. The participants each completed an original song in collaboration with a board certified music therapist. The songs were recorded and the lyrics of the song were transcribed. After the songwriting experience was complete a 10-20 minute semi-structured interview was conducted to gather data about the participants’ subjective experiences. This data was analyzed according to the interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Themes were …

The Effects Of Listening To Motivational Music On Performance Of Knee Extension And Flexion In Healthy Adults, Alexander Lesser

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether listening to motivational music prior to performing leg extensions and flexions effected peak torque performance. Participants included 23 adults between the ages 18 and 48 years. Participants engaged in three sets of leg extensions and flexions utilizing a Cybex Humac NORM system following a warm-up period consisting of listening to either researcher-selected music, self-selected music, and in silence. Two one-way ANOVAs comparing participants’ data showed significant results in leg flexions performed following warm-up while listening to self-selected music. Significant results were not achieved for leg extensions yet a similar trend was …

The Effect Of Patterned Sensory Enhancement On Balance And Ambulation In Persons Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease, Brittany Barko

Masters Theses

One rehabilitation protocol effective in delaying the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is Lee Silverman Voice Training BIG (LSVT BIG), comprising pre-gait exercises and gait training. This study seeks to determine if combining Patterned Sensory Enhancement (PSE), a music therapy intervention, with LSVT BIG will improve quality of movement. During physical therapy sessions with three participants, a music therapist adapted the PSE stimuli to support each patient’s motor needs, which were then recorded on CD and sent with patients to exercise with at home. Results showed improved balance and ambulation comparing pre- and post- measures of the BERG balance scale …

Rebecca Center For Music Therapy Newsletter: Volume 5 Issue 1, John Carpente Ph.D., Mt-Bc, Lcat, Suzanne Sorel D.A., M.T.-B.C., L.C.A.T, Jill Mulholland Ms, Mt-Bc, Lcat, Diana N. Abourafeh Mt-Bc, Michael Kelliher Mt-Bc, Mike Munoz Mt-Bc, Rickey Moroney Ms, Stephanie Cestaro, Audra Cerruto Ph.D.

The Rebecca Center for Music Therapy Newsletter

Dr. John Carpente, Director of the Rebecca Center and associate professor of the music department at Molloy College has the pleasure of traveling across the globe to share his knowledge and expertise on an assessment tool that he pioneered entitled, Individual Music- Centered Assessment Profile for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (IMCAP-ND). He has been invited to offer his trainings both domestically and internationally at various universities. Trainings have been offered across the

Are We Doing More Than We Know? Possible Mechanisms Of Response To Music Therapy, Amy Clements-Cortés, Lee Bartel

Music Faculty Publications

Due to advances in medical knowledge the population of older adults struggling with issues of aging like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and stroke is growing. There is a need for therapeutic interventions to provide adaptive strategies to sustain quality of life, decrease neurologic impairment, and maintain or slow cognitive decline and function due to degenerative neurologic diseases. Musical interventions with adults with cognitive impairments have received increased attention over the past few years, such as the value of personalized music listening in the iPod project for AD; music as a tool to decrease agitation and anxiety in dementia; …

Economic Evaluation Of A Patient-Directed Music Intervention For Icu Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilatory Support, Linda L. Chlan, Annie Heiderscheit, Debra J. Skaar, Marjorie V. Neidecker

Faculty Authored Articles

Objectives: Music intervention has been shown to reduce anxiety and sedative exposure among mechanically ventilated patients. Whether music intervention reduces ICU costs is not known. The aim of this study was to examine ICU costs for patients receiving a patient-directed music intervention compared with patients who received usual ICU care.

Design: A cost-effectiveness analysis from the hospital perspective was conducted to determine if patient-directed music intervention was cost-effective in improving patient-reported anxiety. Cost savings were also evaluated. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses determined the influence of input variation on the cost-effectiveness.

Setting: Midwestern ICUs.

Patients: Adult ICU patients from a …

Introduction To Healthrhythms® Group Empowerment Drumming, Annie Heiderscheit, Alyssa Janney

Faculty Authored Articles

HealthRHYTHMS® is an evidence-based group empowerment drumming program that builds and fosters socialization, connection, camaraderie, respect, communication and personal expression.

Music Therapy With Premature Infants And Their Parents In The Nicu Setting, Samantha Martin

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Music therapy research with premature (or pre-term) infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting began over 25 years ago, and has expanded to include music therapy with premature infants, music therapy with parents of premature infants, and music therapy with both premature infants and parents combined. This literature review demonstrates the importance of continued research in this field to improve physiological, psychological, social, and behavioral health outcomes for premature infants and their parents. Current music therapy research has established the success of certain music therapy interventions, such as the Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL), Rhythm, Breath, Lullaby (RBL), Auditive …

A Survey Of Music Therapists Working In Acute Care, Adult Psychiatric Facilities In The United States: Theoretical Orientations And Practices, Jon Reichert

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the theoretical orientations and practices of music therapists working in acute care, adult psychiatric facilities (ACAPF) across the US. The study utilized quantitative research strategies, employing an online, questionnaire-based survey. Responses were analyzed to determine the music therapists’ primary theoretical orientations, whether there were significant differences among the orientations with respect to demographics, working environments, and approaches/methods, as well as whether there were geographic concentrations of theoretical orientations. Most respondents identified as having a behavioral/cognitive behavioral, humanistic/existential, or psychodynamic theoretical orientation. The survey results indicated statistically significant differences among the three orientations …

A Survey Of Perceptions And Professional Boundaries Between Music Therapy And Speech-Language Pathology, Jennifer Rose Fromius

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between music therapists and speech-language pathologists in order to gain a better understanding of professional boundaries within each profession, frequency of co-treatment between the two professions, and perceptions of referral in clinical practice. Data for this research were collected through two online questionnaires with parallel sets of questions, which were distributed to a sample of boardcertified music therapists (MT-BC) and speech-language pathologists (CCC-SLP). Quantitative and qualitative data collected from the survey (N= 283; n = 45 MT-BC, n = 238 CCC-SLP) are analyzed to determine if there are correlations and …

Effect Of Social Feedback On Emotions And Preferences In Music, Megan Dillon

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research project was to investigate whether social feedback had an effect on individuals’ emotional ratings of and preferences in music. The current study recruited 173 participants and was based on a study by Egermann, Grewe, Kopiez, and Altenmüller (2009a) that surveyed individuals on their reactions to music when presented with falsified social feedback. The research hypothesis was that participants who were exposed to manipulated social feedback would report emotional ratings and preferences more closely aligned with the social feedback than when not exposed to the feedback. Results showed significant differences in participants’ reported ratings of music …

Music Heals: Therapeutic Music To Reduce Pain And Anxiety In Adult Icu Patients, Kathleen Sowada

Nursing Posters

To decrease pain and anxiety in adult intensive care unit patients through the use of therapeutic music as compared to no music intervention.

Understanding The Needs Of Transgender Young Adults Dually Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Depression, Elizabeth Whalen

All Zyzzogeton Presentations

This study investigates the mental health treatment experiences of one transgender young adult and one genderqueer young adult who are dually diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and depression. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with these young adults and two of their parents. Interview questions centered around participants’ mental health treatment needs and experiences. The researcher conducted a phenomenological analysis of the data that yielded individual meaning units and global meaning units. The analysis found that individuals in this population experience low self-esteem, social difficulties, and a lack of appropriate mental health services.

An Analysis Of Music Therapy On Improving Social And Communication Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Steven Koehler

Theses and Graduate Projects

Autism, a diagnosis that has skyrocketed and is worrisome to parents, teachers, clinicians and researchers. Over the past four decades, the rate of children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder has grown 10 times and is the fastest growing disability in the US.1,2 Currently, 1 in 68 births are affected by Autism.1 Due to the high prevalence of this disability, researchers are searching for ways to treat the symptoms of this incurable disorder. Music therapy is gaining popularity as an intervention strategy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).3 This paper will analyze the benefits music therapy has on the improvement …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Music Therapy On Pain And Anxiety Levels In Pediatric Burn Patients, Maria Cook

Theses and Graduate Projects

Burn injuries resulting in tissue damage are considered one of the most severe traumas that can be experienced. Pain and anxiety continue to be major problems for patients with burn injuries during all stages of the treatment. Proper pain management is essential during recovery because it reduces the chance of developing malnutrition and promotes a stronger immune system. A number of studies have explored the effects of music on pain levels before, during, and after medical procedures for burn patients. Few studies have examined the effects of music therapy in the population of pediatric burn patients. Many studies have shown …

Music-Based Therapeutic Interventions For People With Dementia: A Mini-Review, Annemieke Vink, Suzanne Hanser

Faculty Works

The growing population of people with dementia worldwide calls attention to the burdens associated with age-related decline that affects physiology, psychological and cognitive status, and social/emotional wellbeing. The current standards in geriatric care recommend non-pharmacological approaches to these challenges, including safe approaches to managing pain and stress, enhancing symptom relief, and fostering independent lifestyles with the highest quality of life possible. The purpose of this article is to provide definitions of music-based interventions, music therapy applications and clinician qualifications, as well as an umbrella mini-review of meta-analyses regarding music-based interventions for individuals with dementia. Our findings indicate that most descriptions …

The Effect Of Thematic Improvisation And Lyric Analysis On Classroom Performance In An Adolescent With A Behavioral/Emotional Disorder, Brandon K. Madsen

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The prevalence of adolescents with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) is growing by the year, and schools and diagnostic clinicians are having difficulty agreeing on the definition of the terms and diagnoses that fit into the EBD category. As these discrepancies in definitions and requirements can trickle down and affect treatment, it is important to find lasting, effective treatment that can help reduce disruptive behaviors that are often present for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. This study highlighted two music therapy interventions that are designed to focus on emotional identification, goal setting and the therapeutic relationship. The …

Music Therapists’ Experiences With Clients With Autism Spectrum Disorder Who Use Augmentative And Alternative Communication, Sara Elizabeth Finnie

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music therapists frequently work with clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The purpose of this study was to gather information on music therapists’ current experiences with AAC training as well as music therapists’ perceptions of their own communication abilities when communicating with clients who have ASD using their preferred AAC system. The researcher invited 7,279 board-certified music therapists to participate in this study via email, of which 366 completed the survey. Participants reported most often providing services to children and adolescents with ASD, and frequently using electronic AAC and electronic apps with their …

The Role Of Entrainment On An Older Adult’S Stress And Anxiety: A Mixed Methods Study, Francesca Brennan

Theses & Dissertations

Elderly individuals diagnosed with dementia seem to exhibit similar characteristics; anxiety, depression, isolation, pain, and accumulated stress. it is the desire of this researcher to investigate the role of entrainment on an elderly individuals stress and anxiety. The researcher conducts a mixed method study that evaluates quantitative measures such as heart rate and blood pressure, and qualitative measures through interviews. Overall, the findings lead the researcher to believe that entrainment in music therapy can affect an elderly individuals stress and anxiety in a positive way.

Clinical Intuition In Improvisational Music Therapy: A Phenomenological Study Of The Relationship Between Intuition And Music, Nick Farr

Theses & Dissertations

Intuition is a crucial facet of the creative process and influences the clinical pathways of music therapy treatment. This study sought to explore how music therapists with advanced training in clinical improvisation draw upon intuition while improvising with their clients. There is very little literature about intuition in music therapy improvisation, none of which specifically explores how intuition manifests musically. Through a phenomenological investigation, the lived experiences and musical processes of two clinical improvisers were examined. The research questions for this study were: How does intuition manifest musically while improvising? When is this intuitive information used? How is the informed …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into An Autistic Adolescent's Experience In Relationship-Based Music Therapy From The Perspectives Of The Adolescent And Parent, Diana N. Abourafeh

Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the essence of relationship-based music therapy through the lens of an autistic adolescent and their parent. Though previous research examines this phenomenon through a parent’s perspective (Corcoran et al., 2015; Thompson & McFerran, 2015; Sorel, 2010, 2004; Warren & Nugent, 2010), the present study supports the neurodiversity paradigm shift through providing opportunities for an autistic participant to speak on his experience. The data sources included two interviews, adolescent and parent, as well as indexes of the music therapy session. A thematic analysis was conducted through collecting and analyzing all data sets. Themes were developed and musical descriptions …

Decreasing Delirium Through Music (Ddm) In Critically Ill, Mechanically Ventilated Patients In The Intensive Care Unit: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Annie Heiderscheit, Sikandar H. Khan, Sophia Wang, Amanda Harrawood, Stephanie Martinez, Linda Chlan, Anthony J. Perkins, Wanzhu Tu, Malaz Boustani, Babar Khan

Faculty Authored Articles

Background

Delirium is a highly prevalent and morbid syndrome in intensive care units (ICUs). Changing the stressful environment within the ICU via music may be an effective and a scalable way to reduce the burden of delirium.

Methods/design

The Decreasing Delirium through Music (DDM) study is a three-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled feasibility trial.

Sixty patients admitted to the ICU with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation will be randomized to one of three arms (20 participants per arm): (1) personalized music, (2) non-personalized relaxing music, or (3) attention-control. Music preferences will be obtained from all enrolled participants or their family caregivers. …