Music Therapy Commons^™

Clinical Efficacy Of Music Therapy In Addiction Counseling: A Systematic Review, Marissa Renee Rinehart

Masters Theses

A previous systematic review study by Mays, Clark, and Gordon in 2008 reviewed music therapy research to look into the clinical efficacy of music therapy and addiction counseling. Their research concluded that the present literature contained few articles that had quantitative evidence and the music therapy that was presented was not an independent therapy for treatment for patients with substance abuse. This systematic review sought to research literature within the past six years that studied the effects of music therapy on clients who were dealing with substance abuse to review the progress of music therapy research since the 2008 article …

The Role Of Songs In Music Therapy With Adults Who Have Developmental Disabilities, Gregory Razzano

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to conduct a holistic investigation into the role of songs in music therapy in the lives of adults who have developmental disabilities. Four music therapists with experience with this population participated in open-ended interviews about the role of songs with their clients. McFerran and Grocke’s (2007) method of qualitative interview analysis was used to find the individual and collective essences of the participants’ experiences. Four global themes were associated with the role of songs in relation to clients: developing familiarity and attachment; receiving safety and stability; bringing out the able, engaged individual; and …

The Role Of Personal Therapy For Music Therapists: A Survey, Carla D. Chikhani

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes toward and prevalence of use of personal therapy among music therapists. An online survey was conducted with a sample of 132 music therapists working per diem, part-time, and full-time in the Unites States. A total of 130 surveys were analyzed using quantitative methods. The study examined the prevalence of use of personal therapy among music therapists, the ways music therapists seek to increase their personal development, the reasons and importance of receiving personal therapy, and the benefits of receiving personal therapy. Prevalence of use of non-music personal therapy was 33.6%, …

Exploring The Implications Of Resource-Oriented Music Therapy For Medical Practice, Jacqueline M. Christen

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the implications of resource-oriented music therapy (RoMT) in medical practice. This approach has been applied to other populations in music therapy practice, but remains under-researched in the medical environment. Three participants, each of whom works in the medical setting, were interviewed. A descriptive analysis was used to identify particular themes that emerged from the interview process. These themes were then related to each component of the RoMT approach. The results showed that despite not having a comprehensive understanding of the RoMT approach, each of the participants practiced in ways that supported the …

Lyric Analysis: A Resource For Acute Psychiatric Music Therapists, Sok Hwee Tay

Music Therapy Theses

As a music therapist working in a psychiatric setting, I have the privilege of working with individuals of varying psychiatric diagnoses. There is never a dull moment and I am constantly learning about myself through my work and through the individuals that I work with.

Lyric analysis and song writing are two techniques that I frequently employ in my sessions. In order to find songs that fit the requirement of the objectives that my individuals are working on, it requires me to spend time researching the song lyrics as well as the musical components of the song. This process is …

Use Of The Iso Principle As A Central Method In Mood Management: A Music Psychotherapy Clinical Case Study, Annie Heiderscheit, Amy Madson

Faculty Authored Articles

The iso principle originated in 1948, as a concept and method of intervention in the context of mood management (Altshulter, 1948). Since then, the use of the iso principle has expanded to a variety of areas within music therapy (Smeijesters, 1995; Crowe, 2004; Michel & Pinson, 2005; Wigram, Pedersen, Bonde, 2002). This article traces the use of the iso principle as a means for mood management from its origins through contemporary clinical uses. It then poses a method of mood management utilizing the iso principle as a central concept and reviews its implementation and efficacy through the presentation of a …

Aesthetic Foundations Of Music Therapy: Music And Emotion, James Hiller

Department of Music Faculty Publications

The subject of aesthetic experience as it relates to music embodies a vast and fascinating territory of philosophical thought. Ancient philosophers to modern musicologists have engaged in scholarly debate over the topic from many perspectives (Davies, 2010; Kivy, 1989). Not surprisingly, a similar intrigue surrounds questions regarding the clinical value of aesthetic aspects of music and of music making for health, healing, and human development (Aigen, 1995, 2007).

Numerous links between aesthetic experience and therapeutic processes are found in the music therapy literature. In fact, volumes could be filled with theories and philosophical arguments for and against the meaning and/or …

#Wfmt30rocks: 30 Years And Growing Strong, Amy Clements-Cortés

Music Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

30 Amazing Years Of The Wfmt, Amy Clements-Cortés

Music Faculty Publications

In this issue of Music Therapy Today, I have chosen to write about the history and contributions the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) has made to grow the global awareness of music therapy as an art and science. This paper will provide readers with a brief history of the WFMT by highlighting its purpose, organization and important events from the past 30 years. Further information on projects undertaken by WFMT officers from 2011 forward will also be highlighted.

Advancing The World Federation Of Music Therapy: Strategic Planning Process, Annie Heiderscheit,, Petra Kern, Amy Clements-Cortés, Anita L. Gadberry, Jeanette Milford, Jen Spivey

Music Faculty Publications

The World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) is a nonprofit organization committed to its mission of developing and promoting music therapy throughout the world as an art and science. Since the organization’s inception in 1985, there have been significant changes in the world and many positive developments within the organization. These are reviewed providing a rationale for the initiation of this executive work. Methods utilized to complete the strategic planning process are outlined, along with the challenges and discoveries encountered throughout. outcomes of the strategic planning process are also highlighted.

Using Music And Applied Behaviour Analysis To Introduce An Adaptive Mobility Device To A Student With Multiple Disabilities: A Case Study, Vicki Depountis, L. Kathleen Sheriff

Faculty Publications

Introducing an adapted mobility device (AMD) to a child with multiple disabilities can be especially challenging. In this descriptive case study, an AMD is introduced to a six year old boy with congenital blindness, speech impairment, and an intellectual disability. Observational data were collected via A-B-C documentation resulting in a strategic intervention design plan to improve grasping and independent travelling skills. Over the course of 16 weeks, data indicated that Joey (pseudonym) met his IEP goal of holding his AMD consistently for 50 feet. Music treatment was applied as a positive reinforcer to change Joey’s behaviours.

Does Music Affect Behavior In The Special Education Classroom?, Randall L. Crum

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

It is general knowledge that music affects our emotions; slow rhythmic music can make us sad and fact upbeat music can make us happy. Music is everywhere and it is a powerful outlet for people’s emotions. Music in the classroom can have many effects on students. It may relax them, motivate them, or even sooth them, helping to reduce frustration levels. Music enhances learning in the classroom and it has long been used to help memory skills in students such as learning the alphabet through song. Music helps stimulate creativity and reflection, and it also provides a welcoming entrance into …

The Effect Of Low-Frequency Sound Stimulation On Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Clinical Study, Lili Naghdi, Heidi Ahonen, Pasqualino Macario, Lee Bartel

Music Faculty Publications

Background: The search for effective treatments for fibromyalgia (FM) has continued for years. The present study premises that thalamocortical dysrhythmia is implicated in fibromyalgia and that low-frequency sound stimulation (LFSS) can play a regulatory function by driving neural rhythmic oscillatory activity.

Objective: To assess the effect of LFSS on FM.

Method: The present open-label study with no control group used a repeated-measures design with no noncompleters. Nineteen female volunteers (median age 51 years; median duration of FM 5.76 years) were administered 10 treatments (twice per week for five weeks). Treatments involved 23 min of LFSS at 40 Hz, delivered using …

International Perspectives In Music Therapy Education And Training: Adapting To A Changing World, Amy Clements-Cortés

Music Faculty Publications

“International perspectives in music therapy education and training: Adapting to a changing world”, is the follow-up text to the widely acclaimed Goodman, 2011 book titled: Music therapy education and training: From theory to practice. This new volume edited by Professor Karen Goodman; music therapy professor at Montclair State University, senior educator and clinician, as well as a widely published author and international lecturer, offers the academic community a current and comprehensive text that includes the perspectives on music therapy training and education from distinguished authors representing the global regions served by the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT).

Contributing To Quality Of Life By Facilitating Music-Based Social Interaction For Adults With Intellectual Disability, Julie Lynn Andring

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed method investigation was to discern whether participation in a task-specific music therapy group contributed to quality of life for adults with intellectual disabilities. Engaging in social interaction had previously been shown to benefit physical and emotional health (Duvdevany, 2008) while lack of social connection had produced detrimental effects, most often loneliness and depression (de Belvis et al., 2008). Two research questions were posited: 1) Does the level of social interaction increase when individuals participate in a group activity as compared to unstructured leisure time? 2) Does active participation in the group activity contribute to the …

The Effect Of Music Listening On Relaxation Level And Volume Of Breast Milk Pumped By Mothers Of Infants In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Amber A. Colliver

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Breast milk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition, but many factors can hinder milk production. Mothers of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are especially prone to stress, which can inhibit volume of breast milk. The purpose of this study was to determine if music listening had an effect on the volume of breast milk pumped and relaxation level of mothers of infants in a NICU.

A total of 28 participants, who were mothers of infants in the NICU, were included in the data analysis of this study, with 14 in the control group and 14 …

A Survey Of Current Music Therapy Practices Addressing Motor Goals In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Matthew Proffitt

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Motor deficits in children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have started to become recognized as an area of concern. The purpose of this study was to examine practices of board-certified music therapists who address motor goals of children with ASD. A total of 168 current board certified music therapists completed an 18-item online survey regarding music therapy practices with children who have ASD, particularly the frequency with which they address motor goals and specific goals and interventions. Respondents reported addressing motor goals with children who have ASD more frequently than suggested by previous research. Motor goals most …

The Effects Of Music Therapy And Its Impact On Sound Levels In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sarah L. Timmons

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Sound levels in the neonatal intensive care unit often exceed the recommended level of 45 dBA. Various sounds contribute to the extraneous noise that envelops this fragile environment. Increase in noise and high levels of sound can be detrimental to the health of premature infants, which can cause both short and long-term developmental delays and negative physiologic responses. Music therapy interventions in the NICU have addressed numerous needs of this population, with a positive effect on development, physiologic responses, and hospital stay. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of music therapy on decreasing the sound levels …

The Effect Of Music Therapy Interaction On Child And Parental Preoperative Anxiety In Parents Of Children Undergoing Day Surgery, Christopher R. Millett

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Young children who experience high levels preoperative anxiety often exhibit distress behaviors, experience more surgical complications, and are at a higher risk for developing a variety of negative postoperative consequences. A significant factor in pediatric preoperative anxiety is the level of anxiety present in their caregivers. Music therapy interventions addressing a variety of procedural outcomes have been met with success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the comparative effectiveness of two music therapy interventions on reducing preoperative anxiety in young pediatric surgical patients and their caregivers.

A total of 40 pediatric patient and caregiver dyads were included in …

Interdisciplinary Collaboration With Music Therapy During Routine Pediatric Dental Procedures, Austin S. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The incorporation of integrative medicine into traditional treatment options has steadily increased during the past two decades. This has resulted in a change in the dynamics of interdisciplinary teams creating the need to better understand the roles and responsibilities of team members. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of dental treatment team members regarding the role and responsibilities of music therapy during treatment.

A total of 10 participants were included in this study. Participants completed a pre-music therapy survey to establish prior knowledge, experience with, and perceptions of music therapy. Following an experiential intervention, participants completed …

Music Therapy Students’ Experiences During Pre-Internship Training And The Music Therapy Internship: A Collective Case Study Using Semi-Structured Interviews, Christopher Marvin Nix

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music therapy students engage in a variety of academic and clinical opportunities within their music therapy education. There are options for students who want to gain the basic training for certification in music therapy, either bachelor’s, or equivalency for students with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Previous research has been used to analyze the experiences of students and educators throughout education, with no research focusing specifically on the master’s equivalency population. Within this study, semi-structured interviews were used to gain qualitative data analyzing music therapy students’ perceptions of academic and internship curricula and their effects on the transition …