Music Therapy | Methods
What interventions do music therapists use?
To serve an ever-increasing variety of populations, music therapists draw from an extensive array of creative treatments, including all of the following:
- chanting, singing, and toning combinations
- composing original songs
- engaging in a relaxation exercises with background music
- envisioning imagery
- feeling vibrotactile sensations
- guided imagery / relaxation exercises
- improvising or writing lyrics for original pieces of music
- learning to play the guitar, QChord, or keyboard
- listening to live or recorded music
- moving to music
- participation of family or visitors to share meaningful moments
- playing non-musician-proof instruments
- singing
- toning, vocalizing, and holding vowels
In a hospital setting, a music therapist adapts to the needs of several patients seen in a series of visits, usually on a single floor. Accompanied by a cart equipped with musical instruments, song books, and recorded music, a therapist travels from room to room, conducting sessions varying from 15 to 60 minutes in length.
»MusicWorx Musical Instruments of Therapy
After assessment and brief discussion of a patient's musical preference, intervention begins. A session may consist of only the therapist providing music or of both therapist and patient making music together. This may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- breathing to a rhythm to relax and sedate
- composing songs to express emotion
- learning to play the keyboard to improve fine motor skills
- moving to music can restore a natural gait
- using instruments to improvise unspoken emotions
- using melody to recall memories associated to lyrics
- using singing, lyrics discussion, or music and imagery to help a patient reach goals
Feeling the Healing
Chanting, Singing, and Toning
Envisioning Imagery
Lyric Writing
