Music Therapy

Music is a non-verbal form of communication, a universal language. Music removes all barriers. Everyone can feel music. Music therapy is a form of therapy that uses music as the tool for communication, education, transformation and healing.

I have recently been developing an interest in music therapy - discovering the largely unknown joys of communicating with children who have severe disabilities.

Each session, it is actually me who is learning. They are teaching me.I have been astounded by this extraordinary experience. This music therapy course has reached into the core of my being.

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I have been registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association since 2004.

Music Therapy Website: www.austmta.org.au

I work as a music therapist at Ella Community Centre (with groups and individuals) and privately since 2004.

I am in the process of writing music scores of classical arrangements for music therapy, which will be released in 2009.

What is music therapy?

Creative Music Therapy was established by the composer and pianist Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins, an educator, in the 1960s.

Creative music therapy uses improvised, live music to build a relationshipp beetween therapist and client(s) while the client(s) actively participate in, interact and communicate directly through music.

The model based on humanistic approach and an idea that every human being has responsiveness to music.

My favorite description of creative music therapy is:

"...Meet the child musically...
Evoke a musical response...
Develop musical skills,
Express freedom and interresponsiveness."

(Bruscia)

Process

During a creative music therapy session, a therapist establishes a musical relationship with the client. Through music, the therapist helps realise the client's potential, provides an opportunity to communicate and express themselves by making music together or in other words creating a musical improvisation. During a clinical improvisation - a therapist and a client play different instruments freely, without rules. Music therapy includes: playing various arranged music pieces, listening, singing, vocal improvisation, songs writing, movements with music and various musical games.

Clients

Adults and children with moderate to high intellectual and physical disabilities including hearing impaired, Autism, ADHD, Emotional and behavioral problems, and many more.

Music therapy improves:

• physical and intellectual abilities
• interpersonal relationship skills, social and cognitive skills
• social interaction
• self awareness
• self confidence
• self-esteem
• attention
• emotional balance
• mood / behavior
• physical coordination
• fine / gross motor skills
• receptive / expressive language
• immunological response to disease
• quality of life

Music therapy provides:

• life reflection
• social interaction
• non-verbal communication
• spiritual support

Music therapy helps:

• to develop communication and motor skills
• memory recall
• to decrease agitation
• to reduce stress
• grieving process

Activities:

1. Playing instruments improves:
   • Physical skills:
     • gross / fine motor skills
     • coordination
     • balance
     • range of motion
   • Social skills:
     • participation
     • self esteem
     • cooperation
     • listening
     • attention
     • communication
     • interaction
2. Singing improves speech and language skills such as:
   • breath and rhythm control
   • vocalisation
   • verbalisation
   • articulation
   • language expression and reception

It does not matter if clients have musical skills, they can benefit from music therapy regardless their background, age or ability. The sensors in our brain which perceive music always stay active and are not affected by the level of disability or emotional disbalance which enables healing processes in our body.