Premium Essay

Clinical Music Therapy

Submitted By
Words 965
Pages 4
Plato once said, "I would teach children music, physics and philosophy: but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning." Frequency, note progression in a scale, rhythms and beats, vibrations, composition, timing, expression, harmonies, tone, orchestration and melody all trigger different learning experiences within the brain. Clinical music therapy can be used as a vital tool, for improving the quality of life in individual's suffering from deficiencies in cognitive, motor, emotional and social behaviors. Music affects many parts of the brain. The auditory cortex disseminates volume, pitch, speed, melody and rhythm. Lyric memory and sounds, along with imagery associated with sounds, and …show more content…
She survived the attack but was struck in the head with a bullet receiving a traumatic brain injury to the left hemisphere of the brain. Gifford had been a gifted debater, was fluent in Spanish, and enjoyed speaking within her community and in Congress, as a representative for the state of Arizona. The trauma left Gifford unable to speak along with limited use of the right side of her body. As Gifford began the recovery process, physical, speech, and music rehabilitation specialist were coordinated to implement the best care possible. Speech was a great frustration for Gifford, her intellect was solid but with the left brain injury she could not speak the words she wanted. The music therapist was able to help Gifford utilize music to begin speech again. Gifford had been unable to say the word "light" but with the help of the music therapist and singing a children's song that Gifford remembered, "This Little Light of Mine," she was able to sing the song completely including the word "light". This was a breakthrough moment for Gifford and the music …show more content…
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) defines music therapy as, "the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals for people of all ages and ability levels within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional." AMTA lists music interventions to include: music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, singing, music performance, learning through music, and music to movement. Music is a universal language that affects everyone. Music therapy pioneers Nordoff and Robbins state that, "Music breaks down barriers of illness or disability and enables people to literally find a voice. When people are isolated by the effects of illness, disability or trauma they often find it difficult to communicate or take part in everyday life. Music builds a bridge to social

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

History of Music Therapy

...The idea of music as a healing influence which could affect health and behavior is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. The 20th century profession formally began after World War I and World War II when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. The patients' notable physical and emotional responses to music led the doctors and nurses to request the hiring of musicians by the hospitals. It was soon evident that the hospital musicians needed some prior training before entering the facility and so the demand grew for a college curriculum. A very brief historical glimpse of this fascinating profession follows, below. Earliest references The earliest known reference to music therapy appeared in 1789 in an unsigned article in Columbian Magazine titled "Music Physically Considered." In the early 1800s, writings on the therapeutic value of music appeared in two medical dissertations, the first published by Edwin Atlee (1804) and the second by Samuel Mathews (1806). Atlee and Mathews were both students of Dr. Benjamin Rush, a physician and psychiatrist who was a strong proponent of using music to treat medical diseases. The 1800s also saw the first recorded music therapy intervention in an institutional setting (Blackwell’s Island in New York) as well as the first recorded systematic experiment...

Words: 663 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Music Therapy

...When it comes to music therapy, it is important to understand its origins and how has been effective. “Music can be described as an embodied flow in time of our sense of being. When listening to music, we have available the possibility of experiencing ourselves as both familiar and changed,” (Sutton & De Backer, 2009, p. 76). “Music can affect a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior and has been shown to assist with managing stress, expressing emotion and improving communication,” (Arora, 2013). In order to understand how music therapy works, one must understand what music therapy is. Music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals-helps people with understanding and developing...

Words: 1308 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Music Research Essay

...Music Therapy: Different Ways Music Can Help Heal People. When dealing with emotions, we all have ways to escape from the stresses of life. One of the most common ways of escaping from our stress is through music. Music can sometimes have a very calming and soothing quality to it. Other times music can inspire us and pump us up for certain situations in our lives. Music is also used as therapy for illnesses. Whether their illness is a psychological disorder or cancer, music has been proven to ease some of the symptoms that these people may have. People who are suffering from any kind of illness are under tremendous stress, confusion, and sometimes they can feel lost. Music therapy can help with all of these problems. Music has been used in medicine for thousands of years. Ancient Greek philosophers believed that music could heal both the body and the soul. Native Americans have used singing and chanting as part of their healing rituals for millennia. The more formal approach to music therapy began in World War II, when U.S. Veterans Administration hospitals began to use music to help treat soldiers suffering from shell shock and to help cope with the tragic events they witnessed during that time. In the remainder of this paper I will be discussing music therapy and the effects it can have on people that are suffering from an illness. Music therapy is becoming a very common practice around the world. In 1944, Michigan State University established the first music therapy...

Words: 1608 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Informative Speech

...Specific Goal: I would like the audience to realize the therapeutic effects that music can have. Introduction Music therapy is the use of music by health care professionals to promote healing and enhance quality of life for their patients. The use of music for medicinal purposes began thousands of years ago. Thesis Statement: Music therapy is currently used to treat three types of ailments. Body Physical ailments are among the first of the three to be treated through the use of music therapy. Cancer patients have benefited from its use. It helps with nausea and vomiting. It also helps with pain control. Music therapy is also very effective on heart patients. It decreases heart rate. It decreases high blood pressure. (Now that we have seen the positive impact that music therapy has on physical ailments, we will next see how other ailments benefit.) The second of the three ailments to be treated through the use of music therapy are emotional. Music therapy can change the mood of a person. Music therapy can also motivate an individual. (There is one more ailment left to discuss.) The last of the three ailments to be treated through the use of music therapy are psychological. Music therapy is also used in the treatment of mentally ill patients. Depression has been known to benefit from this. Autistic children have also benefited through the use of music therapy intervention. Music therapy is also used effectively with newborns. Premature newborns experience increased...

Words: 386 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Stranger

...Planning: 40 items A. Assessment 1. Observe client in music or non-music settings. 2. Obtain client information from available resources (e.g., documentation, client, other professionals, family members). 3. Within the following domains (e.g., perceptual, sensory, physical, affective, cognitive, communicative, social, and spiritual), identify the client’s: a) functioning level. b) strengths. c) areas of need. 4. Identify client’s: a) active symptoms. b) behaviors. c) cultural and spiritual background, when indicated. d) issues related to family dynamics and interpersonal relationships. e) learning styles. f) manifestations of affective state. g) music background, skills. h) preferences. i) stressors related to present status. 5. Document intake and assessment information. 6. Evaluate the appropriateness of a referral. 7. Identify the effects of medical and psychotropic drugs. 8. Review and select music therapy assessment instruments and procedures. 9. Adapt existing music therapy assessment instruments and procedures. 10. Develop new music therapy assessment instruments and procedures. 11. Create an assessment environment or space conducive to the assessment protocol and/or client’s needs. 12. Engage client in music experiences to obtain assessment data. 13. Identify how the client responds to different types of music experiences (e.g., improvising, recreating, composing...

Words: 1868 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Annotated Bibliograpy

...Annotated Bibliography With a song in their heart... how a little music helps dementia sufferers. (2013, May 07). The Western Morning News. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1348781716?accountid=27655 The author of this article starts off by telling a story about a patient with dementia and how she can remember how to play the piano but can’t remember her own family. Then author states that a doctor from goldsmith’s university feels that music can be therapeutic and explains that people with advance dementia can still remember music that they learned as a child or as a teenager because memory loss tends to work backwards. Then the article just goes on about what dementia is and how it can be treated. The author also stated some other information about organization doing their own therapy based on music and dementia. Walker, A. K. (2013, Mar 24). Using music to treat dementia, alzheimer's. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1319429176?accountid=27655 The author of this article tells a story about a young patient with dementia and how she uses music for therapy. Music won’t restore any of her memories but it helps cope with the dementia. The author states that studies have shown that music can tap into dormant memories which remind people of good times and helps keep them calm and reduce anxiety. The author also states a web site that she found that says music can even release endorphins that can help with pain, stress and...

Words: 726 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Music Therapy Research Paper

...Music has been very useful to humanity for many years. “Ancient Greek philosophers believed that music could heal both the body and the soul” (Music 2). Music therapy is not a much known profession but it has actually been around since World War II, when soldiers suffering from “shell shock” received music as a treatment. Many hospitals then began to hire musicians because music brought positive changes to the soldiers. Music therapy originated in 1940 when the very first music therapy degree program in the world was established by Michigan State University. In 1950 the United States formed the very first professional association of music therapists. By 1998 that association became known as the American Music Therapy Association. Music therapy...

Words: 818 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Postoperative Pain Case Study

...The effectiveness of Music and Relaxation Therapy on the Post-Operative Pain Introduction The use of music in the accomplishment of therapeutic aims; the restoration, maintenance, and improvement of mental and physical health is defined as music therapy. Music therapy decrease the perception of pain by temporarily occupying the ‘gates of pain’ located on spinal cord. Music can soothe us out; slow us down and save us from the ravages of tension. According to the study conducted by Jeena Jose (2000), the postop scores of pain were significantly less in the patients who underwent music therapy. Music is an inexpensive therapy which diverts the mind. Postoperative pain is intensely uncomfortable and can exacerbate the stress response, interfere...

Words: 926 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Music Therapy: Box Elder High School

...Music Therapy Essay Eliza B. Johnson Box Elder High School Abstract This essay outlines my current understanding of music therapy and different ways that music affects the brain, including research from Oliver Sacks, Jodi Picoult, and Laurence O’Donnell. It also includes my personal experiences relating to music therapy, including experience with special needs populations that I have worked with, experience with instrumental/ensemble work, and any other qualifications I may have that make me an adequate prospect for the music therapy program at Utah State University. It covers my motivations and driving factors for being interested in the career and major of music therapy. Music Therapy Essay Music therapy:...

Words: 1581 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Effect of Music Therrapy on Human Brain

...effect of Music therapy on Human Brain Music therapy started in late 18th century but architects in the medicine industry had long interest and research in the entire field trying to find out all the issues and aspects in the field. It is under this case that statistics shows that actually healing activities dates to ancient times. This kind of principle is evident through the biblical aspects that have been put forward to explain the issues of concern. Some of historical aspects that have been used to explain these issues relating to music therapy were retrieved from ancient writings from civilizations such as Greece, Rome, China, India and Egypt. In present scenario, the power of music tends to be the same as it was used in those old days. However there is a modification of the same in the present times due to enrichment of various ways that have been used to facilitate realization of amicable goals accordingly (Aldridge 65). In United States the profession within the Music therapy started to be developed during the two world wars whereby music was extensively by veterans administration Hospitals as a tool to address and cushion traumatic war injuries that were being experienced. Many veterans in these days were wholly involved passively and actively involved in music activities which revolved in relieving perceptions that occurs in pain. Many doctors and their nurses during those days had the chance to experience all the effects that were directly as a result of music. This...

Words: 1637 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Vibroacoustic Therapy: Treating Mental Illness

...Vibroacoustic Therapy Music can be used the affect the mind and body of a person in many different ways. One way to use music is in the field of medicine, which is a fairly new use of the art. One use of music in the medical field is vibrations in what is called vibroacoustic therapy, or vat. Vat can be used to treat various physical illnesses and injuries, while also known for treating mental illnesses. Some examples of what vat is used to treat include Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, depression, heel spurs, recovery from surgery or trauma, pain and anxiety reduction, insomnia, circulation and blood pressure, and Parkinson’s Disease. Through the use of clinical studies, it has been proven that vibroacoustic therapy has the potential...

Words: 964 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Death and Dying

...University of San Francisco USF Scholarship Repository Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2009 The Experience of African American Hospice Patient/Family with Board Certified Music Therapy as a Component of their Plan of Care Elizabeth Joy Gifford University of San Francisco, lgiffman1@aol.com Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.usfca.edu/dnp Part of the Nursing Commons Recommended Citation Gifford, Elizabeth Joy, "The Experience of African American Hospice Patient/Family with Board Certified Music Therapy as a Component of their Plan of Care" (2009). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects. Paper 14. This Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at USF Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact zjlu@usfca.edu. COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2 Section I: Introduction Statement of the Problem Although 60% of African Americans in the United States have stated that they would want hospice care when they are dying (AARP, 2003), they only comprise 8% of all hospice enrollees (NHPCO, 2007), despite the fact that they represent 13% of the total population in this country (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). In fact, hospice care in this nation has always been underutilized by African Americans (Connor, Elwert, Spence,...

Words: 17954 - Pages: 72

Free Essay

Warehouse

...The effects of music on children and young people. 1. The effect of music on IQ Campabello, Nicolette; De Carlo, Mary Jane; O'Neil, Jean; Vacek, Mary Jill Music Enhances Learning. Dissertations/Theses; Tests/Questionnaires. 2002 An action research project implemented musical strategies to affect and enhance student recall and memory. The target population was three suburban elementary schools near a major midwestern city: (1) a kindergarten classroom contained 32-38 students; (2) a second grade classroom contained 23 students and five Individualized Education Program (IEP) students; and (3) a fifth grade classroom. Students exhibited difficulty recalling facts and information in a variety of subject areas evidenced through an inability to gain mastery of grade level skill areas. Research suggests that young students have difficulty understanding concepts and lack the ability and desire to learn. A successful program needs to be developed to teach these concepts. A review of solution strategies suggests that the following musical techniques proved to be helpful for increasing student recall because the songs helped with phonemic training, mnemonics, setting desired skills to familiar tunes, and linking connection to cultural themes. Research has shown that preschool children taught with an early exposure to music through games and songs showed an IQ advantage of 10 to 20 points over those children taught without exposure to the songs. In the same study, students at age...

Words: 7591 - Pages: 31

Free Essay

Music

...Functions of Music Music therapy Music therapy is a treatment method that involves using music to enhance health. There are many different approaches to music therapy, including creating music, listening to music, and talking about music. Although music therapy is often used to promote mental and emotional health, it may also help improve quality of life for people coping with physical health conditions. . In the 17th century, the scholar Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy noted that music has an "excellent power ...to expel many other diseases" and he called it "a sovereign remedy against despair and melancholy." What Does Music Therapy Involve? A music therapy session may incorporate a number of different elements, such as making music, writing songs, or passively listening to music. While music therapists often aim to foster the patient's emotional expression, there can be many other different goals in a music therapy session. These goals include relief of stress or anxiety, improvement of mood, and enhancement of quality of life for people dealing with illness. Research shows that patients do not need to have any musical ability to benefit from music therapy. Benefits of Music Therapy Here's a look at some key study findings on the health effects of music therapy: 1) Music Therapy and Depression Music therapy may help some patients fight depression, according to a review published in 2008. Researchers sized up data from five previously published...

Words: 2352 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Dementia Treatment

...herself during screening, where it became known that the patient stopped taking appropriate dosages of her medication and became unable to appropriately care for herself as a result. When EP is doing well with her medications, she is able to live a very independent and healthy lifestyle, but this lasts only temporarily as this is not the first time that she has been admitted here. Her independence is very important to her. EP was born and raised in lower- middle class New Jersey, used to be a nurse, was previously married only once, has two kids and several grandkids. It seems that she does not maintain close ties with anyone in her immediate family because they don’t ever seem to answer her phone calls or come to visit. She enjoys jazz music and not much...

Words: 2450 - Pages: 10