Music As Therapy

2 Pages 430 Words

The following examples illustrate some of the procedures used in music therapy. Although these are only a sampling of the methods used by music therapists, they provide a general idea of how music therapy can work.Singing is used to help people with speech impairments improve their articulation, rhythm, and breath control. In a group setting individuals develop a greater awareness of others by singing together. Songs help elderly people to remember significant events in their lives which they may then share with others. Lyrics are used to help people with their mental disabilities sequence a task.Playing instruments can improve gross and fine motor coordination in individuals with motor impairments. Playing in instrumental ensembles helps a person with behavioural problems to learn how to control disruptive impulses by working within a group structure. Learning a piece of music and performing it develops musical skills and helps a person build self-reliance, self-esteem and self-discipline.Rhythmic movement is used to facilitate and improve an individual’s range of motion, joint mobility / agility / strength, balance, co-ordination, gait consistency, respiration patterns, and muscular relaxation. The rhythmic component of music helps to increase motivation, interest, and enjoyment, and acts as a nonverbal persuasion to involve individuals socially.Improvising offers a creative, nonverbal means of expressing feelings. It helps the therapist to establish a bond of trust with a person and serves as a useful assessment technique. Through vocal, instrumental, and movement imp rovisation a person interacts with another and explores feelings which are difficult to express verbally. Improvising offers an opportunity to make choices and deal with structure in a creative way.Composing is used to develop cooperative learning and to facilitate the sharing of feelings, ideas, and experiences. For hospitalized children, writing songs is a means of ...