The Impact of Music Therapy

Posted by Kevin Blue
1
Apr 5, 2016
103 Views
It's hard to explain, but there's something special about creating music with others. Wholetones Review It's a type of experience that helps create a kinship that is quite unique. As a music therapist, I am trained to create success-based musical activities for the children I work with. Part of my job is to raise their self-esteem by making them feel successful and accomplished. By following a child's lead during a musical activity, I'm able to connect with them and reflect their creative expressions.

This in turn leads to a deeper connection. For example, if my client is playing a drum, I'm going to play my guitar in a way that matches their tempo and reflects the dynamics of their playing. If they play loud, I'll play loud, if they play soft, I'll play soft and if they suddenly stop, I suddenly stop. As you can see from this example, the bond between therapist and child is developed without speaking the language. As Hans Christian Anderson once said, "Where words fail, music speaks!"

Once this bond is established, the work begins. As a treatment for autism, music therapists address many different goals. Here are a few examples of how music therapy approaches, some of these goal areas.

During individual sessions and music therapy groups, clients practice greetings, turn taking, eye contact, requesting, collaboration, etc., through musical activities. A music therapist might lead a sharing song and with a musical cue, such as playing a chime, the kids have to pass their instrument to each other.

  • Musical activities and songs are used to teach a client how to identify feelings and how to use coping strategies when they are feeling overwhelmed. Musical social stories can also be used to teach these skills.

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