Creative Music Therapy

There are many different views and approaches used in therapy and in society in general. These views include: cognitive, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, biological, and humanistic (Comer, 2014). Some of the approaches used include the Orff approach, Dalcroze approach, Kodaly approach, Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, and Nordoff-Robbins approach (Darrow, 2008). Darrow explained the different philosophies, populations, and applications of these diverse approaches. In music therapy, the theory that is practiced by a music therapist will determine the types of approaches and terms used and how they use them. The approaches used will also affect how they interact with clients. The different approaches can elicit very different interactions with clients (Darrow). There are three main theories used in therapy. These three main theories are known as psychodynamic, behavioral, and humanistic. The psychodynamic view is based on repressed thoughts and feelings, the behavioral view is based on behaviors, and the humanistic view is based on self-actualization (Comer, 2014). Each of these views will be further explored as I piece together my own personal philosophy and views on each main theory.

There are many different ways that we benefit from music. Music can inspire better self-esteem, and confidence. It’s a great way to set the mood, and a wonderful tool. Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (Gram, 2005). Music therapy can reach out to anyone, age, race, gender it doesn’t matter. Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs can benefit from music therapy. As well as, those who have developmental and learning disabilities, those who suffer from Alzheimer's

Dementia is the loss of cognition function. This condition is rapidly becoming a huge challenge as well a leading cause of mortality and morbidity of the 21st century, especially in the western world, and the current prediction rates of dementia indicate that it will worsen. The numbers of the individuals affected by the condition is anticipated to rise due to the ever expanding older population. Despite the menace of this condition, the power of music, particularly in singing to jerk or unlock past memories and kick start the grey matter of the brain is an incredible feature of dementia care. Using music seems to reach parts of the damaged patient’s brain in unique ways that other means cannot (Geretsegger et al. (2014). In senior adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other mental disorders, music therapy has shown capability of reducing agitated or aggressive behavior, improve cooperation with day-to-day activities such as bathing, improved mood, and reduce symptoms of dementia. Besides, music therapy can reduce the

In this research paper, the effectiveness of music therapy on the cognitive degenerative disorder of dementia will be evaluated. To support the contention that music therapy is effective in treating the symptoms of dementia, research documenting this therapy’s impact on memory, emotions, and behavior will be examined. In order to provide a greater understanding of music therapy and dementia, these terms will be defined. Second, research will be examined to determine music therapy’s impact on the psychological and behavioral issues associated with dementia. Finally, a summary of music therapy’s benefits and an evaluation of its effectiveness in treating individuals afflicted with dementia will be discussed.

The last technique of MT for dementia is combining music with activities. There are many more additional studies using MT which includes not only just melody but also with other activities like dancing, rhythmic movements, singing, playing instruments and more. Gómez-Gallego M and his colleagues asked forty-two minor to moderate AD to not only listen to the music they enjoy but also to dance, greet, play instruments and go on. The outcome of six-week intervention indicated that music with other activities could improve the cognitive status and alleviates neuropsychiatric symptoms of AD patients

Along with varying music to achieve different beneficial results from Alzheimer’s patients, there are many different activities that can help engage and improve the mental state of patients with Alzheimer’s from the early stages of the disease’s

I began my research curious about the prevalence of AD and dementia in nursing homes. I felt that this was a good starting point, as it is a major issue the documentary Alive Inside highlights. Ultimately I wanted to answer the question, why is it so important that alternative intervention such as music therapy are implemented in the care plans of individuals affected by these diseases? My search began using the Google search engine for statistical information on AD and dementia in nursing homes as well as background information on AD. According to the CDC in 2012, about 48.5% of residents that resided in a the United States long-term care facility or nursing homes were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and the number of individuals, over

The participants totally 18 patients were divided in to two groups of nine. One group received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment and an additional music therapy treatment. This group participated in a total of eight music therapy sessions, two sessions per week for four weeks. The other nine patients in the control group did not receive music therapy. Each session were 40-minutes consisting of a hello song and sharing of events in their lives for a period of 5 minutes, planned musical activities for 30 minutes, and a sharing of feelings and goodbye song for 5 minutes. Patients were encouraged to sing and improvise. Tests aimed to assess depression and anxiety were given to both groups before and after the sessions. The study, found that anxiety decreased for 5 patients in the music group and depression decreased significantly in the music therapy group as well. Furthermore, 66.7% of patients and 55.6% of caregivers reported that music therapy, helps rehabilitation, and motivates. 77.8% of patients and 66.7% of their caregivers reported that music therapy had a positive psychological change. (Kim et al., 2011)

support therapist with there efforts of associated within arts to aid in helping patients through raising their disposition through music. The critical observations towards Music therapy by health and medical care has struck my cord of curiosity as to establish how they have stood up to these viewpoints.

Music therapy is today a widespread treatment for a wide range of psychological, psychiatric and physical conditions. Webster Dictionary defines music therapy as “the treatment of disease as a mental illness by means of music” (Music, 2015). The profession “Music Therapist” was established around 1950. Music therapy and other music interventions such as music listening are widely used both as an alternative and as supplementary to pharmacological treatments. The dictionary site also defines dementia as a “usually progressive condition as Alzheimer's disease marked by the development of multiple cognitive deficits as memory impairment, aphasia, and inability to plan and initiate complex behavior” (Dementia, 2015). Demented patients

Music Therapists (MTs) borrow from a range of non-music based therapy models in their development of Music Therapy-specific treatment models. Many widely used Music Therapy (MT) techniques have their roots in psychological theories and treatment models. Cognitive Behavioural Music Therapy (CBMT) draws on the widely-used and extensively researched psychology approach, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to address CBT goals through MT interventions. Despite the many parralels between CBT and MT there is limited literature on CBMT; the existing literature indicates that CBMT may be an effective treatment for clients with a variety of needs. Improvisation in CBMT makes up an even smaller portion of the literature, however the theoretical underpinnings of the CBT approach are congruent with the use of music improvisation.

‘Controlled use of music and its influence on the human being in physiological, psychological, and emotional integration of the individual during treatment of an illness or disability’.

Needle pricks, medicine, exhaustion, sickness, pain, feeling different ‒ these are just a few of the things that people with mental disabilities and serious diseases have to go through on a daily basis. But what if there was a different kind of treatment that could comfort them or reduce their pain even a little bit? Fortunately, for the people facing these issues, there is. Music therapy is a relatively new approach that doctors, teachers, and many others are taking to help heal and improve the quality of life for their patients and students. It’s starting to become more common around the United States and is expected to become even more popular in the future. Books like Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart support the idea of music therapy by demonstrating how music can be used to soothe and improve the moods of individuals regardless of what they may be going through. Music therapy is an effective way to speed up the healing process and improve the emotional state of a wide range of people facing different obstacles in life.

In this publication, Matthews focuses on the effects of music therapy on dementia patients. He hones in on a case that was featured in the documentary “Alive Inside”. Henry, an elderly man with late stage dementia is given the chance to listen to some music. The music therapist plays his favorite artist, Cab Calloway and Henry begins to light up, move and remember feelings he had when he was younger and heard that song. The music therapy didn’t restore what was lost but it was able to have positive effects even after the song stopped. It awakened parts of his brain that may have been dormant and music helped him bring back old memories. Matthews

Music therapy, a clinical use of music interventions to accomplish therapeutic goals, involves a broad range of activities including playing an instrument, singing, or listening to music. Similar to occupational and physical therapy, this expressive arts therapy remedies psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or hypertension to maintain the well-being of an individual. Likewise, music has been a therapeutic tool that has shown positive effects to parts of the brain including regions involved in emotion, sensation, movement, and cognition. Although music therapy is a somewhat new-found treatment, it is used prominently today. Administered by a trained therapist, this type of therapy is used in correctional facilities, nursing homes, hospices, and special education schools.