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Vol 18 No 1 2004

Music therapy for autistic children and their families: a creative spectrum  p8 - p14

Ann Woodward

Abstract

A review of the literature shows that little has been published about music therapy for parents and children together, and Oldfield's recent article (Oldfield et al. 2003) describes this work as 'fairly uncommon'.

This paper uses three clinical examples to illustrate a range of approaches to working with children with autism and their parents: a group for children with autism and their parents in a mainstream primary school, short-term work with a 4-year-old autistic girl and her mother, and work with a mother and her two young sons, one of whom has Asperger's Syndrome.  Music therapy can help children with autism to communicate and interact and can build their self-confidence.  It can also play an important role for parents of children with autism, who may be under great stress, by fostering relationships, developing positive interactions and helping them to  feel contained and supported.

Exploring the link between music therapy and sensory integration: an individual case study  p15 - p23

Jeff Hooper, Angela McManus and Alison McIntyre

Abstract

The paper begins by introducing Joan - the subject of the case study.  A description of Joan's music therapy gives a glimpse of a session in which the primary focus is on how Joan responds to various physical challenges.  The paper examines the therapeutic significance of this response by looking at sensory integration, sensory integrative dysfunction and Sensory Integration (SI) theory.

The paper considers the link between music therapy and sensory integration before concluding with a description and evaluation of a multi-disciplinary programme developed to meet Joan's sensory needs.

Musically elicited images as unique clinical data during the process of group analysis with traumatised adults  p24 - p29

Heidi Ahonen-Eerikäinen

Abstract

This paper will discuss the clinical use of musically elicited images - the referential imagery brought up either by therapeutic music listening or clinical improvisation, and created during music therapy.  Clinical abstracts of group analytic music therapy will be presented to highlight the reconstruction of traumatic experiences and to illustrate the function of musically elicited images as visualized metaphorical condensations of client's ideas and feelings.  The analysis of these images provides a unique opportunity for insight and integration.  They connect the client into his/her feeling self, bring up associations, and help to provide a window into events and feelings, which might otherwise be closed.  My theoretical approach is based on the psychoanalytical group analytic theories (Foulkes 1964, Foulkes 1990, Foulkes & Anthony 1990) and self-psychological aspects (Harwood 1988a, 1988b).  The model of the mind that serves as a frame of reference for the comments that comprise the remainder of this paper draws mainly on Freud (1900), Dowling (1987), Eisnitz (1987), Gillman (1987), Ornstein (1987), Pines (1988, 1996, 2003), Rangell (1987) and Rothstein (1987).

Video Reviews  p30 - p31

Joshua and Barry.  Music Therapy with a Partially Sighted Little Boy with Cerebral Palsy - Written by Amelia Oldfield, Filmed by Joy Nudds, Edited by Joy Nudds and Amelia Oldfield/Reviewed by Rebecca O'Connor

 

Vol 18 No 2 2004

Turn-taking in music therapy with children with communication disorders p45 - p54

Ulla Holck

Abstract

In a well-functioning dialogue, the nonverbal and often implicit visual and auditory cues ensure good continuation without interruptions or overlapping speak.  In mutual interplay, both partners participate in turn-organisation, and therefore an analysis of cues indicating turn-taking and turn-yielding can provide information about the participants' social skills, whether or not the dialogue is verbal.

This article presents relevant concepts from conversation analysis literature in order to analyse music therapy interplay aimed at promoting preverbal and social skills.  As the character of the turn-organisation is dependent on the developmental age of the participants, the described cues are compared to research in early mother-child interplay, as well as studies of turn-organisation in dialogues with disabled children.

The theoretical part of the article is illustrated by a turn-analysis of case material from music therapy with a 2½-year old boy with communication disorders.  The analysis was part of the author's doctoral research and focuses on the boy's participation in turn-organisation as well as the therapist's use of turn-yielding and turn-overlapping.

The article concludes with a discussion of the applied theoretical concepts in relation to music therapy practice.  It will be suggested that the turn-yielding cues can be compared to response-evoking techniques, while the management of simultaneousness (overlaps) naturally is very different in verbal than in musical dialogues.

The immediate and long-term effects of singing on the mood states of people with traumatic brain injury p55 - p64

Felicity Baker and Tony Wigram

Abstract

Mood changes in four male participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were observed following their participation in a 15-session song-singing programme.  An analysis of the song material was undertaken to categorise the songs according to the predominant mood they portrayed.  Results showed significant differences between participants for all moods (p<0.001).  Immediate effects were reversed where participants experienced increases in sadness, anger, fear and fatigue.  Long-term effects were significant for some participants who reported increased feelings of happiness and decreased feelings of sadness, fear, confusion, tension and fatigue in the long-term.  Characteristics of the songs chosen for therapy were typically representative of feelings of sadness.  Findings suggest that immediate effects of song-singing intensify and provide cathartic experiences for people with TBI who may have no other space for which to express negative emotions.  Long-term effects of sing singing have a positive effect on mood state.

Singing in therapy: monitoring disease procedd in chronic degenerative illness p65 - p77

Wendy L Magee and Jane W Davidson

Abstract

Music therapy in the treatment of chronic neurological illness typically focuses on the use of music to address the emotional and psychosocial impact of loss and change stemming from pathology.  A range of clinical techniques is described in anecdotal accounts spanning instrumental improvisation, song composition and singing.  However, there is scant reference to the musical and emotional experience of singing as a clinical technique with individuals living with chronic degenerative illness.  Drawing on the results of an empirical investigation into the effects of music therapy with clients with chronic neurological illness, this paper reveals how singing may be used by clients to monitor their physical disease process.

Grounded theory research with this population has revealed that music therapy elicits processes in which individuals monitor the physical changes caused by their disease process (Magee and Davison 2004).  Based upon these research findings, this paper illustrates that individuals living with illnesses which cause loss of voice function may find the act of singing a highly physical experience.  As such, singing may be used to monitor subtle changes which have occurred due to the disease process.  Individuals living with degenerative illness may use singing within therapy as a way to defy their illness process and as an expression of life's breath running through the body.  Singing and voice work within clinical music therapy is therefore not only a vehicle for emotional expression, but also an invaluable tool in gaining an understanding of the client's experience, offering a boundaried environment for exploration of loss and degeneration.  Finally, the paper provides a theoretical framework for the emotional experience of singing songs of personal meaning in therapy.

Book Review p78 - p79

Music Improvisation, Heidegger, and the Liturgy:  A Journal to the Heart of Hope

By Andrew Cyprian Love

Reviewed by Jane Edwards