Why is music preference so important in music therapy?
Research shows that people benefit most from the music they prefer. If a patient loves country music, a music therapist will prepare that genre of music for various interventions depending on that patient’s goals. If the same patient can’t stand jazz, but the music therapist brings a few jazz standards to share in the music therapy session, the patient will not receive the benefit. The patient may think about how much he or she dislikes the music being shared the entire time. When preferred music is being shared, however, patients reminisce more readily, are more social, interact with a brighter affect, and they might even be more active in the session – dancing, singing or playing instruments.
Where does musical preference come from?
Throughout our lives, we are exposed to music in many different environments – in school, on the radio, movies and television, from our children’s and family members’ recitals, or from our own music making experiences. Each exposure to music has the potential to create a permanent impression on us through our emotional memory banks. Research shows that these musical memories can even stick with us when other memories fade away. A patient who has a background of playing the piano may very much enjoy listening to classical piano music, or on the other hand, they might prefer not to think about the weekly piano lessons that they dreaded as a child!
Music therapy research has shown that the most meaningful music typically is that of a person’s young adulthood. For a typical 80 to 90 year-old patient, this means the music therapist will be pulling out 1940’s classics like “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” or “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”
However this is a generalization, and is only meant to be a starting point for determining musical preference. Many patients may also be quite familiar with, and have fond memories of, music of their parents’ generation, for example.
Musical Memories
Reminiscing with patients about their musical memories is interesting. One patient recently remembered going dancing with her sister every Saturday night. Another patient always remembers his mother singing around the house. Another patient remembered a song she sang to comfort herself as a girl, when a boyfriend broke up with her. Some patients feel connected to their spirituality through music, and some people just enjoy listening to music in general!
Visit the Arbor Hospice website for videos from some of our music therapy sessions.
Showing posts with label music therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music therapy. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
Using Music to Facilitate Relaxation
We all know that the benefits of relaxation are numerous: reduced heart rate, reduced muscle tension, decreases in anxiety and stress, lower levels of cortisol in the body, among other benefits. However, the skill of relaxation is one that eludes many. I would like to suggest the implementation of music as a tool to help facilitate relaxation. Meditation and relaxation are all about being "in the moment." Being in the moment means focusing
on events that are occurring presently, rather than thinking about past or future events. For example, one might choose to focus their attention on their breath. Paying attention to each inhalation and exhalation forces a person to be present and focusing on the current moment. Similarly, music can provide an external stimulus to take a person's mind off of their thoughts and worries. These two ideas can be combined if a person focuses on breathing in rhythm with a piece of music.
Music can be a very useful tool for helping a person relax but how do you choose the right music for relaxation?
- Choose preferred music. Whether you are picking out music for your own relaxation or for a loved one, keep musical preferences in mind. Music with positive emotional associations and memories can provide an overwhelming sense of well-being for a person. This may e an old song from someone's childhood, slow classical music or new age music, among other options.
- Pay attention to tempo. Be mindful of the tempo of the music that you choose. It should have a slow tempo. If a person is feeling particularly anxious or stressed when beginning to relax, they could choose music with a slightly faster tempo to match their emotional state, but the tempo should slow down throughout the piece. The principal of entrainment tells us that a person's natural biological rhythms will change to match the dominant stimulus present in their environment. This means that if a person is focusing on music, their heart rate and respiratory rate may change to match, or come close to, the tempo of the music.
- Watch out for abrupt changes. Prior to using the music for relaxation, listen to the music to notice if there are any abrupt or unexpected changes. When a person's body and mind become more relaxed, an unexpected change in the tempo, timbre or quality of the music may reverse any positive effects that have occurred thus far.
- Avoid music with words. While songs with words may offer that warm feeling of a positive memory, it is best to avoid words during relaxation as they engage our brain in cognition during an intended relaxation session. If you or your patient find the human voice soothing, choose music that uses words from an unfamiliar language. Look into classical vocal (choral or a soloist with instrumental accompaniment) music or Gregorian chant.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Songwriting With Patients
Songwriting is an intervention used by music therapists in many different settings. In hospice, songwriting can be a beneficial tool to address a vareity of patient needs. This intervention can be shaped and changed to be successful for many patients, regardless of their cognitive abilities or their willingness to be open and expressive.
For patients whose cognition is compromised, a music therapist may use songwriting as a success-oriented intervention to increase interaction and reminiscence. For example:
"This train is bound for (location), this train.
This train is bound for (location), this train.
This train is bound for (location), and (patient's name) is going to bring (item).
This train is bound for (location), this train."
In this example, the music therapist would encourage the patient to choose a location to which they would like to travel, or have enjoyed traveling in the past. The patient would then identify some items (favorite book, favorite drink, favorite snack) or even a special person to bring on the make-believe trip. This intervention can continue as long as the patient can still come up with ideas for a trip and things to bring along.
When working with a patient who is higher functioning, but has difficulty expressing themselves, a fill-in-the-blank songwriting experience can be very useful for eliciting expression, reminiscence and interaction. A music therapist may omit words from an existing song, such as "lean on me" or "sometimes in our lives."
"We _______________________________________
We ________________________________________
But if we ____________________________________
We know that _________________________________"
In this example, a patient can benefit from the structure of a pre-existing song to develop their own thoughts and feelings. This, like the previous example, is very success-oriented to help the patient have a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment.
Finally, occasionally, a patient may enjoy talking about a certain subject during every visit. Discussing this topic may bring this patient a sense of joy, pride or contentment. In this case, the patient demonstrates facility with self-expression and may benefit from a less structured form of songwriting. In this case, the music therapist would work with the patient to devise original song lyrics, and possibly even a chord structure, rhythm and overall style of song. This song would be a unique product of the patient, and a great source of pride and accomplishment.
Songwriting can be a useful intervention with hospice patients. For patients who wish to leave a legacy or a gift for their families, a unique and original song may be a treasured item after the passing of the patient. Additionally, music is a powerful tool to elicit socialization and reminiscence, increasing the quality of life of the patient with whom the music therapist is working.
For patients whose cognition is compromised, a music therapist may use songwriting as a success-oriented intervention to increase interaction and reminiscence. For example:
"This train is bound for (location), this train.
This train is bound for (location), this train.
This train is bound for (location), and (patient's name) is going to bring (item).
This train is bound for (location), this train."
In this example, the music therapist would encourage the patient to choose a location to which they would like to travel, or have enjoyed traveling in the past. The patient would then identify some items (favorite book, favorite drink, favorite snack) or even a special person to bring on the make-believe trip. This intervention can continue as long as the patient can still come up with ideas for a trip and things to bring along.
When working with a patient who is higher functioning, but has difficulty expressing themselves, a fill-in-the-blank songwriting experience can be very useful for eliciting expression, reminiscence and interaction. A music therapist may omit words from an existing song, such as "lean on me" or "sometimes in our lives."
"We _______________________________________
We ________________________________________
But if we ____________________________________
We know that _________________________________"
In this example, a patient can benefit from the structure of a pre-existing song to develop their own thoughts and feelings. This, like the previous example, is very success-oriented to help the patient have a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment.
Finally, occasionally, a patient may enjoy talking about a certain subject during every visit. Discussing this topic may bring this patient a sense of joy, pride or contentment. In this case, the patient demonstrates facility with self-expression and may benefit from a less structured form of songwriting. In this case, the music therapist would work with the patient to devise original song lyrics, and possibly even a chord structure, rhythm and overall style of song. This song would be a unique product of the patient, and a great source of pride and accomplishment.
Songwriting can be a useful intervention with hospice patients. For patients who wish to leave a legacy or a gift for their families, a unique and original song may be a treasured item after the passing of the patient. Additionally, music is a powerful tool to elicit socialization and reminiscence, increasing the quality of life of the patient with whom the music therapist is working.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Music Therapy for Depressive Symptoms
Music therapy can be an effective method for addressing depressive symptoms among hospice patients. Music can be prescriptively applied for patients in various ways to address physical, emotional and biological markers of stress, anxiety and depression.
In music therapy studies, researchers have noted that the use of music can result in cerebral blood flow changes in brain structures that are associated with reward and motivation. These researchers also noticed in opioid-mediated reward and pain relief. These studies illustrate that music, especially music with highly positive associations, can activate areas of the brain that help a person feel reward and motivation.
Additionally, music can be used to address pain and anxiety, which may impact a patient's perception
of their overall situation and can, in fact, address depressive symptoms. Music is strongly associated with emotion and memory, thus providing many opportunities for patients to engage in emotional expression and reminiscence to improve their overall quality of life. Music can promote relaxation and a sense of well-being.
Many of hospice patients may be participating in fewer pleasurable activities. This could be due to physical limitations preventing them from participating in activities, or it could be more related to a mood disturbance. In either case, music therapy interventions can be applied to help promote feelings of pleasure, autonomy and success through instrument playing, singing, reminiscence or songwriting. Additionally, helping patients find new hobbies and activities to take part in as their functioning declines can be useful to stave off depressive symptoms. Listening to, and learning about music can be a fun new hobby for patients who may be bedridden but still in need of cognitive stimulation.
Patients experiencing feelings of worthlessness or guilt may be engaging in self-criticism or an exaggerated sense of responsibility for a negative event in their life. They may be grieving about their loss of independence or guilt for putting a burden on their family. These feelings are common, and can be addressed through positive feedback, and successful music therapy experiences. If a patient is able, they may benefit from music and movement techniques, but they would also have opportunities for self-expression, and gaining a sense of well-being through instrument playing, songwriting and music-facilitated relaxation techniques.
Finally, if patients are withdrawing from interpersonal interactions with family and friends, they may benefit greatly from music therapy interventions that stimulate social participation. Music is a naturally social medium. Bringing a group of people together to sing and make music can increase cohesion and encourage socialization. Additionally, music can be a great starting point for storytelling and reminiscence. Whether there is family members or other residents of a facility nearby, isolated patients may benefit from being engage in music-making with others.
In music therapy studies, researchers have noted that the use of music can result in cerebral blood flow changes in brain structures that are associated with reward and motivation. These researchers also noticed in opioid-mediated reward and pain relief. These studies illustrate that music, especially music with highly positive associations, can activate areas of the brain that help a person feel reward and motivation. Additionally, music can be used to address pain and anxiety, which may impact a patient's perception
of their overall situation and can, in fact, address depressive symptoms. Music is strongly associated with emotion and memory, thus providing many opportunities for patients to engage in emotional expression and reminiscence to improve their overall quality of life. Music can promote relaxation and a sense of well-being.
Many of hospice patients may be participating in fewer pleasurable activities. This could be due to physical limitations preventing them from participating in activities, or it could be more related to a mood disturbance. In either case, music therapy interventions can be applied to help promote feelings of pleasure, autonomy and success through instrument playing, singing, reminiscence or songwriting. Additionally, helping patients find new hobbies and activities to take part in as their functioning declines can be useful to stave off depressive symptoms. Listening to, and learning about music can be a fun new hobby for patients who may be bedridden but still in need of cognitive stimulation.
Patients experiencing feelings of worthlessness or guilt may be engaging in self-criticism or an exaggerated sense of responsibility for a negative event in their life. They may be grieving about their loss of independence or guilt for putting a burden on their family. These feelings are common, and can be addressed through positive feedback, and successful music therapy experiences. If a patient is able, they may benefit from music and movement techniques, but they would also have opportunities for self-expression, and gaining a sense of well-being through instrument playing, songwriting and music-facilitated relaxation techniques.
Finally, if patients are withdrawing from interpersonal interactions with family and friends, they may benefit greatly from music therapy interventions that stimulate social participation. Music is a naturally social medium. Bringing a group of people together to sing and make music can increase cohesion and encourage socialization. Additionally, music can be a great starting point for storytelling and reminiscence. Whether there is family members or other residents of a facility nearby, isolated patients may benefit from being engage in music-making with others.
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