"Imagine living a life in isolation, unable to communicate conventionally with those around you. Now, imagine how powerful it feels, to finally experience that connection." Heather from ACE Music Therapy talks about her work as a school Music Therapist Defining "Music Therapy" is a well-known challenge. Not least because of the ubiquity of music in all societal domains. There are so many ways that music can be applied therapeutically, including the different angles taken by other Music Practitioners, which are equally valid and important. So, I thought I'd spend some time talking about my personal experience of being a Music Therapist. Of course, I can't speak for others, but I am sure I'll express some familiar sentiments. I'll start with my personal perception of Music Therapy... (if you want an academic and incredibly thorough perspective, check out Kenneth Bruscia's "Defining Music Therapy"- it offers just that!) For me, "the use of music as a communicative device" is probably my favourite summation; this encapsulates the nature of the music in the session, as being an expressive tool, an entry point for interaction or an activity around which to build a therapeutic environment. My approach is quasi-improvisatory (not an official term!) and though I may plan sessions, my work is much more "in the moment". My music is responsive and reflective- it might be that a client is using a drum or the piano, making their music and "expressing their inner world" (like we do when we speak; we are sharing our experience of the world around us). By reflecting the client's music back to them, I become a responder and this can lead to a dialogue through sound. So, if a client has some difficulty around language or other means of communication, music can provide a way of connecting with people or the physical world around them. Imagine how powerful this could be, for someone who might often feel isolated? Equally, those with verbal capabilities may still find it challenging to discuss their feelings; our emotions are not always easy to define! Here, music can be a helpful tool and we might suggest that our clients make music to describe how they feel or find a piece of music or song that hits the right emotional note. This is an example of how music can provide an entry point into our mental world, encouraging our self-exploration and understanding. Now, the actual work may be quite spontaneous, but a great deal of therapeutic consideration can be found in the reflection. When thinking about a session, I will be wondering about a few things; what was the music like and what might this indicate about the current state of the client, in terms of their emotions, social understanding or volition? What else was being communicated, verbally or non-verbally? How could this translate into their wider life and what might we be able to focus on in future sessions to encourage positive change? Whilst exploring the above ideas, I often reflect on my role as the "music maker", one that has been found in all eras of history and linked with health. This warrants its own blog post (watch this space!) but is an interesting line of inquiry; clearly we've always understood music to have more than just a recreational role. It's somewhat of a trope to cite the "power of music", but imagine living a life in isolation, unable to communicate conventionally with those around you. Now, imagine how powerful it feels, to finally experience that connection. I frequently observe non-verbal clients in Music Therapy come to the realisation that they are part of an interaction; they widen their eyes, smile, vocalise or laugh. For them, the session removes confusion around language, or pressure to conform to the "normal" societal methods of communication; they are able to use music to reach another person and experience the feeling of connection with the world around them. As neuro-typical individuals, we may take this for granted, because we constantly interact with those around us. But, consider how validating it can be, when you find someone who really "gets you". As an individual with communicative challenges, music can facilitate this experience; through expressing themselves musically, they might be able to feel that same validity and sense of being understood. It is such an honour to be a Music Therapist and to utilise this method of communication, which is so accessible and inclusive. Through its use, clients can celebrate their identity and express their authentic selves. As social beings, we want to be heard and Music Therapy can make this possible, amplifying the voices of those who deserve their equal place in the social sphere. And this is just one of the many ways that Music Therapy can be applied!
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AuthorHeather Roberts. Writing the occasional blog when the feeling takes me. Archives
September 2018
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