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Subject: Music Therapy II From: Tony Burns Date: 07 Apr 99 - 07:12 PM I have not read all of the thread that started this. I intend to go back and do so. However, I am using the suggestion made to start part II. Those people in the Toronto area might be interested in the work of Gary Diggins. I attended a workshop in the fall that was fasinating. I just check the Soul Drums schedule to see if he is running is 4 week course again only to find out it started about 5 miuntes ago. If you are interested watch for another of is workshops and courses. I'm sure if you contacted Soul Drums they can put you in touch with Gary. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: The Shambles Date: 07 Apr 99 - 07:47 PM To Music Therapy |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Date: 08 Apr 99 - 12:22 AM Thanks Tony and Shambles for the "links and starting the new thread...I don't have a clue how to make the blue 'thing' work....my daughter tells me that trying to teach me this computor stuff is as stressful for her as it was for me to teach her to drive a standard...(I DISAGREE!!!!)but she does have my sympathy. I want to encourage anyone with an interest in this thread to at least glance through Music Therapy I ---because it contains some valuable, useful, information and some reality doses. Otherwise starting with Music Therapy II would be like walking into the middle of the movie. Tony, thanks for the link, sounds interesting---but not for the four women I'm working with-but do plan to try to get in touch with Gary Diggins because his work,in general, sounds fascinating. MissMac---check out the link Tony posted!! |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Date: 08 Apr 99 - 01:07 AM Sorry...my "cookie" or something is messing up tonight...didn't realize that my name wasn't showing...the previous post was from Night Owl... |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Tony Burns Date: 08 Apr 99 - 06:54 AM Yes, the original Music Therapy thread is a must read. Thanks to The Shambles for the link. This thread was only started because the other was so large that the loading time was becoming a problem. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Sam Pirt Date: 08 Apr 99 - 01:27 PM This one big, interesting and rewarding subject. Read, be inspired, take action, get results and be happy Cheers, Bye, Sam |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Night Owl Date: 09 Apr 99 - 04:10 AM A few thoughts.....I have been receiving a few "personal messages" through the mudcat in response to this thread...I want you to know that receiving the messages, encouraging this thread to continue, are VERY welcome and... thank-you for the comments. I was beginning to feel that this thread should end, and that maybe I was talking to myself at this point, until I started receiving messages. Because of the nature of the thread, it is NOT easy to post in the main forum. So, given that some of us are talking to ourselves in the chat rooms also, I've decided to plunge ahead and blither on. I learned another lesson with K. this week. She has had a difficult week and tonight was utterly exhausted. I have mentioned before, that I can (so far) guarantee that when K. withdraws, she will come back out if I play Bill Staines' version of "Home On The Range". Sometimes it takes until the last chorus of the song, but she simply cannot resist singing "cloudy all day"-or just "day". We received a call yesterday from K.'s day program informing us that she had become violent and aggressive and could not come home in the center's van as she was endangering other 'clients'. I am either very stupid, very committed, or very RIGHT about the music...as I found myself volunteering to go pick her up. I overheard the supervisor trying to find an additional staff to go with me, interrupted her by saying that it wasn't necessary..."I have my tapes..we'll be fine" (thinking "Home On The Range".) On my way to pick her up, I realized that "Home.." is a song to bring her out....she was obviously already OUT! and the song, given her mood, could increase her agitation. Keeping my eyes on the road..TIC..(tongue in cheek)..I sorted through my bag of tapes and picked one that to my knowledge, she had not listened to. Another Staines tape with some simple, clear guitar. By the time I got to the Center, I had 'cued' the tape for her-AND it worked! She was loud, agitated, (but not violent) getting into my truck. Within the first few measures of the music she became quiet...good news in this situation. The third song was "Crossing the Water" and I watched.... this woman who came within seconds of being restrained and overmedicated....transform and sing along. Reflecting tonight on Wednesday"s events, I feel there MUST be a way to do this more purposefully, and not just on a "best guess" that (fortunately) worked. I'm still thinking that there must be a way for those who perform in Nursing Homes, Mental Health facilities etc. to document or somehow jot a note about what they see. Researchers and scientists are NOT in those rooms watching and feeling. Musicians ARE. I"m wondering if jotting down in a notebook things like..."walked into room with .... patients; atmosphere was .....; played.......; upon leaving atmosphere was......; was told that.....; song that received best reaction was.....; instruments used were.....etc. Does the thought have any merit?????or would it take too much away from sharing the music and the spontaneity that can occur??? Would it destroy the "magic" between the musicians and "audience"? If so, I think it's a bad idea, but if not, I would think that after a few weeks some kind of pattern may begin to show???....and sharing notes here may show more specific patterns. Well, 'nuff said. Some of you have offered to post more information on resources etc...(nudge....hint.....nudge...hint....gentle elbow to the ribcage....hint) |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Night Owl Date: 10 Apr 99 - 12:38 AM For anyone following K. and L.'s "saga", K. was exhausted tonight, very focused but subdued, went to bed right after supper and postponed her Autoharp lesson. I left L. alone tonight with the Autoharp, she showed a new staff how to play it, (on the dining room table)and her favorite sounding chord (F). I have been playing Autoharp for about thirty years, and in all that time consistently forget where I put my picks if I'm interrupted. L. had to leave the table for a minute and when I looked at the Autoharp saw that she had placed the thumb pick she is now using on one of the tuning pegs! So easy and logical...wondering if this is standard for other players to do and/or if not...just wanted to pass along the tip. We also tried to sing the song about..."let the sunshine in, face it with a grin" but neither of us could remember much of it. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: LEJ Date: 10 Apr 99 - 01:11 AM Nightowl...let's skip putting this thread into the Mudcat book and go right to the Mudcat Movie! Great plot and characters, but I don't think there are any actors with enough heart to play you...guess you'll have to play yourself. Seriously Owl, I really enjoy hearing about the good work you do...LEJ |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: The Shambles Date: 12 Apr 99 - 05:21 PM I was asked to give an account of the TV programme, that I referred to in the first thread, or at least my feelings towards it. Sorry about the delay but I wanted to watch it again first. It is about a boy called Steven and is a video account of scenes from his sessions, starting from when he was about 4, up to about 12 years of age. It shows his steady progression from a severely autistic young child, writhing on the floor and shouting. To key moments like his first session without his mother present and on to show a calm and articulate young man. The film does make the point that the music therapy was running concurrently with his education at a special school, but shows quite clearly that the music was a very important tool in his progress. It is in fact very moving, when you see how the music therapy is used to reach him, slowly, using techniques like 'the goodbye song' and leaving spaces in the music for him to fill. The key points in his progress being pointed out by the therapist. There are some bold claims made by some of the experts in the film. One claim that springs to mind is that " there is no such thing as being tone deaf, or unmusical". Going on to say that this condition had more to do with the short-comings of music teachers, than any fault on the part of their pupils. I think I probably agree with that one. It was also interesting how early this musical communication starts. We saw mothers 'talking' or rather singing to their very young children, when words were obviously not able to be understood by the babies, it was apparent that communication was taking place. My feelings? It confirmed what I have always maintained, that, music is the heartbeat of the world. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: The Shambles Date: 12 Apr 99 - 05:44 PM On a differnt note. LEJ mentioned playing parts in The Mudcat Movie. This one may be worth refreshing as we have some more cast members now? Mudcat Forum The Book |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Ian Stephenson Date: 13 Apr 99 - 06:30 AM Rory McLeod -the well respected Cockney Sparrow- whas involved with helping out disabled children in hospital, and he used the harmonica on a neck holder so that the kids with limited movement could stil blow out rhythms and this also helps to exercise the lungs of more inactive children. -Keep up the good work, Rory. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 18 Apr 99 - 03:38 PM C'mon eveyone, let's keep this one going, to encourage one another and to fill our lives will meaning and hope. Night Owl, despite what you think, we DO all want to hear more of the continuing saga: Tell us more, pulleeeezzeee? Thanks, katlaf |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: MissMac Date: 02 May 99 - 10:04 PM Night Owl I haven't looked back to Music Therapy I to see if this song was suggested but I have just realized that it only uses two chords and usual only changes chords at the end of each line it is Sweet Violet it is in the DT under that title it is the one about the girl and the farmer. In the book I have it only uses C and G not knowing anything about autoharps I do not know if it is an easy transition to make or not but I find the song cute. I finaly have my partner back at work and in the first week I have seen a lot of smiles. At first when he greets them there is recognition and suprise then they seem to just set back and relax. One of the young ladies that sings the last word in rhyming songs was exspcially glad to see him back because now her favorite songs are back on the song list. I did not know them well enough to sing them without his accompanment. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 02 May 99 - 11:36 PM I promised a long time ago to post some of my brother's stuff to one of these threads. I finally did some ont he "sixth sense" thread, in case anyone wants to read it. Night Owl, how about an update?:-) katlaughing |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 01 Jul 99 - 12:21 AM refreshed for Helen |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Margo Date: 01 Jul 99 - 01:37 PM Night Owl, I think your idea about documenting your work is an excellent idea. Let me relate to you some of the record keeping techniques in my kids' programs (for autistic kids). The program my kids are in has some very specific goals. The teaching techniques are applied, and the results are carefully recorded. By recording their progress, it is plain to see what works, and what doesn't. If a teaching technique doesn't work, then the teacher modifies it. For your situation, you could design a form where you could simply check off boxes (to track mood of the person when you got there, during music making, and after, perhaps). Then an area where notes could be written so that you could include facts about anything special going on (So and so was on medication today, or something like that) At first it might take time, but eventually it becomes a routine and you don't have to think about it much. The nice thing about record keeping is that you can look back and see pattern emerge that you might never have noticed without the documentation. My kids' teachers will do an exercise, then write a bit while the kid plays for a minute, then its back to the exercises. I hope you might find something useful here. Let me know, I'm curious to see if you do start writing things down. Margarita |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Helen Date: 02 Jul 99 - 12:43 AM Just to put the Healing Harps site address in this thread http://www.healingharps.org Helen |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Peter T. Date: 05 Jul 99 - 06:46 PM I thought I would refresh this. For some reason, I missed both Music Therapy I and II. We have hardworking saints among us, people. Saints. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Night Owl Date: 06 Jul 99 - 03:51 AM I wanted to give an update to this thread, but first want to say a few things about saints and people with hearts/courage. All of us who work in this field, I think, consider ourselves very lucky to be working in professions which allow us to come home nightly and say to ourselves "I done good today". We consider ourselves lucky for being paid for playing and sharing music. We RECEIVE far more than we can ever hope to give to our patients. We get to go home and regroup....we get to play our instruments and sing whenever we wish and whereever we wish, we get to take breaks when we need..and for most of us, our bodies and brains work relatively well...(at least our bodies do). Our patients don't have these luxuries. We work with people who give us daily lessons in the meaning of the word "heart"; some of us witness daily how much courage and determination lifting a spoon to a mouth, or saying a coherent word, can require. Out in the community, our patients teach us to be graceful...to ignore ignorance (that's NOT to say we heed that lesson!)and to make the best of very difficult situations. Our patients are very clear about their delight in seeing us come in with our instruments....because they know there will be some MUSIC....doesn't have to be fancy, just MUSIC and a smile. The best part, I sometimes think, is that for some of us, regardless of our inabilities to sing well or play instruments well, we always RECEIVE a psychic standing ovation!! Having said ALL that, please don't make us into super humans....we are NOT. We are, I believe, good people doing good jobs, just like the rest of you. Performers who play in Nursing Homes etc., only need to look into the eyes of their audience to understand what I am trying to articulate. As welcome as the "accolades" are, I, and I think others in the profession, may feel they are misplaced. I think Musicman said it best in one of his postings..."Its the MUSIC...the MUSIC is the thing." If anyone else working in this field disagrees with anything I've rambled on about, please post....I'd be interested in hearing. Anyway, Peter T. and Margarita have posted some information and resources in the "GESEEN/GESINT" thread that may be of interest to some of you who have been sticking with this thread. I had intended to explain a bit more about H. and give updates on K. and L. tonight, but have managed to "poop" myself out...they continue to do relatively well. Guess this stuff has been bothering me for a while!!! Margarita...Thanks for your post...I do document the Autoharp lessons now and changes in atmosphere etc....We welcome your input!!!! I was also trying to see if others could do likewise so that we could compare notes on songs that work well etc. MissMac...Hi...its been a while. I'm not sure if you're still here or not but THANKS for the suggestion "Sweet Violets" another great song I had forgotten!! Hope you're still with us!! |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Peter T. Date: 06 Jul 99 - 09:27 AM I stick to what I said. The widespread assumption that saints are superhuman is a typical undermining of the human spirit. Perhaps the Buddhists do it better: bodhisattvas are people who refuse to save themselves unless everyone else is saved as well, and this is true because they see that, if everyone is connected to everyone else, then everyone has to be saved together, since there is no "oneself" fully separate from others. That is why bodhisattvas spend so much time working in hell. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: KT Date: 15 Jul 01 - 09:34 PM I have not yet finished reading the entire Music Therapy and Music Therapy ll threads, and I intend to, but I do have a question for anyone who might be in the field. Does anyone know of a music Therapy degree program that does NOT have proficiency on the keyboard as a prerequisite? |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 15 Jul 01 - 10:20 PM KT, you might check with the people at this website: American Music Therapy Association. Also, the hospital in Montana that gives a degree in music thanatology teaches their students to use a harp, so it might be worth asking them the keyboard question. Hope that helps, kat |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: KT Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:38 AM Thanks, kat. I have checked in with the AMTA and will check out the Montana lead. I appreciate your help. KT
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 01 Jul 02 - 09:32 AM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Catherine Jayne Date: 01 Jul 02 - 10:44 AM Hi. For my dissertation for my degree I wrote 12,500 words on Music Therapy and the education service. I really enjoyed researching and writing it. If anyone is interested in this I have stacks of books and information which I am prepared to loan. It is such a rewarding subject. I specialised in learning difficulties and mental illnesses. Cat x |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: CapriUni Date: 01 Jul 02 - 10:52 PM That sounds great, Cat X! Katlaughing refreshed these music therapy threads in response to a "Science Friday" program on NPR this last Friday. That thread, with a link to an audio of that program is here. It was a call-in show, and if I'd listen to it live, I might have called to ask about music used in physical as well as cognitive therapy. But it seems we have at least as many experts here as were on that panel on the radio. So I'll ask here: Have any of you heard (or done) anything with music in a physical therapy context? Just wondering... I know for the T.A.B's (Temporarily Able-Bodied) Jazzercise and the like is very popular. Can't help but wonder if music affects the way the body responds to physical activity ... |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: maeve Date: 31 Dec 07 - 09:04 AM With a new year about to begin, and the old one slipping away, it seems a good time to refresh this thread and encourage those who are interested to read the Music Therapy 1 as well. I'm interested in reading some updates from the original posteres as well as new posts from others with an interest in music therapy, whether formal or informal. If there's any interest, I could write about some joyful music therapy experiences with a former student of mine with severe seizure disorder. maeve |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: wysiwyg Date: 31 Dec 07 - 12:21 PM Please do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 31 Dec 07 - 12:35 PM Yes, maeve, please! I will let Night Owl know this has been refreshed. She has been off-line for a few years, but this might entice her back now she has her computer stuff sorted. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Bert Date: 31 Dec 07 - 12:38 PM here is a music therapy site that might be of interest. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 31 Dec 07 - 12:55 PM Interesting, Bert. Though it sounds too noisy for me, esp. the heartbeat, which sounds like an LP which is stuck. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: maeve Date: 31 Dec 07 - 09:10 PM Right. Will do so in the next few days. I'm so glad there appears to be some renewed interest, and I'd love to learn what Night Owl (and others) have been doing in the meantime. Until then. a happy and blessed New Year to all, maeve |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: wysiwyg Date: 01 Jan 08 - 12:24 AM There's a long(er) and satisfyingly sweet story behind this one, but it's late.... Our band's founding member is stuck in a homecare situation now with his ailing wife; he's not ailing, he's just old and rickety, but she needs and demands a lot of attention, not all positive... and he's such a sweetie (nowadays anyway and he freely admits he wasn't always). So we've taken to asking him to do the week's offertories, because then we know he will spend at least a little time each day playing and listening to new music at home, in the music room he has where he can't hear much else. I email him links to music he can hear online and try to play along with to pick out the new stuff. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 19 Feb 08 - 11:33 PM Even though we all have known this for years, it is neat that *they* are finally "proving" it, too: Music hits right note for stroke patients By Michael Kahn LONDON (Reuters) - A little Beethoven is good for the brain, according to a Finnish study published on Wednesday showing that music helps people recover more quickly from strokes. And patients who listened to a few hours of music each day soon after a stroke also improved their verbal memory and were in a better mood compared to patients who did not listen to music or used audio books, the researchers said. Music therapy has long been used in a range of treatments but the study published in the journal Brain is the first to show the effect in people, they added. "These findings demonstrate for the first time that music listening during the early post-stroke stage can enhance cognitive recovery and prevent negative mood," the researchers wrote. Strokes, which occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked, can kill brain tissue and are one of the worldwide leading causes of death and permanent disability. Treatments include blood thinning drugs and attempts to lower cholesterol. The study involved 60 people who recently had a stroke of the middle cerebral artery in the left or right side of the brain. This is the most common stroke and can affect motor control, speech and a range of other cognitive functions. One group listened to their favorite music every day or used audio books while another did not listen to any music. All volunteers received standard rehabilitation treatment. Three months after stroke music listeners showed a 60 percent better improvement in verbal memory compared to an 18 percent benefit for those using audio books and 29 percent for people who did not listen to either. The ability to focus attention also improved by 17 percent in music listeners, said Teppo Sarkamo, a psychologist at the Cognitive Brain Research Unit at the University of Helsinki, who led the study. "We can't say what is happening in the brain but based on previous research and theory it may be music listening could actually activate the brain areas that are recovering," he said in a telephone interview. Music might also in some way activate more general mechanisms that repair and renew the brain's neural networks after stroke, Sarkamo said. Larger studies are needed to better understand exactly what is going on but these findings show that music may offer a cheap, easy additional treatment for stroke patients, he said. "This could be considered a pilot study," Sarkamo said. "It is a promising start. (Reporting by Michael Kahn, Editing by Maggie Fox and Dominic Evans) |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: Beer Date: 19 Feb 08 - 11:52 PM Great reading Night Owl. Keep it up. Beer (adrien) |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: maeve Date: 21 Feb 08 - 11:22 AM Here's a link to an interesting article in the current issue of "Neurology Now" journal. It consists of an interview of Dr. Oliver Sachs, described as "one of the best known neurologists". He is also the author of several books including "Awakenings" (movie version with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro) and "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat". His newest book is "Musicophalia". "Unchained By Melody" article I haven't yet followed through on my offer to write a little about my former student, but I shall do so when I can. |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II From: katlaughing Date: 21 Feb 08 - 11:27 AM Thanks for the link, Maeve! That looks like an excellent interview. Sachs is incredible! |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II - Updated - new info From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Feb 08 - 11:44 AM At the risk of uninvited men in white coats showing up with uninvited meds.... My brain chemistry is a tad OCD, I think. The pursuit of music for our music ministry channeled it nicely so that it was a harmless infleunce in my life. One manifestation was when songs would run over and over in my head (sometimes more than a dozen simultaneously), even in my sleep and not always in the most pleasant "sleeping on it" way. That is, UNTIL I'd arrange and "perform" (songlead) them. Then any particular song of obsessive interest would pipe down. So I've wondered if music could do that for other OCD folks with a stronger pull to that direction in their own brain chemistry. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II - Updated - new info From: FreddyHeadey Date: 11 Jun 17 - 03:33 AM Not folk but A short section of today's "Sunday" on BBC radio4 was about the LIME music for health project in Manchester UK. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tbdp3 > ~17:40 " The delivery of specialist musical activity on the wards and at the bedsides of patients (This work is delivered by highly skilled Music for Health practitioners, trained by Music for Health Specialists)..." https://musicforhealth.wordpress.com/about/ |
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Subject: RE: Music Therapy II - Updated - new info From: Mrrzy Date: 08 Mar 21 - 08:11 AM Fascinating article on music therapy and dementia in WashPo here. Aparently with dementia you don't remember listening to the musicthat made you happy or sad, but you stay either happy or sad anyway. |
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