Music+Therapy

I know the project has been a little tough; I'd like to apologize for any inconveniences brought on on my part. I will try my best to make sure everything comes together for the final stretch. Let me know at any time during the next few weeks if I can help in any way.

I've pulled together some major ideas from our past few discussions and meetings, and I think we've got a good foundation. I thought I would write a rough draft for the first point Amanda proposed for our proposal; use it as you wish. Also, I'll call around the county this week to ask about institutions that use music therapy. I'll try and add more tonight.

- Scott

Note: This is an introductory portion, a summary of the entire proposal and a mock-up of Part 1.

As far as a proposal goes:

 We feel a problem with music therapy lies in the lack of its implementation. Music therapy is a form of healing that works in a way that is completely different from medical practices. Medical practices seem to work more on the physical aspects of healing, whereas music therapy works a great deal with the emotional and, debatably, the spiritual. This sort of therapy should certainly not be looked down upon because it is a new approach. We implore that music therapy be examined as an equal to traditional medical practices, and we simply wish to implement the unique and rejuvinating forms of music therapy to a wider scope.

I was thinking that we may be able to split it up into three parts. (1) Someone would write the first part about how music therapy is beneficial, (2) someone would write a bit about the lack of music therapy programs in the Alma College community and the Alma community in general, and (3) someone would write a portion about our solution (which would be implementing a music therapy program?) This is just an idea. Remember, this is just a rough draft, so she can edit as she sees fit. (Amanda)

(1) An important idea to understand when considering the implementation of music therapy into a medical setting is that it is beneficial. Playing music together provides a very unique feeling of togetherness, community and rejuvination. In addition, knowing music means being familiar with another form of communication; one who may not be able to communicate by other means might find the answer in music. Cognitively, the playing or or listening of music, active or passive, can improve certain processes like memory recovery in the elderly. From a purely physical standpoint, the playing of music can keep muscles and joints sharp, exercising the appendages required to play the instrument.

Update March 16th: Here is the annotated bibliography, so far. I need a little more info for the highlighted portions. Will be fixing my portion of the paper and creating the works cited page. If you have questions, feel free to contact me. -Amanda Also, I posted it three times, so...yeah.

Pamphlet Proposal: We propose to create a tri-fold pamphlet. On the cover, we plan to post an i mage about music and a brief definition of music therapy. On the inside, we plan to discuss the many uses of music therapy, targeting doctor’s offices and other health care institutions. On the back of the pamphlet, we propose to create a mini-collage featuring various concepts of music therapy and tying together the ideas we had previously discussed.

EXCELLENT RESEARCH GUYS. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE PLENTY TO WORK WITH. I'M PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND. NICE JOB. ~MS. WENDT

Quote from GoogleDocs chat on 2.17.08

So, this is what we've decided.

For Thursday, Erin will annotate two articles about the use of music therapy with mentally ill or autistic patients.

Scott will annotate his interview and his drum therapy article.

I (Amanda) will annotate articles about rehab and the elderly.

For the paper, we've decided that I will handle the elderly and rehab aspects.

Scott will handle the intro about music therapy and the drum therapy aspect.

And Erin will write about mental illness/autistic patients.

We can all work together on the conclusion.

[|The National Autistic Society] [|Therapeutic Effects of Drumming-Drum Therapy] [|Drum Therapy Article] [|Healing Music Organization] (Website for The Music Therapy Model) [|American Music Therapy Association]http://www.remo.com/portal/pages/drum_circles/index.html

This comes from "Mental Health Therapies" by Drohan, Kosek, and Levchuck

MUSIC THERAPY.
Music has been part of human culture more or less since the beginning of time. It has played an integral part in the history of mankind. It has also been associated in the past as having power; in ancient Greece, for example, it was thought to have a special force over one's physical and emotional self. In addition, music has also played a significant role in cultural and religious services. It makes sense, then, that music could be used in therapy. Today, the calming effect from music is still a by-product of music therapy. Music therapists use the power of music to identify and deal with a wide range of emotional disturbances--everything from drug abuse to schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. There is a wide variety of music therapy approaches; the one to choose is a personal preference. Most music therapists have musical instruments available for patients to use during sessions in their quest for self-expression. Using these instruments, exercises are conducted, led by the therapist, which aid in the process of uncovering conflict. Often, patients are encouraged to act out spontaneous expressions, even if they might interfere with an exercise. The instruments can also be used as props to describe and act out certain situations. In a classic example, a patient might be asked to choose and then manipulate instruments that remind him or her of family members or difficult situations or feelings. As this therapy technique grows, music therapists continue to learn more about music and its therapeutic benefits. New age music, for example, has been found to help those engaged in self-destructive behavior. Undoubtedly, more is to come from this creative art therapy.

(Found through JSTOR)

Mentioned in the Bible as well!

Samuel 1:16

[|**A Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Music as Reinforcement for Education/Therapy Objectives**] Jayne M. Standley //Journal of Research in Music Education//, Vol. 44, No. 2. (Summer, 1996), pp. 105-133. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-4294%28199622%2944%3A2%3C105%3AAMOTEO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-N

The following were found on LexisNexis by typing in "drum therapy" on Thu., Feb. 7.

Daily Mail (London)

October 25, 2007 Thursday

NHS staff get **drum** lessons to beat stress


 * BYLINE:** Frank Ryan


 * SECTION:** SC1; Pg. 5


 * LENGTH:** 391 words

THEY are not the kind of surgical instruments you would normally associate with a hospital. But African **drums** are supposedly the latest weapon in the fight against back pain. Staff at Nithbank Hospital in Dumfries tried out the unusual **therapy** as part of a Europe-wide drive to raise awareness of the condition. Playing the **drums** is said to aid relaxation and help combat the stress which can worsen back pain. Clinical staff and workers from the hospitals psychology, administration and training departments were also taught relaxation techniques such as head massage. The voluntary session, which took place during normal working hours, saw a number of staff take a break from their usual jobs to give banging the **drums** a try. NHS Dumfries and Galloway spokesman John Glover said: The African drumming was included as a taster. Those who took part seemed to enjoy it. The session was part of Lighten the Load, this years European Week campaign run by the Health and Safety Executive to focus on musculo-skeletal conditions. Ranging from lower back pain and repetitive strain injuries to neck and upper limb disorders, they are the most common occupational illnesses in Britain affecting around one million workers a year. The aim of the campaign is to support employers, workers, safety representatives and other relevant groups in raising awareness and improving prevention. Relaxation and reduction of stress have an important part to play in beating the conditions. NHS Dumfries and Galloway is running a series of events over the course of this week in a bid to help workers ease the strain. Andy Howat, the boards health and safety officer, said: We are not suggesting that staff should play **drums** at work. We were just showing them there are alternative ways to relax when off duty. He added: The **drums** certainly created a bit of a stir. They proved to be a ideal way of relieving tension. When we think of health and safety at work, we usually think of slips and trips. But we are also concerned with general wellbeing. Relieving tension helps and that is why we are showing staff there are alternative ways of relaxing they can try. The African **drums** were provided by the North-West Resource Centre in Dumfries. Ironically, the Health and Safety Executives European Week campaign for 2005 was titled Stop That Noise aimed at making workplaces quieter. Voice of America News

November 27, 2006

Nursing Home Residents Keep the Beat for Health


 * SECTION:** VOA ENGLISH SERVICE


 * LENGTH:** 399 words

DATELINE: Pittsburgh On a quiet tree-lined street in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the afternoon silence is broken by the sound of **drums** coming from where you would least expect, a neighborhood nursing home where elderly men and women have begun beating  **drums** for better health. Nancy Hahn has a way with older people. On this day, as she does twice a month at Vincentian de Marillac nursing home Hahn pushes all the living room furniture against the wall and invites the elderly residents into a **drum** circle. About a dozen or so in wheelchairs and walkers take up the challenge. One woman rubs a stick back and forth over the jagged ridges of a small wooden frog. Another hits together two long yellow plastic bats called boomwackers. Hahn starts with a love story. "You know it was an autumn day like this one when I met my husband. And I was so thrilled to be spending time with him that I wished the time would never end." The story turns into the popular old standard, Shine on Harvest Moon. Residents recognize the tune and chime in on and off the beat. Then Hahn revs up the musical action, instructing the women to beat their names and shake their noisemakers whenever Hahn takes a step. After that it is a free for all. "Everybody play on your own, whatever you want to hear. You cannot make a mistake in a **drum** circle. Anything goes." Hahn says the **drum** circle is a delight to lead. She treasures moments when she sees glimpses of the residents' more vigorous younger selves. "I get to see in a **drum** circle who their inner persons are. I get to see their sense of humor and the enjoyment they get from each other." Veronica Gault, 82, nods in agreement. "It just makes you feel good. It makes me feel happy," she says. Rose Lubowski, 89, says it lifts her spirits too. "Oh, I love it. I like to participate, and I like the sound of the **drums.** Sometimes when I feel really bad and I hear the sound of the  **drums,** I perk up." None of this surprises Sister Donna Marie Beck, who came for today's session. She heads the music **therapy** department at Duquesne University and says that ancient cultures recognized the healing power of  **drums.** "Only now are 21st century researchers beginning to document its benefits." Sister Donna Maria says the proof that it works as **therapy** was evident today at St. Vincentian de Marillac, where elderly residents wore smiles as they shared the rhythms of life. The Washington Times

April 10, 2007 Tuesday

Nothing beats DRUMMING; Promotes physical well-being


 * BYLINE:** By Ann Geracimos, THE WASHINGTON TIMES


 * SECTION:** LIFE - HEALTH; B01


 * LENGTH:** 1176 words

Like the beat of a heart, a **drum** can bring new life to its owners. Its most avid proponents say a **drum** - used alone or when beating a hand  **drum** in unison with others - promotes both physical and psychological well-being. At the very least, the activity is an expression of community and connectivity that follows a tradition in many native cultures across the world. The practice has taken hold dramatically in this country in recent years. These days, a person doesn't even have to own a **drum** to be able to participate in a movement that attracts young and old alike. "Everyone is basically a drummer who has a heartbeat," says Karl Dustman, representative for the Ohio-based Percussion Marketing Council, which is co-sponsoring an educational curriculum for District fifth- and sixth-grade teachers this spring called Roots of Rhythm that will use instruments as visual and aural aids. "Some nursing homes have **drums** instead of treadmills," he adds. Port Discovery, the children's museum in Baltimore, regularly sponsors a "Healthy First Saturday" program with **drum** facilitator Jonathan Murray, a private teacher in Columbia, Md., that draws up to 100 people each time and includes a Friday afternoon performance as well. The "healthy" label applies, he says, because "it most definitely gives them exercise - cardiovascular and upper body work." Mr. Murray, who works with the Howard County Department of Parks and Recreation, also is helping organize a 1,000-person **drum** circle at the District's National Music Center, outside the old Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square, opposite the Convention Center, on April 22, Earth Day, that he predicts will be the largest event of its kind ever held on the East Coast. Proceeds will benefit the Anacostia Watershed Project, the combined community-government campaign to restore the health of the Anacostia River. **Drums** can't cure disease, Mr. Murray is at pains to point out, only "facilitate" wellness. "We are rhythmic beings, born into a world of rhythm. Every solid particle [of us] is just a bunch of vibrations, so no wonder we respond favorably." "We all respond to **drums,** " says teacher Karen Wallace, of Columbia, Md., who reports that, after a first class with Mr. Murray, "it felt like someone hit me with a sledgehammer, my reaction was so unbelievably good - life changing." She says drumming has brought an "extra dimension" to her life, making her "a little less hurried, more patient with myself .. Perhaps this is a good definition of wellness." Social worker Kara Koppanyi, of Towson, Md., says "even thinking about drumming makes me smile. It is a wonderful fun way to deal with stress." So much so that Ms. Koppanyi bought herself an African **drum** called a djembe that she uses in circles, in Mr. Murray's classes and in the evenings alone. "It really gives me a lot of energy." Her first exposure was through a statewide adult services seminar he gave for social workers when, she says, "he had this whole huge group of stressed-out state workers drumming. It was just an exhilarating experience." New York psychotherapist Robert Lawrence Friedman, another **drum** facilitator, writes in his 2000 softcover book, "The Healing Power of the  **Drum:** A Psychotherapist Explores the Healing Power of Rhythm," how even Alzheimer patients have been able to stay focused for short periods with a  **drum** in their hands. He currently is president of Stress Solutions Inc., providing stress-management seminars to corporate clients and is also affiliated with the St. Barnabas Health Care System in New Jersey. His book is both a personal account and an introductory guide to the subject in which he quotes many leading authorities on their experience drumming in different settings. Andrea Nelson, a nurse from Columbia, Md., who is employed by the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Research Center, had brought in a trained facilitator when she worked at a continuing-care retirement community in Alexandria and found people there "got very engaged," even those who could no longer talk or express themselves in other ways. She, herself, has been taking lessons for several years, at one time with a woman drummer. "Playing the **drums** for an hour is the same kind of exercise as riding a bike," says Martin Walls, managing editor of Making Music, a lifestyle magazine for amateur musicians published in Syracuse, N.Y. "We write about drumming for social, psychological and physical benefits," he says, naming Arthur Hull the "West Coast guru of  **drum** circles" who was promoting  **drum therapy** as far back as the 1960s. Facilitators, Mr. Walls says, take **drums** to corporate functions "to break ice and build team protocol" as well as into medical health facilities. Dr. Barry Bittman, a neurologist who is CEO and medical director of the Mind Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., is a pioneer in the area of using percussion instruments as an effective therapeutic strategy. In 2001, he looked at the effects of group drumming on the immune system and documented how the experience elevated "white killer cells" - the specialized white blood cells that find and destroy virally infected cells. A second study done in 2004 with 75 associate degree nursing students at Allegany College of Maryland showed a marked reduction in stress resulting in lower burnout rates and fewer mood disturbances. The students took part in six weekly one-hour sessions, during which they were asked to express their feelings nonverbally using **drum** and percussion instruments to respond to a series of 12 questions. The two studies were done using a method called HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming developed by a **drum** manufacturing company in North Hollywood, Calif., called Remo Inc. ([|www.remo.com]), after the founder, Remo Belli. HealthRHYTHMS is a company division set up to train health professionals in the use of percussion instruments to promote mind-body wellness in community settings. Dr. Bittman began his work in recreational music making and drumming in particular - what he calls "music for nonmusical outcomes" - because, he explains, the **drum** "is a basic instrument without the challenges of a steep learning curve. People could participate from the start." His recent research focused on seeing "if creative work could reverse the genomic changes or switches that get turned on in human stress" using keyboard instruments, and especially the Clavinova - an electronic computerized musical instrument made by Yamaha. In conjunction with the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Applied Biosystems, his team found stress reduction greater among those taking a keyboard lesson than subjects who simply relaxed by reading. Music making is a means of engaging people on a level he says he hasn't found possible in other ways. There is little resistance, he claims, "and the opportunity to express oneself musically is nothing short of transformative. .. Frankly, when we ask people how they deal with stress, it [the answer] is typically passive: listening to music and such. Most people don't meditate or do yoga or tai chi."

Themes:

Physiological Explanation for how music therapy relieves stress / depression

Local Assessment of drum therapy usage in clinics and mental health centers or rehab centers?

Are we leaning toward examining exclusively autism and similar disorders, or are we still factoring in the elderly?

What about psychiatry?

Three- or four-part

Music therapy and mental disorders " " " rehabilitation " " " the elderly

Which all intertwine, because one can affect the other and so on.

Homeopathic medicine / holistic purposes?

Are we doing in an expository setting, and then assessing it locally?

Some more Research for Project:

STATE DEPT.:** MUSIC THERAPY **HELPS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES****[|US Fed News Service, Including US State News]**. Washington, D.C.: [|Dec 17, 2007]. (found in Proquest)
 * Journal Article:

(This book relates to the psychological effects of music. It also focuses heavily on drum therapy and music therapy in a clinical setting as well as a casual setting.)
 * Author || [|Gioia, Ted.] ||
 * Title || **Healing songs** ||
 * Pub info || Durham : Duke University Press, 2006. ||

Potential interview with Cheryl Wert (Amanda's old boss at the nursing home) Contact info: 231 775 0101 (ask for Cheryl) GOODLLM@MICHWEB.NET

Potential book through ILL- __Community Music Therapy__ from 2004 Answers the question "What is music therapy and how is it used in a community?"

Interview between Scott Casey and Alma College professor Maurie Luetkemeier, conducted on Jan. 11, 2007, via email:

Q: What inspired you to teach the course or to become interested in music therapy in general? A: I am a drummer. I have played since I was 10 years old. Over the years, I have noticed that I am profoundly benefited by playing. I think that it has something to do with being actively engaged in the rhythm of a song. I think that the actions of smacking a drum with your hand or whacking a drum with sticks puts you more in tune with music than if you passively listen to a song. I also think that rhythm itself is very influential. Maybe it is the repetitive nature of rhythm or the consistent ordering of time that is a strong stimulus. We gravitate toward this that are rhythmic because they are predictable and quickly become familiar to us. That familiarity with the beat puts us at ease. We know that the main pulse will continue and that allows us the freedom to try to complement that main pulse with our own rhythmic contributions.

Drum therapy's is so appealing because you don't have to be an expert to enjoy it. Unlike other forms of music where much skill and practice are required. You can be playing drums in minutes.

Q: Did you have any particular goals or concepts you wanted to convey through the course? A: I wanted to demonstrate that drumming universal. It can be used to unite people because they can quickly learn to play and they can quickly contribute to music making.

I want to demonstrate that drumming is therapeutic. I think that most everybody feel better after 15 minutes of drumming. This is true of participants of the class as well as the people that we hosted a drum circle for.

Q: Have you thought of teaching the course again, and, if so, would you have changed anything from last time? A: I have taught the class 3 times. Each time it is different but some of the same elements are consistent. I think the basic format works pretty well.

Alzheimer's disease **meets the "**Mozart **effect"**//Mary Ann Humphrey//. **[|Nursing Homes]**. Cleveland: [|Jun 2000]. Vol. 49, Iss. 6; pg. 50, 2 pgs

**Abstract (Summary)** In long-term care facilities, music is used with elderly residents to increase or maintain their level of physical, mental and social/emotional functioning. It is used to elevate mood and counteract depression, to promote movement for physical rehabilitation, to calm or sedate, to counteract apprehension or fear and lessen muscle tension. In considering music therapy for cognitive dysfunction, the problem lies in patient stimulus, response and processing. Music might form a bridge between the cognitive and creative sides of the brain, opening a small window of opportunity to strengthen the cognitive function. //Copyright Medquest Communications Inc. Jun 2000//
 * »** [|Jump to indexing (document details)]**Full Text** (1571 words)


 * **[Headnote]** ||
 * Why nursing facilities are beginning to discover the restorative powers of music ||

At Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, a long-term care facility in St. Johns, Michigan, residents sit in a circle, many of them lost in their own minds-eyes unfocused, seemingly unaware of any outer reality, or themselves, for that matter. Others are anxious, muttering phrases repeatedly or moving in an agitated fashion. Some have Alzheimer's disease; others suffer from dementia from other causes. Yet when soothing music, with a hint of bright flutes and piano, begins playing in the background, the residents' behavior begins to change subtly. Those who might have been upset or disturbed become less so; unfocused eyes begin to sharpen and try to locate the source of the music. A man in the middle of the circle picks up a guitar and begins playing and singing an upbeat, happytune, stopping to look at each person fully, laughing, maintaining eye contact with them as he moves around the circle, smiling broadly. His audience becomes more animated. Some begin clapping with the beat, smiling, nodding their heads. The transformation appears almost magical: People who previously had been completely withdrawn appear more aware of themselves and their surroundings, more focused, displaying interest. Dr. Steven Hale, PhD, ACC, music therapist/gerontologist, provides music therapy for residents at the Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor nursing home once a month. Director of activities Michelle Aylor-Robbins and nursing home administrator Mary-Ann Bond had heard about Dr. Hales music therapy program from another facility and went to observe a session. "We decided it would definitely be beneficial," says Aylor-Robbins. A $500 donation from the local St. Paul Lutheran Church Youth Group was approved for use in the new music therapy program. Ithas continued, supported by a donation from a resident's family. Says Aylor-Robbins, "...We work to create programs for people of all cognitive functioning levels, and this particular program was specifically designed for lower cognitive functioning residents." "Music therapy in a long-term care setting has a particular value for residents who become isolated, withdrawn and depressed," adds Vicki Ritz, RNC, director of nursing. In long-term care facilities, music is used with elderly residents to increase or maintain their level of physical, mental and social/emotional functioning. It is used to elevate mood and counteract depression, to promote movement for physical rehabilitation, to calm or sedate, to counteract apprehension or fear and lessen muscle tension. The idea of music as a healing influence is at least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. David Luce, who is working toward his PhD in music therapy at Michigan State University, explains that the ancient Greeks considered music a prerequisite to the study of philosophy and the achievement of knowledge so that one could become wise and contribute to society. Based on the premise that music is based on numbers, ratios and proportion, the Greeks proposed that the study of numbers would discipline the mind and allow them to understand greater meaning in the universe. Dr. Hale notes that music was used for dementia clients at the turn of the century by a medical student of Freud's named Mesmer. Mesmer wore flamboyant, brightly colored clothing and had a dramatic, dynamic personality, which was part of his routine as he played and sang to his patients. Mesmer made outrageous statements about the effects his therapy produced, claiming that after 30 minutes, many of his patients who had lost much of their cerebral function began to gain some back, through the physical effort of movement with the music and its ef fects on mood. Other physicians scoffed at his claims, charging that his patients had been hypnotized. Hence, the term "mesmerized," a synonym today for "hypnotized." Mesmer practiced at the dawn of the 20`" century, but the movement toward using music as a healing influence began following World War I, when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, began to visit veterans' hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of men suffering both the physical and emotional trauma of war. This practice continued following World War II, as well. The patients' physical and emotional responses led medical staff to request that hospitals hire musicians routinely. It was soon evident that hospital musicians needed some prior training before entering the facility, and the demand grew for a college curriculum. The first music therapy degree program in the world was founded in 1944 at Michigan State University. The idea that music has a relationship to health and wellness, or any curative or restorative process, is today becoming more mainstream. Approximately 70 universities across the country offer programs in music therapy. "Interest in the field is enormous," says Luce. "The demand is there-we just don't have enough qualified music therapists to fill the need." In considering music therapy for cognitive dysfunction, the problem lies in patient stimulus, response and processing. "In dementia it seems as though the difficulty lies in the processing of information, if not in the expression of response," Luce says. Music might form a bridge between the cognitive and creative sides of the brain, opening a small window of opportunity to strengthen the cognitive function. Can music really improve the lives of dementia clients? "Absolutely," says Dr. Hale. "While individuals with Alzheimer's disease might have lost much of their cognitive functioning, they still retain the ability to respond to emotion, a right brain function. Creativity is the last to go." There is still, however, no overall scientific theory that explains the restorative power of music on human physiology. Much is still a mystery, but there is plenty of research to support the theory that music therapy can have a definite, positive impact on individuals who have lost some cognitive functioning. Researchers have long known that listening to music can directly influence pulse, blood pressure and the electrical activity of muscles. Neuroscientists now suspect that music can actually help build and strengthen the connections among nerve cells in the cerebral cortex. This could be why listening to Mozart before an IQ test boosted scores by roughly nine points, as discovered in 1993 by researchers at the University of California in Irvine. The researchers theorized that complex music facilitates certain complex neuronal patterns involved in higher brain activities, such as mathematics and chess. They suggested that listening to Mozart helps "organize" the firing patterns of neurons in the cerebral cortex, especially strengthening creative right-brain processes associated with spatial-temporal perception. In other words, listening to Mozart's music can improve concentration and enhance ability to make intuitive leaps-the "Mozart Effect." In 1996, researchers at Colorado State University tried giving 10 stroke victims 30 minutes of rhythmic stimulation each day for three weeks. Compared with untreated patients, they showed significant improvement in their ability to walk steadily. People with Parkinson's disease enjoyed similar benefits. A musical beat from any genre seemed to provide a rhythmic cue, stimulating the brain's motor systems. Scottish researchers have found, for example, that a daily dose of Mozart or Mendelssohn significantly brightens the moods of institutionalized stroke victims. Using psychological testing, patients receiving 12 weeks of daily music therapy were less depressed and anxious, and more stable and sociable, than other patients in the same facility. Deforia Lane, a music therapist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, has shown that music can boost immune function in children. This is consistent with a 1994 finding by Louisiana researchers that premature babies exposed to lullabies in the hospital went home earlier. From research results, it seems apparent that music therapy can benefit a wide range of individuals with various physical and cognitive impairments. It is also universal-clients need not have any particular musical ability to benefit from music therapy. Also, although Mozart has been singled out for attention, one style of music isn't necessarily better than another. The therapist uses different pieces according to the client's needs. Dr. Hale says that the difference in affect of clients undergoing 30 minutes of music therapy is quite noticeable. "After the peak period, you can ask a resident a question and sometimes get a reality-based answer." During his most recent session at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, two residents were asked about their experience immediately after the session. Richard, known as "Jim," Kumrie responded with a deeply emotional affect and a fond reminiscence. "It's great," he said, referring to the music. "I think it's what everybody needs, to come here from time to time. When I hear good music, I always cry a little bit. When I was a boy, I learned to play the piano. I played at the Kimball Music Hall in Chicago. There were 12 of us from all the public schools. We were at 12 grand pianos, all Kimballs. As time went on, why, I gave up my piano playing. I've kicked myself forever after." Lorna Smith, another resident, had a brief moment of lucidity. "I just got all around the music and let it get all around me," she said, smiling. "If you can only imagine the terror and isolation that is brought on by dementia, music is a way to connect through that isolation on the most basic level," says Luce. The Hippocratic oath - every physician's creed - says, "First do no harm." Music therapy certainly meets that criterion: A little music never hurt anyone.mH


 * STATE DEPT.:** MUSIC THERAPY HELPS PEOPLE **WITH DISABILITIES****[|US Fed News Service, Including US State News]**. Washington, D.C.: [|Dec 17, 2007].

**»** [|Jump to indexing (document details)]**Full Text** (861 words) //Copyright © HT Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved.//

The U.S. Department of State's International Information Programs issued the following press release: By Carolee WalkerUSINFO Staff Writer Some stroke victims who have lost the ability to speak fluently often are able to sing, says a leading music therapist. But even when you have the beat, it is hard to play music if you cannot move. Innovations in music technology are making it possible - and enjoyable - for people with severe physical disabilities to play and compose music. They also can help restore speech. Research shows that music therapy is effective in promoting wellness among healthy people, and it has been shown to alleviate pain and improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. SINGING HELPS SPEECH RECOVERY Singing and speaking are neurologically different functions, said Concetta M. Tomaino, who has a Ph.D. in music therapy. For example, stroke victims can sometimes sing entire lyrics of songs but are unable to speak a simple "Hello." Clinical studies conducted by Tomaino and her colleagues, especially Dr. Oliver Sacks, author of Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain and a British neurologist on the faculty at Columbia University in New York, have shown that singing word phrases such as "Hello, how are you?" affects speech recovery by "rehearsing" speech. By putting regular speech and common phrases into a musical context, patients who have trouble speaking but are conscious and cognizant of what is being said to them are learning to say "Hello" and more. Tomaino, a trained musician, is executive director of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function and president of music therapy at Beth Abraham Family Health Services in New York. "Singing rehearses the speech element in the brain to become functional," Tomaino told USINFO. "We are now studying the potential effect of singing and related 'cueing' on the recovery of speech - using musical sounds that sound like phrases or putting regular speech phrases into a musical context." LIVE AND DIGITAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CAN IMPROVE MOTOR SKILLS In addition to restoring speech, music therapy can improve motor skills and coordination, according to the American Music Therapy Association. Most of the music therapy work with stroke patients and people suffering symptoms of neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's consists of what therapists call "live and in the moment." Such therapy incorporates live and recorded music and encourages patients to play actual musical instruments. For some patients suffering physical disabilities and people with brain injuries, therapists use software known as MIDI (Musical Interface Digital Instrument) as an important component of music therapy, Tomaino said. Companies equip musical instruments with devices that make it possible for individuals with disabilities to hold and play instruments. But for people with little or no ability to move their arms or legs, or to move them in a coordinated way, it has been impossible to play an instrument. Now patients who need to increase strength and range of motion in their hands and arms can use digital drumsticks, Tomaino said. OTHER INNOVATIONS IN COMPUTER MUSIC TECHNOLOGY ALSO HELP DISABLED Similarly, at the REHAB school in Poughkeepsie, New York, physically disabled children and teenagers use tiny movements of their head to make music as part of a project developed by musicians and computer software designers at the Deep Listening Institute in Kingston, New York. A digital video camera connected to a computer displays an image of the patient on a screen. A cursor placed on some part of the screen image of the head tracks even subtle head movements electronically that translate into musical notes heard through the computer's speakers. The program can be played in two modes. In piano mode, a movement from side to side plays a piano scale; in percussion mode the same movement creates a drum roll. The computer program Hyperscore allows people to compose music by scoring it using line graphs comprising a broad range of instrument sounds. Hyperscore was developed by Tod Machover, a professor of music and media at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and director of the Opera of the Future project at MIT. Other organizations developing MIDI software include the Drake Music Project in London. At Drake Music, students with cerebral palsy, including some as young as 11, wear a Cyberlink headband that detects electrical signals from facial and eye movements and even brainwaves. Special software, called Brainfingers at Drake, turns the signals into "fingers" that move the mouse and play notes on the keyboard to create music. DISABLED CAN USE MUSIC TO EXPAND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION Innovations in digital music projects expand the goals of music therapy by providing a mode of creative expression for people with severe physical disabilities, Pauline Oliveros, founder of the Deep Listening Institute, said in a news report. "Making something empowers," Oliveros said. "That can be very healing and exciting." Tomaino encourages patients to use music to deal with emotional issues, especially when they are unable to express them through speech. "Nonverbal communication is essential and a first bridge to recovery," she said. Additional information on the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function and the Deep Listening Institute is available on the organizations' Web sites.

Visual Representations for Unit 1





Scott, Erin, Amanda