Music Therapy – Keeping the Beat Music Therapy – Keeping the Beat Alive!Alive!

Matt WhitakerMatt WhitakerMusic TherapistMusic Therapist

Who am I?Who am I?

Lifelong music loverLifelong music lover Attended UGAAttended UGA GuitaristGuitarist Interned at Wesley Woods Hospital Interned at Wesley Woods Hospital Activity Therapist at Budd TerraceActivity Therapist at Budd Terrace Active personActive person ResearchResearch

Music Therapy DefinitionMusic Therapy Definition

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic individualized goals within a therapeutic

relationship by a credentialed professional who relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy has completed an approved music therapy

program.program.

"On this day, I was playing the patient. An "On this day, I was playing the patient. An intensive, exhaustive seven-hour schedule was intensive, exhaustive seven-hour schedule was

presented, full of physical therapy, speech, presented, full of physical therapy, speech, recreational, occupational and my personal recreational, occupational and my personal favorite – music therapy."- Dr. Sanjay Guptafavorite – music therapy."- Dr. Sanjay Gupta

What is Music Therapy/Why Music?What is Music Therapy/Why Music?

Music is multi-modalMusic is multi-modal Music appeals to the emotions, it can calm or Music appeals to the emotions, it can calm or

provokeprovoke Music provides structureMusic provides structure Music MAY lift someones moodMusic MAY lift someones mood Music can distract or divert attentionMusic can distract or divert attention Music is reality orienting (makes you aware of Music is reality orienting (makes you aware of

your surroundings)your surroundings)

Purpose of Providing MusicPurpose of Providing Music

Encourage social interaction Encourage social interaction Enhance awarenessEnhance awareness Encourage exercise Encourage exercise Sensory stimulationSensory stimulation Memory stimulationMemory stimulation Encourages emotional bondingEncourages emotional bonding Enhances the gestaltEnhances the gestalt Lifts staff spiritsLifts staff spirits Provides inter-generational interactionProvides inter-generational interaction

Types of Music (Major Genres)Types of Music (Major Genres)

JazzJazz ClassicalClassical FolkFolk CountryCountry WorldWorld ReligiousReligious RockRock BluesBlues R&BR&B

What kind of music?What kind of music?

There is no one music that is more or less There is no one music that is more or less effective than any othereffective than any other

Personal preference is most importantPersonal preference is most important Music that was popular during resident's Music that was popular during resident's

formative years, ages 12-25 is most effectiveformative years, ages 12-25 is most effective No one client is the sameNo one client is the same Our music is changing (younger residents, Our music is changing (younger residents,

rehab floors, broader range of choices)rehab floors, broader range of choices)

Accentuation/DiminutionAccentuation/Diminution

Any activity should follow a bell curveAny activity should follow a bell curve There should be a steady rise and fall in tempo There should be a steady rise and fall in tempo

and volumeand volume An activity can be as short as a song, as long An activity can be as short as a song, as long

as an houras an hour An activity can be individualized or groupAn activity can be individualized or group Activities can focus on group or individual goalsActivities can focus on group or individual goals Does not have to be a “scheduled” activityDoes not have to be a “scheduled” activity Music can be inserted into other activitiesMusic can be inserted into other activities

Activity GroupingsActivity Groupings

Alzheimer's DiseaseAlzheimer's Disease Hospice PatientsHospice Patients CVA/Stroke/Traumatic Brain InjuryCVA/Stroke/Traumatic Brain Injury High Blood PressureHigh Blood Pressure Congestive Heart FailureCongestive Heart Failure Developmental Disabilities Developmental Disabilities Long Term Residents (encouraging a home-like Long Term Residents (encouraging a home-like

atmosphere)atmosphere) Rehab Patients!!!Rehab Patients!!!

Alzheimer's DiseaseAlzheimer's Disease

Play familiar songs to increase reality Play familiar songs to increase reality orientationorientation

Provide comfort during stressful situationsProvide comfort during stressful situations Redirect wanderingRedirect wandering Music can provide structure during daily Music can provide structure during daily

activities such as mealtimes:use seasonally and activities such as mealtimes:use seasonally and time appropriate songstime appropriate songs

Music can also decrease stress and unpleasant Music can also decrease stress and unpleasant sensory experiences during bathingsensory experiences during bathing

ActivitiesActivities

Name that tuneName that tune Complete the rhyme Complete the rhyme Old fashioned sing alongOld fashioned sing along Walk and humWalk and hum Rhythmic chant (Melodic Intonation Therapy)Rhythmic chant (Melodic Intonation Therapy) Rise and ShineRise and Shine

Hospice PatientsHospice Patients

Play soft, soothing music to promote awarenessPlay soft, soothing music to promote awareness Use familiar music to assist with disease Use familiar music to assist with disease

transitiontransition Sing to patients (sometimes that's easier than Sing to patients (sometimes that's easier than

talking)talking) Make “Lifesong” mix cd's for families to help Make “Lifesong” mix cd's for families to help

address closureaddress closure Write and record a “Lifesong” with patientWrite and record a “Lifesong” with patient The last sense to go is...The last sense to go is...

Neuro/CVA/Stroke/TBINeuro/CVA/Stroke/TBI

"I regard music therapy as a tool of great power "I regard music therapy as a tool of great power in many neurological disorders -- Parkinson's in many neurological disorders -- Parkinson's and Alzheimer's -- because of its unique and Alzheimer's -- because of its unique capacity to organize or reorganize cerebral capacity to organize or reorganize cerebral function when it has been damaged." -Oliver function when it has been damaged." -Oliver SacksSacks

Music can assist with entrainment (Gabby Music can assist with entrainment (Gabby Gifford)Gifford)

Music can structure exercise/rehabMusic can structure exercise/rehab Familiar music can stimulate memoryFamiliar music can stimulate memory Provides sensory stimulationProvides sensory stimulation

Strategies for Rehab PatientsStrategies for Rehab Patients

Provide co-treatment with rehab therapies Provide co-treatment with rehab therapies (OT,PT, SLP)(OT,PT, SLP)

Use music as a rapport building tool Use music as a rapport building tool Use newer music (no more “Let Me Call You Use newer music (no more “Let Me Call You

Sweetheart”)Sweetheart”) Introduce adaptive dance groupsIntroduce adaptive dance groups Bring in live musicBring in live music Use contract music therapists in rehab setting Use contract music therapists in rehab setting Make therapy an exciting part of YOUR Make therapy an exciting part of YOUR

program, not THEIRS program, not THEIRS

Rehab ActivitiesRehab Activities

““Moovin' and Groovin'”Moovin' and Groovin'” Drum circlesDrum circles Patient recitals (when you have one, use them!)Patient recitals (when you have one, use them!) HummmmbleHummmmble Advertise what recorded music will be playing Advertise what recorded music will be playing

at certain times (golden oldies, jazz night)at certain times (golden oldies, jazz night) Insert musical preferences to your interviews Insert musical preferences to your interviews

and follow throughand follow through Make a fool of yourself!Make a fool of yourself!

High Blood Pressure/Congestive High Blood Pressure/Congestive Heart FailureHeart Failure

Familiar music can calm patients and lower Familiar music can calm patients and lower blood pressureblood pressure

Music can also provide comfort during times of Music can also provide comfort during times of distressdistress

Singing can increase lung functionSinging can increase lung function Music provides structure for breathingMusic provides structure for breathing Music and imagery can change perception of Music and imagery can change perception of

surroundings surroundings

Home-like AtmosphereHome-like Atmosphere

Play music during social timesPlay music during social times Have preferred music in resident's room to Have preferred music in resident's room to

create a personalized environmentcreate a personalized environment Music in common areas should be used Music in common areas should be used

sparingly, do not ruin its noveltysparingly, do not ruin its novelty Use live music whenever possibleUse live music whenever possible Do not use music if it is not preferredDo not use music if it is not preferred Come up with musical themesCome up with musical themes

Ways to Provide MusicWays to Provide Music

Live music Live music Music TherapistsMusic Therapists Music PractitionersMusic Practitioners Lay performersLay performers Residents Residents

Recorded musicRecorded music CDsCDs RadioRadio Loaded mp3 player from familyLoaded mp3 player from family Mp3 players for checkout Mp3 players for checkout Music DVD'sMusic DVD's

My GroupsMy Groups

Movement to MusicMovement to Music Sing AlongSing Along Devotional Devotional Name That TuneName That Tune ““Genre” Bag TossGenre” Bag Toss SocialsSocials Service LeagueService League Rise and ShineRise and Shine Music History/Music and ReadingMusic History/Music and Reading