Music Therapy Research

For many individuals, music is a strong part of their environment. Music can be an individual’s go-to on tough days, pump-up for working out, a hobby, a career, and even an identifier. Within every culture, music has more than likely played a role in one way or another. In an article by Cunha written in October of 2016 titled Musicking Together: Affective, Cognitive and Physical Aspects of a Music Therapy Group Work, music showed its true colors as an identifier within a Community Music Therapy (CoMT) group that consisted of five women, six students, and a teacher.

“Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer among women worldwide,” (Zhou, et. al., 2011). This study was based in China and the writers state how relevant breast cancer rates are in their country as well as in the western regions of the world. They state that the primary treatment for breast cancer is surgery among several other treatment options, and those can lead to negative side effects and unhealthy mood, such as depression. The prevalence rate of depression in China ranges from 3.0% to 47.6%, and in other countries it ranges from 34.4% to 89.5%. 

One tool to care for these patients is the use of music therapy, and the purpose of such is to “improve, maintain, remediate, or prevent one or more of the clinical issues in clients as specified in their needs for habilitation and rehabilitation” (Zhou, et. al., 2011). Some benefits stated in this article can include evoking positive emotions and memories, improving sense of self and mood, enhancing psychological wellbeing and decreasing psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and fear, etc.

Maybe you are someone who is dealing with a friend or family member with late stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or maybe you’ve heard about how challenging it is to look after someone with the debilitating disease.  Maybe your loved one just passed away because of how Alzheimer’s ravished their body and you are still hurting, wishing you had been able to do more.  

As a practicing music therapist who sees patients/clients with this devastating disease, I see how music can improve quality of life even if my time with them is brief.  That may include seeing a smile, watching them struggle to sing the words, but visibly enjoying the music or slightly moving their body (head or hands) to the beat of the music. Click here for more!

If you have a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), you are always looking for treatment modalities to help them with their social challenges and bring out their strengths as a person.  As a therapist and parent of an adult child with ASD, I know that I have wanted the best for my child so he can be as independent as possible.

Through various trials and studies, music therapy researchers as well as non-music therapy researchers have studied the benefits of using music with children challenged by the limitations and challenges that come with having ASD.  This group of researchers wanted to look specifically at how the auditory-motor connectivity can change if exposed to music and music activities over a period of time. Their study included 51 children ranging in age from six to twelve years in which approximately half of them received music and the other half received non-musical interventions.  Specifically the children in the music group were exposed to songs and improvisation techniques, which focused on socialization. 

Bjorgvin prison, nestled within Norway’s open woodlands, challenges conventional perceptions of incarceration. Established in 2006 to address long waiting times for sentencing, the prison houses 90 male inmates, each with surprising freedoms, including keys to their own rooms. In this unique environment, music therapy emerges as a powerful force in shaping emotional landscapes. The prison’s music room becomes a “musical emotion zone,” offering a sanctuary for self-expression. Inmates describe their music room as a non-judgmental space where they feel like musicians.

This study sheds light on the nuanced role of music therapy in prison settings, emphasizing its potential to create emotional spaces, challenge stereotypes, and foster connections. While acknowledging the complexities of power dynamics and the potential for exclusion, it highlights the transformative impact of musicking in the rehabilitation journey, underscoring the fluid and emergent nature of the emotional geography within the prison walls.

This study was published in 2011 by Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea! It is a private research university, and one of three SKY universities, which are widely regarded as the most prestigious in the country. The purpose of this study was to “investigate the effects of music therapy on depressive mood and anxiety in post-stroke patients and evaluate satisfaction levels of patients and caregivers.”

The study states, “Music therapy appears to affect physiological phenomena such as blood pressure, heartbeat, respiration, and mydriasis as well as emotional aspects such as mood and feelings.” Oxford Dictionary defines mydriasis as the dilation of the pupils of the eyes. Other side effects of music include change of respiratory rhythm, relaxation of muscular stiffness, and decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. 

Singing together can promote positive biopsychosocial outcomes in adults who are dealing with a variety of neurological symptoms and issues. When researching these types of benefits and their outcomes, it is important to collect data that reflects qualitative and quantitative information. Viewing a person’s overall wellbeing and quality of life from a biopsychosocial perspective reinforces that a person’s wellbeing isn’t tied to one factor, like health for example. Music is an excellent medium to facilitate focusing on the whole person; not just the social, biological or psychological domains separately, but all together. This study, published in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, aims to explore the experiences of participants with neurological difficulties in a choral setting.

As we move into a new decade, many mind shifts are taking place in personal lives, in professional lives, and in social lives. Perhaps, it is time we also make a shift in awareness of our psychotherapeutic relationship with our clients, specifically, our power differential within the relationship.

For many years, therapeutic relationships (music and non-music) have existed in a traditional dyad setting, for some seen in a ‘normal’ v. ‘abnormal’ viewpoint. This viewpoint dates back to 1973, and before, when the American Psychiatric Association finally removed “homosexuality” from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This shift away from pathologizing the LGBTQ community did not end in one night, in fact it is still prevalent within many communities. In recent work with the LGBTQ communities, conversations have opened around queer theories though invitation to music therapists considering a framework for use with LGBTQ youth. Authors noted, that “this theoretical framework advances a conceptual model of queer music therapy that emphasizes opportunities for empowerment as opposed to assuming vulnerability and/or ‘fixing’ LGBTQ individuals.” Although the study these authors worked towards was specific to the LGBTQ community, this opened the doors for a new theory to arise, queer theory. 

A stroke can result in a number of effects such as impaired speech, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, and impaired cognition. Stroke patients typically work with speech, physical, and occupational therapists, but what about music therapists? 

A recent article by Tara Rajendran and Martha Summa-Chadwick examined the use of music therapy in neurological rehabilitation, particularly focused on stroke rehabilitation. This article examined the use of music therapy in neurological rehabilitation to discuss the scope and potential of music therapy in stroke recovery. Music is processed in many different areas of the brain rather than predominantly on one side or in a specific area of the brain. Because music stimulates a variety of areas of the brain, it can be used to aid in brain plasticity, which helps create new connections in the brain to regain lost function such as speech and motor movement.

Living with a child with anxiety can be stressful for the caregivers, siblings, and other professionals interacting with the child. Without treatment, these behaviors can extend into adulthood so intervention should occur as early as the behaviors appear. Current treatments include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, pharmacological treatment, or a combination of these treatments. Music therapy is a non-invasive and safe way to help children manage their anxiety. This therapy is hands on and gives children an alternative method to communicate their feelings, which children may have trouble conveying through words. 

Goldbeck & Ellerkamp (2012) conducted a study of children ages eight to twelve diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Individual and group  music therapy sessions were conducted and included guided relaxation interventions, structured instrument play, and painting to music. Activities were aimed towards helping children identifying emotions, identifying when they need to relax, and how to use music to relax. Parent training sessions also occurred. Reoccurrences of anxiety were significantly less after music therapy group as opposed to the traditional intervention group. Results indicated that music therapy may be more appealing to children who are reluctant to participate in traditional verbal therapy. 

Being a teenager is tough, especially when school stress piles up. This stress can really affect how teenagers feel about themselves and low self-esteem can make things even harder for them. Feeling bad about themselves can lead to other problems like feeling anxious or sad, however, researchers wanted to see how music therapy could make a difference. Music therapy focuses on the elements and power of music to help reduce stress and boost self-esteem.

Researchers examined how music listening could help teenagers feel better about themselves, especially when they’re stressed out about school. They wanted to see if music therapy could improve their self-esteem. They selected 60 teenagers who were stressed about school and stated they felt bad about themselves. They divided them into two groups: one group got music therapy for 15 days, and the other did not. Click here for more!

“Music therapy is an established allied health profession and is used with increased frequency in the treatment of those with terminal illness,” (Hilliard, 2005). The author states this article reviews the imperial studies found in the literature and documents of an evidence-based approach of music therapy in hospice and palliative care. 

With new music therapy programs, more families and patients have access to this service at end-of-life care. This article states that methods used by music therapists include songwriting, improvisation, guided imagery and music, lyric analysis, singing, instrument playing, and relaxation techniques. These methods contribute to the care of increased socialization, emotional well-being, cognitive stimulation, decrease pain, and spiritual support. Hilliard also states that music therapy is rich in qualitative studies. Not only does music therapy patient needs and hospice and palliative care, it also addresses family needs. 

I recently started working with a number of children on the Autism Spectrum (ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder).  I also have a son who is 39, diagnosed years ago with the same diagnosis.  I hear more and more individuals say, “I have a _________ (relative – nephew, cousin, niece, etc.) with ASD.”  What does this mean?  How is that more and more individuals are being diagnosed with this disorder?  I also hear parents say, my child is “neuro-divergent.”  In the medical community, what are they finding?

Back in the late 80’s, my husband and I went through a series of tests with our son to find out that he was “developmentally delayed.”  At that time, the term “Autism Spectrum Disorder” was not used on children that could walk, talk, etc., like our son was doing…Click here for more!