Music Therapy Activities

What are Some Music Therapy Activities?

Music therapy activities are much more varied than it seems.  Though it would be reasonable to think that music therapy would consist of music, the extent to which music can be used is far more expansive.  From lyrics to dance, musical backgrounds and song sharing, music therapy activities can be custom fit to the patient they are meant to help.  But learning more about each of these techniques can help patients and therapists get ahead of the problem and start getting to the solutions.

Using song lyrics is one of the more common music therapy activities in rehabilitative and counseling sessions.  By writing lyrics about difficult things in your life, you might be able to see connections and solutions to your own problems.  The therapists might have to rewrite the lyrics to a particular song you enjoy or to a song that you feel is similar to your feelings at the time.  You might also be asked to write lyrics to a song about the life you want to create for yourself – whether this is related to psychological or physical changes.

Dancing to music is another way to encourage people to work through a number of problems.  In the physical therapy setting, dancing and moving to the music are music therapy activities that can bolster strength as well as moods.  By slowly working your way up to more strenuous activities, a patient can begin to feel more confident in their ability to move while also gaining strength and stamina along the way.  With upbeat music, it’s easier for people to continue working out too as they can feel inspired by the tempo or the lyrics in the songs they choose.

Just playing soft music in the background of a therapeutic session can be considered one of the more positive and practical music therapy activities.  Every wonder why elevators always play soft and soothing music?  Because this helps people relax and not worry so much about the elevator malfunctioning.  On the opposite side of the music gamut, playing harder, louder and faster music can increase the heart rate and cause the person listening to make decisions more quickly than they should – that’s why many stores play loud and penetrating music.

Therapists might also use music therapy activities that include sharing songs that the patient or the therapist feel are relevant to their discussions.  By taking time to share a song, the patient doesn’t have to talk as much about what they feeling, letting the music speak for them.

There are many music therapy activities that can help the patient reach their goals and the therapist to communicate in a positive and successful way.

Music Therapy and Autism

Music Therapy and Autism: How the Right Notes Can Help

Autism is a disorder of the brain that results in communication difficulties and the inability to behave normally in social situations. The symptoms of autism usually show themselves within the first three years of life. Some people experience less severe autism symptoms and can eventually live a semi-independent life. Unfortunately, those with severe autism often must continue to live at home throughout adulthood. This is a very serious disease and as with any disease, there are many different proposed treatments. One of the most highly recognized and used treatments for autism is music therapy.

Music therapy and autism have a fantastic relationship. Most autistic persons have a love for music, and this of course makes it essential to use music therapy as a treatment. Music therapy and autism treatment works well because of the almost obsessive interest autistic persons have in music. As a result, using music therapy to treat autism has a very good rate of positive response. The theory behind the relationship between the positive results of music therapy and autism is rooted in the way autistic people typically view other people and social situations. Music provides a non-intrusive way for the autistic person to be exposed to stimulation without becoming threatening or requiring the autistic person to interact directly with other people.

There are many different ways autistic persons can be helped with music therapy. For example, certain music therapies can foster an autistic person’s desire to communicate with others; external stimuli like music can help to break patterns of isolationism in autistic persons. Music therapy can even be used to treat some of the motility problems experienced by autistic persons as well as help facilitate language usage and comprehension. All of these positive results of music therapy and autism increase the autistic person’s social abilities, and this is one of the most important things to focus on in the average autism patient.

It is important to remember that while music therapy and autism treatment have a lot of major benefits, some autistic persons can be overwhelmed by music therapy. Over-stimulation can be the result of some music therapies, so it is vital that music therapists are qualified to work with autism patients and that they are completely familiar with the patient before beginning therapy. All autistic persons are different, and this is the reason why one type of autistic person might benefit from music therapy and autism patients of another type might be harmed. Sometimes, autistic persons can become consumed with music and this can foster the wrong types of behaviors like further isolation and withdrawal. These possible difficulties should not suggest that all autistic persons will have negative reactions to music therapy. When applied correctly and to the right individual, music therapy and autism treatment can definitely help many autistic persons.