Music ExperienceMusic therapy- Edinburgh Summer 2009 Children with Autism, like any other children, love to be stimulated and enjoy discovering how different instruments make different sounds. Music can assist communication and the perception and expression of emotions. ATT will offer our children weekly sessions of music therapy using a wide variety of percussion instruments. The sessions will be run initially on a 1:1 basis to be gradually extended to small group sessions with a Nordoff Robins- trained music therapist, Mike Nolan, accompanied by our principal scientist and two assistants. We offer this opportunity to children with autism who would like to take part to this experience, the aims are essentially to have a good time, experience music and relate through music with self, environment, others, or what ever... Please contact ATT if you are interested by this opportunity. How does Creative Music therapy work? Spontaneous musical improvisation is at the heart of the Creative Music Therapy approach. Simple percussion or tuned instruments, such as piano or acoustic guitar, with the therapist’s own voice, are used to respond creatively to the sounds produced by the child, and encourage them to create his or her own musical language. Instruments are selected which, after the initial few sessions, the therapist finds the child is drawn to or at least does not find threatening. Some people have a strong preference for one type of sound and find others intolerable; this individualistic approach is one of the strengths of music therapy for people with autism. The aim is to create a context of sound within which a child feels comfortable and able to express themselves, to experience a wider range of emotions, and to discover what it is like to be in a two-way communicating relationship. Simple songs or pieces in a variety of musical styles may become a recurring element in the therapy sessions, but are always used flexibly to suit the mood and clinical needs of the client at any given moment. In fact, music as therapy need not fall into conventional patterns or even use words; the therapist can respond to any vocal or physical responses from the child; these have definite rhythm and pitch and can be reflected in musical terms. There are important differences between music therapy and music lessons. In the therapeutic context, a child is not taught to play any instrument, and while musical skills may acquired in the course of the therapy sessions, this is a secondary effect and not the primary aim of the therapy. Music therapy sessions are usually held weekly. The number and duration of the sessions are agreed in advance to suit the individual child’s particular needs and circumstances. It may be decided that a child would respond better to music therapy as part of a small group than on a one-to-one basis with the therapist. Because structure and consistency are so important for this client group, music therapy ideally takes place in the same place each week; a quiet room where with no distractions. The sessions are recorded on discreet audio or video devices to enable the therapist to review and develop musical components significant for the individual’s development from week to week. These recordings are normally treated as confidential clinical records; however, in some cases video may used to share work with parents and other professionals or, possibly, for clinical teaching purposes. Video of Mike working with some of the children seen at ATT: Music& Life Article of interest: |
