Music Therapy Research

My, oh, my! How things have changed in the last 15 years. "Back in the day, I remember trudging through the halls at Alverno College to the library and looking through the periodicals and card catalogues."  I was looking for research to support my research project focusing on geriatrics and food intake. Today, I could easily find at least 25 scholarly articles within 10 minutes on the internet.

Maybe it is because of the history I have with the pains of finding relatable research that make me dislike it. I actually love the idea of doing a research project, but that initial step has made it easy for me to put research far, far back on the WAY backest burner.

I have to be honest, the closest I have gotten to researching something lately is looking for new ideas on Pinterest, heading to conferences or asking for advice on different social media forums.  Little did I know Pinterest is actually an awesome place to find research. Just searching "music therapy research" gave me a huge list of music therapy books that I had not been aware even existed.  More links to pediatric, hospital, geriatric and general music therapy were easily found.

Working within a geriatric setting, my main interest in research has been finding appropriate songs and interventions to engage my residents. But since beginning my new job in early May, I've also been intrigued by research on "Music & Memory." I know many music therapists have had questions or concerns about the program. Being a music therapist, I feel any opportunity to expose residents to music especially preferred music from their early adulthood, is a positive. Being in a position that allows me to observe 10 residents that participate in an established program, I've seen first hand the power of the residents preferred music. In Wisconsin, we have had approximately 200 nursing homes participate in the "Music & Memory" program. Even though "Music & Memory" is not overseen by music therapists exclusively, there are tips that are helpful for any caregiver caring for a family member.  Of course, within the "Music & Memory" program, facilities have been limited on who is eligible to participate and how many residents can participate. Our facility has a good amount of money set aside to add additional iPods and residents to the program.  After reading about success stories, I would love to do more research within this population.

Using familiar music, to "evoke emotions and influence mood and arousal is often relatively well preserved also in dementia." (Music and Medicine July 2012 vol. 4 no. 3 153-162) So even though "Music & Memory" is definitely a hot topic, I'm hoping to do my own research since my floor is the pilot floor in my facility. I know iPods are not a replacement for music therapists, but I definitely also know that I cannot be in 10 rooms conducting 10 individual music therapy sessions daily. Until that day when I can, I'll be looking for more research and working towards the day I can provide live music therapy sessions are more beneficial providing the added personal touch that recorded music fails to provide.

Music, Emotion, and Dementia.Insight From Neuroscientific and Clinical Research. Teppo Särkämö, PhD, Sari Laitinen, Mari Tervaniemi, PhD, MA, Ava Numminen, PhD, MA,  Merja Kurki, PhD, MA, Pekka Rantanen, PhD, MD,  Music and Medicine July 2012 vol. 4 no. 3 153-162

The Role of Singing Familiar Songs in Encouraging Conversation Among People with Middle to Late Stage Alzheimer’s Disease

Ayelet Dassa, PhD and 

Dorit Amir, DA, ACMT

J Music Ther (2014) 51 (2): 131-153.

The #MusicTherapyBlogger Challenge - Week 4
This week’s challenge is to pick a current research article or chapter of a book that is closely related to your target audience and summarize it.

Summarize and cite the reading, then add your reflections upon it. You may want to discuss what surprised you, how the results can help your audience, why you picked the article/chapter, or what your “take-away” moment was from the reading.

And there is an added bonus to this challenge: it keeps you refreshed on the growing literature in our field!

Top Five Tuesday: Jim Reeves

Jim Reeves is a treasured Country & Western singer from mainly the 1950's. He is one of those American legends that died much too young. Dying in a plane crash at the age of 40, his legend does carry on and has definitely made a mark within the geriatric population.  Those born in the 1930's, remember his songs fondly as they were popular in their late teens early 20's. One of my favorite Jim Reeves songs is "Four Walls." "Ramona" is also a favorite and I love to pick out Lady Name songs around Mother's day. Jim Reeves did perform many spirituals and hymns, along with many other performers of the era. Here's a few of my favorites I like to sing when I remember, a few hymns and a few catchy tunes, Bimbo has a fun repetitive little refrain, Mexican Joe also has a rhythmic, rhyming refrain.  

1. Welcome to My World
2. Where We'll Never Grow Old
3. Bimbo
4. Mexican Joe
5. Take My Hand Precious Lord

Inspirational Saturday: Success

"The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it's the same problem you had last year." ~John Foster Dulles~

It is so easy to get stuck. So easy to keep doing the same thing over and over. The toughest part of anything is getting started, but what happens if after starting it's not turning out exactly as expected. Of course, there needs to be a time of assessment and seeing if goals have been obtained. If a given approach is not working, try something else.  

I love this quote from former Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles.  I used it first while losing a good deal of weight and realizing that losing weight was easy, but maintaining the loss was the tough part. I didn't want to deal with the same problem again. Within music therapy, I have always attempted to try something new, don't use the same old "moldy oldies." Working with geriatric residents is an easy population to attempt new ideas with. They are forgiving, patient and just happy to have someone with them. If an intervention doesn't work, try something else. Make a note of the failed intervention and either tweak it to improve the success rate or decide not to use it again.

This week, I was able to start using more music within my new position. My exercise program still has some tweaking to do, but I definitely know it is a successful musical exercise program as I've used it in the past and my new residents caught on quickly and with laughter, singing and lots of verbal interaction. I was able to conduct two "Music in Motion" programs and the second happened to be in a very public area where lots of visitors pass through. I received more compliments in that one day than I have in the last five years. Something new for them, but I've spent years tweaking it to make it successful. I'll share my favorite exercise songs and physical music routines sometime in the future.

What determines success? Is it being prepared musically? Is it having a perfect session plan created? Is it being ready for the unexpected? Success...

One of the biggest aspects of success is building off success. Experience being successful makes it easier to be successful again. After years and years of successful music therapy sessions, it is easier to develop sessions that will be successful. Build a session from beginning to end with the building blocks in mind. How do you want to start, end and what's in the body of the session. Are you building towards a climax and giving time for sensory awareness? Those are the first interventions I look for.

One program that I will be tweaking is the Hymn Sing that occurs weekly. The residents have done the same hymn sing for years and although it has familiar hymns and the residents feel comfortable with the routine, I've already told my Activity Director that whenever possible I will provide live music.  I may use the canned music for another week or two while I tweak my own hymn sing to be successful. It's an already successful experience, but I'd like to make it even more personal with the "live" aspect. Starting with a familiar hymn that will remain the same every session, building towards a climatic event, which would be receiving Communion, giving time for sensory awareness with the drum entraining to "Holy Ground" and ending with a familiar hymn to close.  My hymn sing will evolve and change and hopefully in a year I will not be saying that it's still a problem session for me.

Having to deal with the same problem over and over can be frustrating, stressful and draining. Develop a plan to deal with the problem and plan for success.

Memorial Day Singalong

Sing alongs are some of my favorite sessions to lead. Especially, if they are connected to a special day. I do like adding other aspects such as instruments, reminiscing or movement to add to my session and make them more individualized rather than entertainment.  I put together a patriotic sing along years ago and have used it more than any other session I've planned.  Patriotic songs can be used for President's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Veteran's Day or any other day of significance including 9/11 (Patriot Day), D-Day, etc. From my experience, these Patriotic/Folk songs bring people together and engage residents more than any other type of music.  The facial affects, reminiscing opportunities, sensory stimulation with use of props, singing opportunities are naturally incorporated within the session.

For Memorial Day, I will definitely be reading the poem "In Flanders Fields." Poppies or at least lapel poppies are in order. Reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance" and folding the flag will help bring back memories as well.

1. The Star-Spangled Banner
2. Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning
3. Taps
4. Anchors Aweigh
5. The Caissons Go Rolling Along
6. The Marine's Hymn
7. Army Air Corps Song
8. When Johnny Comes Marching Home
9. Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean
10. Dixie
11. Battle Hymn of the Republic
12. America
13. Yankee Doodle
14. Folk Songs: Down By the Riverside
15. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
16. My Bonnie 
17. Home on the Range
18. Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
19. Over There
20. This Land is Your Land
21. America, The Beautiful
22. You're a Grand Old Flag
23. Yankee Doodle Dandy
24. Let There Be Peace on Earth
25. Now is the Hour
26. There's a Long, Long Trail
27. Till We Meet Again
28. God Bless America

Monday Intervention: Cinco De Mayo

I know it's late. It happened last week and honestly, I was terrified to conduct this session. Not because I was worried about the subject, but more because I knew my new supervisor was going to be watching me intently. It really was not a subject I wanted to do a music therapy session about. Since I started my new position last Monday, I really didn't have a say over what activities were put on my calendar for the month. It happened on Friday that "Travel Time" was listed. At least it was vague, so I worked on a bit of a Mexico theme for the session.

The thematic songs I used for the session were: "Mexicali Rose," "De Colores," and "South of the Border." These songs were used in a sing along fashion with large print words.

La Chucaracha served as a great beat to play maracas too. Besides playing the maracas, we also played "hot potato." This was done with much assistance from the MT, helping to pass the maraca if residents were a bit too far away from each other.  It turned out to be a very social, engaging interactive intervention.

The use of a few props also led to more discussion and reminiscing. A Mexican wool blanket, a sombrero, hand painted maraca, and hand painted marionette were used to add to the sensory awareness. The residents enjoyed touching and feeling the blanket and sombrero.

Of course, the "Mexican Hat Dance" was also included. The MT demonstrated the moves and invited residents to stomp along to the moves.

It's actually a session, I'll continue to work on so I can use it a bit more refined again next year.

Goals: Socialization, reminiscing, sensory awareness, gross motor skills and engaging vocalization

Be Prepared

I learned very early on to come prepared to 1:1 visits. Of course, I carry around the essentials of instruments and music, pens, paper and blank paperwork, along with other props and necessities. The one thing that I do carry around that I often get asked about is my folding stool. I've had countless MT's that I have trained and the first thing I tell them to do is invest in a stool that will hold up. I'm actually on my third stool as I did not like the first two. The first two were more camping stools with a triangular seat. They really were not comfortable, but my kids enjoy playing with them now. The one I have now has lasted well over two years. I do have to be careful not to store it in my bag close to the sharp edges especially of my metal clipboard.

Why do I bring my own stool? As a Hospice Music Therapist, I learned from a wise Massage Therapist to BYOBS or "Bring Your Own Butt Seat!" It is so difficult to find an armless chair in a skilled care facility and in resident rooms it's difficult to find any chair at all. My knees and my back thank me all the time for bringing my folding stool into 1:1 sessions or group sessions, where if a chair with arms is the only alternative, my back and whole body positioning is off. The residents often comment about how small the seat is and then the realize it's exactly the right height for me to see them "eye to eye."

It's so nice to be at eye level with my residents and I use my stool whenever possible; moving it around the room with me from resident to resident to assist in playing instruments or in making the personal contact while singing hello or goodbye songs.

It's not something musical and definitely not something most people would think of as essential, but I know when others are looking for a seat, I don't need to waste the time or energy as I have come prepared with my own seat.

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#‎MusicTherapyBlogger‬ Challenge #2 is here!

#Thankyounote: Organization

I started a new position this week and I feel so prepared to succeed. Yes, it's been a lot of meeting with the activity director and get orientation all week. But one thing that I can be assured is that the Activity Department in my new facility is the most relaxed, laid-back, happy-go-lucky, willing to assist, easy to approach group of individuals I've met in a long time. The key is the organization of the leader! I really thought that I am quite organized when it comes to work and keeping dates and important times and projects on task, but this week I was put to shame. I'm not one to enjoy making lists, following lists or remembering what to put on lists. I am definitely someone who remembers after the fact. There is definitely a time and place for lists and I am starting to realize that a list and the organization skills that go along with it, help everyone be more relaxed and less stressed.

So this Friday, I thank you organization: for making life less stressful when approached in a calm matter. Being organized will definitely be a key to my success in my new position. Learning organizational approaches that make your life easier is so enlightening. I'm not exaggerating when I say I was introduced to 20 different lists this week all that were new to me.

Today, I lead my first solo group at my new facility. Leading a group is the easiest part of my job. I've done it for over 15 years and even if I'm not totally confident with my session, I can make it work because of my experience and knowledge of my population.  The difficult part is learning a new computer system, learning the ins and outs of the department routines and keeping my lists straight. I just wish there was a list to keep all my lists straight.  Thank you organization and those that are blessed to have the highest level of organization.

Mother's Day Sing Along

Mother's Day brings back such wonderful memories for most people. Those with dementia are sometimes transported back to their childhoods and recall those memories with greater ease than those of today.  Remembering a Mother's name, a favorite recipe, what she wore, what she was called by her children, grandchildren, friends.  Perfumes, fresh baked goods, flowers may bring back those lovely Mother Memories. I love discussions that lead to see if anyone ever saw their Mother in pants/slacks, driving a car, working outside the house, whether she sang or not, any advice she gave, etc.

I always recall the smell of lilacs around Mother's Day as those fragrant flowers always seem to bloom around or on Mother's Day. These would be my picks for sing along/discussion songs to focus on Mother's Day.

1. M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means the World to Me)
2. I Want a Girl
3. Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me
4. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
5. Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue
6. Cruising Down the River
7. Mary's a Grand Old Name
8. Down By the Old Mill Stream
9. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
10. Ain't She Sweet
11. Honey
12. Tennessee Waltz
13. You Are My Sunshine
14. Button Up Your Overcoat
15. I Love You Truly
16. Goodnight, Ladies
17. May the Dear Lord Bless and Keep You

Top Five Tuesday: Songs to Promote Singing

As a Music Therapist working in a Skilled Care Facility, I sing lots of genres of music and lots of songs for a variety of decades. It's amazing to think that music from the turn of the last century is still sung with regularity. Often times, I think it's time to retire a song till I sing it and a crowd full of residents sing it out with a smile.  My go-to songs to get a room full of residents to sing will probably change every time you would ask me. But I'm sure a few will always stand the test of time. Here's my list to get geriatric clients to sing without thinking:

1. You Are My Sunshine
2. God Bless America
3. Let Me Call You Sweetheart
4. My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
5. Something Regional: In Wisconsin--It's a Polka "Roll Out the Barrell"

I myself love all of these songs and even though I try to stay away from "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" thinking it's a Moldy Oldie, I always seem to turn to it if a group is turning passive.  Folk songs, Patriotic and the good old polkas seem to bring out the party in residents. These are all songs that I know my own children know and I have not been the one to teach them the words. I'm sure I'll be singing them for a long time to come.

May the 4th Be With You!

I don't know when that phrase became popular, I've heard it for the past few years and it seemed to take on a life of it's own today in all social media.  My daughter, plays the Alto Saxophone in her 5th grade band. Tonight, I had the pleasure of listening to the hard work the 5th and 6th grade bands have put in to play their instruments.  Here's my 5th Grader's Band playing a little "Star Wars" theme for the day. Not the best video, but the sound is fun!

It was my first day at my new position. Although, I didn't get to do a music therapy session, I was definitely able to throw in a bit of my personality and music along the way.  Bowling has never been so fun! And I threw a few golden oldies at the 90+ yr old accordion player in the afternoon. She was impressed by my requests and I was impressed by her musical talents.  It's going to be a good fit.

#Thankyounote: Elevator Speech

What is music therapy?

If I had a penny for each time I've heard that question, I'd probably have a buck by now. Seriously, it has happened in the strangest of situations as I have my Hospice name badge on and I going about with daily errands. Checking out at the grocery store, getting an oil change, at the dermatologist and I'm sure the barber would ask too if I'd have enough hair to go there.   

One wonderful lesson that I learned, amongst others, while studying Music Therapy, was to have a simple explanation of what I do. Summarize it within 30 seconds and make it easy to understand. If you were in an elevator, how much time would you have to define what you do? Make it an "elevator speech."

My elevator speech is simple and to the point. I use music as a compliment! Music to engage, music to empower, music to encourage, music to promote, music to enhance, music to express, music to manage, music to alleviate, music to increase, music to develop, music to teach... I know music therapy is so much more, but I feel that telling people about the goals we try to reach makes it much easier to understand. 

What I used to say has started confusing me more: I use music to reach non-musical goals. This is such a strange statement as I have to use music to reach all my patients goals, so really aren't all the goals I'm trying to achieve musical? I still struggle to find the right words and sometimes wonder if defining it is worth it. Every music therapy session is so different and unique as each individual. I'm sure I should put something in there about all the schooling I needed along with a LONG unpaid year internship that I completed while also working full-time. Yes, I interned for almost an entire year so that I could keep working for money as well.  

What can music therapy be compared to? I've also tried to tie it into other therapies. Music therapy uses music to work on goals that could be worked on in speech, occupational, or physical therapy. Yes, complimentary! 

Music therapy? You must perform a lot! Well, music therapy can be used in individual and group sessions and really the music is not the star of the show. It compliments the session. Yes, a music therapist music be a confident musician, but some of the best music therapists may not have the best singing voice. They may be uniquely intuitive and great facilitators without the need of the best voice.  True, my primary instrument is my voice, but music therapists primary instruments could be anything from tuba to violin. I love singing, but within a music therapy session, I may use guitar or rhythm instruments instead of my voice for the entire session. I know, it has happened. That intuitive feeling and being in the moment with patients dictates the direction of the session.

Complimentary! It's the simplest way I can describe what I do. Is it the best definition. Probably not, but it's a definition I understand and can use to start a conversation with someone when they ask.

I love my profession, but sometimes wish I could be a garbageman as everyone knows what they do without asking!