Resources & references

This paper presents a three-way collaboration between a registered music therapist, art therapist and Aboriginal Elder, healer, and artist in Australia. Participants created a yarning project along with music that complemented their artwork, to support social and emotional wellbeing of First Nation Elders living with dementia. 

Read about the program DRUMBEAT (Discovering Relationships Using Music, Beliefs, Emotions, Attitudes and Thoughts), which shows significant improvements in students' self-esteem, and internalizing and externalizing behaviours, as reported by both teachers and students.

This study analyzed songs written by active-duty military personnel who participated in music therapy sessions and were living with psychological health conditions and/or mild traumatic brain injury. These songs highlighted the challenges faced by the participants and gave them the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with their loved ones for the first time.

This study investigated the supervision practices of music therapy internship directors within the American Music Therapy Association. Supervisors filled out a survey and the results gathered information on their demographics, professional background, and the supervision techniques they employ.

One of the few controlled researches that focus on parental bonding and music therapy. Music therapists working with families address relationship and interpersonal communication issues; this research documents how music therapy supports mutuality and reciprocity in parent-child interactions.

Read a scoping review exploring the feasibility of telehealth music therapy (TMT) across various contexts. Findings suggest that TMT can be a complement to in-person therapy, when supported with structured approaches, adequate resources and thoughtful client selection. Challenges and innovations in the field are also discussed. 

Read an article examining the body synchrony of autistic children with their therapists during music therapy sessions. Results of this video microanalysis showed that while there was no significant change in the autistic children's ability to synchronize with therapists at the end of their treatment period, there was a significant increase in the ability of therapists to synchronize with the autistic children. The potential implications of this finding for both future research and practice are discussed.

Read about the neuroscience supporting the use of music, and, more specifically, neurologic music therapy, to target non-musical tasks in neurorehabilitation and neurodevelopment.

Read an article about the potential harms of music, especially in the context of vulnerable people. Highlights include the importance of following the professional advice of music therapists to navigate and mediate these potential harms, as well as the importance of ensuring consent and/or control for individuals experiencing music in their environments.

Read an article reporting on the first phase of the assessment of a new tool, the music therapy sensory instrument for cognition, consciousness, and awareness (MuSICCA), used for assessing awareness and consciousness in pediatric disorders of consciousness (DoC). Raters agreed that MuSICCA's appears to be effective in assessing consciousness and awareness, and is suitable for use with children and young people.

This paper delineates the design and development of the mindfulness-based music therapy (MBMT) program implemented in a pilot study and includes clients’ narrative journal responses. Conclusions and recommendations, including recommendation for further exploration of the function of music in mindfulness practice are provided.

Read an article that discusses a pain assessment model for music therapists. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in this domain is also discussed.