Resources & references

Agitation in nursing home residents with dementia leads to a decrease in quality of life and an increase in psychotropic medication, patient distress, and caregiver burnout. This study shows that after six weeks, music therapy reduced agitation disruptiveness and prevented medication increases for persons with moderate to severe dementia.

This research article provides an overview of music therapy’s beginnings and development in the field of autism in Argentina over the last 15 years.

Learn about the development of a group music therapy program for autistic adult women targeting self-expression, communication, and impulse control.

Learn how music therapy is being used to help individuals with neurological conditions work towards their goals. It also shows patient testimonies and perspectives from a music therapist (includes a video, 2:17).

Watch how music therapy is being used to help individuals with neurological conditions work towards their goals. It includes patient testimonies and perspectives from a music therapist.

Click here to read the related article

Read an article exploring the use of music therapy for hospitalized children and, more specifically, the development and creation of heartbeat songs for families with a critically ill child, as a palliative measure. It also includes the description of the impact these songs can have, by featuring commentary from the parents of a baby who died.

Read a case study exploring the use of music therapy and, more specifically, therapeutic songwriting, on pain management during acute pain episodes in adolescent sickle cell disease patients. Results found that active music therapy interventions were more effective at managing pain than passive interventions, and that the song written during music therapy served as a coping resource by the teen outside of the therapeutic environment.

Read an article exploring the importance of integrating augmentatic and alternative communication (AAC) into music therapy practice. Different types of AAC are discussed, examples of how they can be used in music therapy sessions are provided, and recommendations for practical actions music therapists can take are included.

This article provides a review of current studies on music therapy interventions and children with acquired brain injury (ABI). The results explore the benefits of music therapy interventions, the use of music therapy as a motivator, and professional collaboration.

An intervention guide for music therapists and recreation/activity staff in retirement and long-term care homes, offering intergenerational music therapy experiences that support the health and well-being of both younger and older participants.

Click here to watch a video of this program.

The Jamboree is an intergenerational music therapy program where children and their accompanying adults join residents in retirement or long term care homes for weekly group sessions of singing, movement, instrument play, and guided social interaction led by a certified music therapist.

Click here to read the intervention guide of this program.

Read about an interprofessional (occupational therapy and music therapy) keyboarding intervention program for visually impaired preschoolers. Results demonstrated an improvement in fine motor skills following 6 weeks of 20-minute biweekly sessions.