Resources & references

This study presents a community music therapy program for adults with developmental disabilities combining instrumental/vocal group performance with American Sign Language (ASL) music interpretation groups. Results indicated the program was successful in fostering community engagement, social networking, and building friendships.

Read a study exploring the perceptions of autistic individuals on the potential functions of echolalia in music therapy sessions. Results show a disconnect between the perception of these autistic participants and conventional literature written by non-autistic authors, which provide an opportunity for music therapists to limit their assumptions of autistic behaviour as described from the observer point of view. Notably, the connection between music and echolalia is also discussed, which may be of particular interest to music therapists.

This article explores a music therapy project for and by trans and nonbinary people called Phoenix Song Project. It explains what coproduction practices in music therapy are, summarizes the project's journey so far, and provides the authors' reflections.

Read an article presenting an economic model for the implementation of community-based music therapy treatment for individuals living with dementia in the UK. Findings suggest that music therapy may be a cost-effective longer term intervention for this population, and may support policy makers in increasing access to MT care. 

Read an article exploring an online volunteer music therapy project offering support to frontline healthcare workers and their children during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for future practice in crisis intervention for music therapists is also discussed.

Read an article about the impact of sociodemographic risk on the reported benefits of a specific music therapy intervention, active music engagement (AME), for families with children undergoing treatment for cancer. Results suggested that families with higher risk experienced more benefits from AME than families with lower risk.

This study examines the uniquely situated characteristics of music therapists’ musicianship. Findings have significant implications for music therapy education and training and invite careful re-evaluation of musicianship competencies identified by the American Music Therapy Association and National Association of Schools of Music.

Click here to read a summary of this study.

This study aimed to co-design an international best practice agenda for research into music therapy for informal carers of patients pre- and post-death bereavement. Results show that the effectiveness of music therapy in supporting informal carers across the bereavement continuum should be prioritised. This should be done using a mixed methods design to draw on the strengths of different methodological approaches to building the evidence base. It should involve service users throughout.

Read an article seeking to develop a music therapy assessment tool to meet the unique needs of individuals with severe to profound multiple disabilities. The resulting tool was deemed impractical for use, and suggestions for future research discusses the development of guidelines for working with this population, rather than a specific tool.

Read about facilitators and barriers to the development and integration of an inpatient music therapy program for neurorehabilitation, from the perspective of patients, family members, and various health care professionals.

The purpose of this study was to design and pilot a music therapy-driven grief processing assessment instrument with bereaved adolescents receiving group songwriting interventions. Grief process areas were developed through a descriptive analysis of a total of 123 songs previously written by bereaved adolescents who received weekly music therapy and grief counselling over a period of 36 months. 

This study presents music therapy group work with six soldiers diagnosed as suffering from combat or terror related PTSD. Some reduction in PTSD symptoms was observed following drumming, especially increased sense of openness, togetherness, belonging, sharing, closeness, connectedness and intimacy, as well as achieving a non-intimidating access to traumatic memories, facilitating an outlet for rage and regaining a sense of self-control.