Resources & references

This article explores the role of assessment in hospice music therapy. It presents an assessment tool designed to assist music therapists in achieving a detailed portrayal of the current level of functioning of adult hospice patients and obtaining relevant information to be used to create a care plan.

This online roundtable presents research on music therapy assessments with diverse populations. Music therapy researchers share their findings, followed by a panel discussion offering perspectives on the implications for practice and future inquiry.

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 fact sheet explains the benefits of music therapy for older adults with memory disorders including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It also describes the clinical processes and neurological impact of music therapy, and the importance of working with a professional music therapist. 

See an example of a music therapy session in action

This book chapter explains the effects of music therapy in palliative care. It is derived from the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (5th Ed) published by the Oxford University Press. Note: The link includes the full text of the chapter (i.e., 18 pages plus references).

This case study explores a music therapy assessment of an autistic child in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It presents the stages of the assessment, assessment tools, and assessment findings.

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