Resources & references

Read a case study about the use of improvisational music therapy for an adolescent with intensive support needs. Themes discussed include choices around structure, multi-sensory approaches, and the musical material.

This podcast features influential and experienced music therapists from across Canada. During candid conversations with Adrienne and Cathy, the guests share stories of resilience and impact as they reveal information about their own journeys as music therapists. 

Read an article exploring the ways that a music therapist uses music therapy sessions to support families to engage with music-making with their multiply disabled preschool children outside of the music therapy space. Specific characteristics of the resources and tools provided are discussed.

Click here to read another study on the same research project by the same author.

Read an article exploring the use of narrative songwriting into family music therapy sessions. Results suggest that the final product of a song supports sustained positive changes beyond the therapy space.

Watch a group music therapy session where children play instruments, sing, and interact in music experiences. Participants address skills such as emotional regulation, listening, following directions, leadership skills, social confidence, teamwork, waiting, turn-taking and joint play. 

The DRUMBEAT program uses drumming to engage at-risk youth in musical expression and discussions on healthy relationships. Findings support its theory that integrating music therapy with cognitive–behavioural principles promotes emotional control, better relationships, and higher self-esteem.

Listen to music therapist Calli Puko describe her work with adolescents in behavioural health. 

Case study examples from both music therapy and ethnomusicology are provided, illustrating how adopting this approach has been validating and beneficial for autistic individuals. 

This video features twin brothers diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy who received individual music therapy sessions. Watch as they play instruments and sing to strengthen their communication, expression, and collaboration, and hear insights from their mother and music therapist in interviews.

Read a scoping review on musical interaction in young people with severe or profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Findings highlight six categories of promising components of musical interaction and suggest that musical activities, including music therapy, have positive benefits in a number of domains for this population.

This article features explorations of themes and ideas that emerged from a close examination of podcast transcripts from the first 40 interview-based episodes of the Canadian Music Therapy podcast, featuring reflections from hosts, Adrienne Pringle and Cathy Thompson.

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.