Visual supports, which provide information presented in a visual format to enhance achievement toward specific goals, can be very helpful for individuals who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Music therapists often use visual supports in their practice; however, research exploring how they do so is limited. In the present study, the researcher used a mixed-methods research design to explore music therapists’ use of visual supports for individuals who have ASD. The researcher e-mailed a survey to board-certified music therapists who opted to receive e-mails from the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT), 525 of whom completed the entire survey. Approximately 70% of participants reported using visual supports “always” or “very often.” Participants most frequently reported using pictures with written words and visual schedules. Visual supports are most often used by music therapists in children’s facilities/schools and to address communication skills when working with individuals who have ASD. Participants most frequently reported using visual supports to generally enhance the session/interventions, using them to provide routine, predictability, and clear expectations for individuals who have ASD. Resources and recommendations provided by participants are also summarized. Open-ended responses were coded into themes, and most participants recommended specific software or applications and encouraged others to use certain visual supports, such as visual schedules and “real” pictures. Future researchers should examine the effectiveness of visual supports when used in music therapy sessions for individuals who have ASD.

Music therapists frequently work with clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The purpose of this study was to gather information on music therapists’ current experiences with AAC training as well as music therapists’ perceptions of their own communication abilities when communicating with clients who have ASD using their preferred AAC system. The researcher invited 7,279 board-certified music therapists to participate in this study via email, of which 366 completed the survey. Participants reported most often providing services to children and adolescents with ASD, and frequently using electronic AAC and electronic apps with their clients with ASD. The majority (71.2%) of participants stated that they would like additional training in the use of AAC. Of the music therapists who had participated in previous AAC training, many had received training at work or by an SLP or other certified professional. Results of this study provide information about the current practices and perceptions of board-certified music therapists working with clients with ASD.

The understanding of why students decide to become music therapists is valuable information for music therapy educators and policy makers and published information is lacking. The use of expectancy-value theory provides a framework to understand student choices. Researchers can better understand why students purse a career in music therapy by examining students’ abilities, beliefs, expectancies, and values related to the choice. The purpose of this study was to examine why current undergraduate and equivalency students want to be music therapists. Music therapy students (N = 129) throughout the United States provided insight into their decision to become music therapists by completing a survey with questions about their expectancies and values. Results indicated that both undergraduate and equivalency students tended to choose to be music therapists because they expected music therapy to be a career that requires hard work and expert knowledge while maintaining their interest and morale. Results of a correlational analysis suggest there are several choice-making variables that may influence each other, indicating that the decision to become a music therapist is a complex process for students. Finally, the results of a Mann-Whitney U test suggested that there was no significant difference between the expectancies and values that influenced undergraduate and equivalency students’ choices to become music therapists. Music therapists in many capacities may use this information to improve recruitment and engagement of music therapy students.

Breast milk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition, but many factors can hinder milk production. Mothers of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are especially prone to stress, which can inhibit volume of breast milk. The purpose of this study was to determine if music listening had an effect on the volume of breast milk pumped and relaxation level of mothers of infants in a NICU. A total of 28 participants, who were mothers of infants in the NICU, were included in the data analysis of this study, with 14 in the control group and 14 in the experimental group. Participants assigned to the experimental group listened to relaxing music during pumping sessions in the NICU, for the duration of their infant’s stay. Participants assigned to the control group pumped as they would normally without the music condition. Results indicated that there was a significant increase in relaxation scores in the music group, but no significant difference in volume of milk pumped. Further research should be done in this area to determine music’s effect on volume of milk pumped by mothers of infants in the NICU.

abstract: ABSTRACT Two qualitative studies described the effects of parent's participation in the music therapy session on parent-child interaction during home-based musical experiences learned in music therapy session. Home-based musical play was based on two current programs: Sing & Grow (Abad & Williams, 2007; Nicolson, 2008 Abad, 2011; Williams, et al; 2012) and Musical Connection Programme(Warren & Nugent, 2010). The researcher utilized the core elements of these programs, such as session structures and parenting strategies for improving parent-child interaction during music therapy interventions. Several questions emerged as a result of these case studies as follows 1) does parent's participation affect parent-child interaction during music therapy interventions 2) does musical parenting strategies promote parent-child interaction while practicing musical play at home 3) does parent's interaction increase when they practice parental strategies listed on parent's self-check list. Music therapy session was provided once per week during an eight week period. The participants were referred by Arizona State University (ASU) music therapy clinic. Sessions took place either in the ASU music therapy treatment room or the participant's home. There were four participants- one diagnosed with Down syndrome and the other with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and two parents or caregivers (each subject was counted as one participant). The parent/caregiver filled out the parental self-checklist 3-4 times per week and the survey after the end of the program. The case study materials were gathered through with parent/caregiver. The case studies revealed that all of the parents responded that the parent's participation in music therapy helped to improve their interactions with their child. Furthermore, all parents became more responsive in interacting with their child through musical play, such as sing-a-long and movements. Second, musical parenting strategies encouraged parent-child interaction when practicing musical play at home. Third, the parent's self-checklist was shown to be effective material for increasing positive parent-child interaction. The self-checklist reminded the parents to practice using strategies in order to promote interaction with their child. Overall, it was found that the parent's participation in home-based musical play increased parent-child interaction and the musical parenting strategies enhanced parent-child interaction. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.M. Music Therapy 2013

abstract: ABSTRACT Individuals receiving hospice care at the end of life have a unique set of needs, requiring interdisciplinary assessment and treatment to meet their multidimensional circumstances and create a supportive and comfortable experience. Music therapy is often an integral component of hospice care utilized to treat the whole person. While there are published music therapy assessment tools for use with the hospice population, there is no assessment tool specifically aimed at understanding the role of music preference in the context of the hospice patient’s multidimensional musical ecosystem identity. The purpose of this thesis was to create an assessment tool to understand and document the individualized connections between a hospice patient’s familiar and preferred music and their musical identity, in order to increase cultural awareness and to utilize music selection with purpose while supporting and empowering the patient. The proposed music preference assessment tool utilizes an ecomap structure and combines theories and philosophies from the fields of music therapy and social work. The needs of the hospice population are identified and music therapy is discussed as a treatment modality in hospice. Existing music therapy and social work assessments are identified and examined and elements of each are utilized in the creation of the proposed music preference assessment tool. A template and example assessment tool are provided with considerations for clinical implications and uses. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Music Therapy 2020

This thesis reports on a phenomenological inquiry into the experiences of hospice patients and music therapy clinician in end of life care. Three total participants were included in this study, two hospice patients and the music therapy clinician. Interventions included singing familiar songs, music for relaxation and Music and Imagery, an adaptation of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. Each hospice patient participated in two music therapy sessions, plus an interview. Data included audio recorded sessions and interview, a process journal kept by music therapist, clinical observations, and one of the participant's mandala. Data was analyzed according to Moustakas' modification of the Stevick - Colaizzi - Keen method of Transcendental Phenomenology. Experiences for the hospice patients include themes of Positive Experience with Music, Positive Experience with Music and Pain, Negative Experience with Music, Music and Imagery, The Artist, Coping, The Mandala, Processing Music and Imagery and Transcendence. Experiences for the therapist include Feelings, Clinical Awareness, Meeting my Own Needs, Desire to Help, Ebb and Flow, and the Guide Following. Implications for further research are given.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the current diagnostic label for children and adults presenting with significant problems with attention, impulsivity and excessive activity is one of the most prevalent childhood psychiatric disorders (Barkley, 2014:3). This qualitative research study, situated at a school for children with ADHD, explores how involvement in Group Creative Music Therapy can promote social skills in six and seven year old children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Four weekly music therapy sessions were conducted with one class consisting of 10 students in the second grade. The class teacher was interviewed prior to and after the music therapy process and attended all music therapy sessions. An interesting component of this research was that the teacher was a music teacher who already had a wealth of experience of using music in her own life and with her classroom. The research data included interviews as well as video excerpts showing interaction between the children during music therapy sessions. The findings from the qualitative analysis of interview transcripts and video excerpts indicate firstly the value of music itself as a tool for promoting social skills. There were also many similarities between how the teacher and music therapist used music to benefit children socially, such as exposing the children to music from different cultures or using turn-taking or movement activities to encourage the children to work together. Secondly, this study also highlights the differences between the work of music therapists and music educators. The main differences include the distinctive aims, particularly in this study where the music therapist’s aim was the development of social skills and the teacher’s aim was music education - with social influences as an added benefit to the educational process. Based on their aims, music therapists and music teachers use alternate methods and ways of managing and drawing children in. The findings show how music therapy can influence the development of social skills in children with ADHD - as the music therapist uses specific clinical skills to help children engage freely and spontaneously with others, while also offering them new experiences of themselves and one another. Therefore, the findings also show helpful complementary relationships between music therapists and teachers, as music therapists can help teachers use tools and techniques from music therapy in their classes and teachers can also suggest certain music for therapists to utilise in therapy sessions. This study strongly advocates for both music education and music therapy, as the findings indicate that both fields are beneficial for this client group. / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

In South Africa music therapy as a profession is still in its infancy and not yet firmly established, hence music therapists have struggled in the past to secure full-time employment. It is important to ascertain the current state of music therapy in Tshwane as this will offer suggestions about what needs to be addressed in the future. In this project two research questions were explored: 1. What are the experiences of music therapists, as well as the perceptions of other professionals working in the health and education sectors in Tshwane, regarding music therapy as a profession? 2. What do these experiences and perceptions suggest about the current state of the music therapy profession in Tshwane? This research project used questionnaires to generate data pertaining to the experiences of music therapists and perceptions of allied professionals about the music therapy profession in Tshwane. The experiences of music therapists currently practising in Tshwane shed light on the present situation of music therapy in Tshwane. The allied professionals’ perceptions of music therapy had implications regarding the recognition of the profession which impacts directly on the availability of jobs, funding and resources available to music therapists. Questionnaires generated both quantitative and qualitative data through the use of closed questions that were analysed using descriptive statistics that were generalised and openended questions analysed through the process of coding and categorising for emerging themes that were discussed. Results obtained from the questionnaires indicated that not enough is being done to promote the field as music therapist respondents (n=4) do not create or set up new music therapy employment. This accounts for the fact that at present other professionals working in the health and education sectors (n=27) have a varied understanding of what music therapy comprises. Because of this varied understanding music therapy is not always valued by these professionals. Collaboration with allied professionals was an important theme which recurred throughout the data and seems to have been the most successful way of furthering the profession so far in Tshwane. By promoting music therapy, especially through collaboration with others, awareness of music therapy should be enhanced, others’ knowledge and understanding of music therapy may be expanded and music therapy may ultimately find its valued place among other therapeutic interventions. / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / gm2014 / Music / Unrestricted

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are challenged with communicative skills, which can negatively influence their emotional development. As children with ASD in the local school were not demonstrating functional communication skills as measured by the Assessment of Social Skills for Children with Autism (ASSCM), music therapy was introduced as remediation. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which music therapy increased the ASSCM scores. This single subject design study was guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, which holds that individuals are impacted by various environmental systems around them. The research question addressed the extent to which 9 weeks of music therapy increased ASSCM scores of 6 children with ASD that participated in weekly music therapy. The deidentified secondary data showed initial ASSCM scores were 32 on a scale from 30 to 90. The scores of the 6 students that attended the weekly music therapy increased by 36 points. The Percentage of Data Points Exceeding the Median (PEM) effect size used in single subject studies to determine potential statistically significant performance improvement over time was 100%, meaning that all students exceeded the median pretest score. A professional development program was designed to assist the school district's special education teachers in the use of music therapy. Positive social change implications may include the ability for children with ASD to communicate with their peers and hence, integrating them into the classroom and school environment. After all, school is not only about learning academic subjects but an opportunity to interact and function in a social setting, increasing the social and emotional well-being of children.