… and your choice of instrument affects the brain in different ways. This article examined the impact of musical engagement on cognitive function in ageing populations, starting with 1107 people over 40. They looked at executive function and memory. For context, the authors cited other articles to illustrate the neural benefits of playing music, especially...
Musical interaction in music therapy is an effective treatment for depression It is already known that client-therapist rapport is a predictor for success in music therapy, but this article takes that one step further by examining whether there is a correlation between musical interactions and positive outcomes for clients with depression. Spoiler alert: there is!...
Today’s blog post is in celebration of neurologic music therapy (NMT) and its role in speech rehabilitation in patients with aphasia, speech disorders, apraxia, and speech goals in clients with autism and/or Down syndrome. For example, clients who have experienced a stroke in the left hemisphere may experience aphasia. NMT induces neuroplasticity and re-routes speech...
This article examines the impact of music therapy on cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, they noted that emotion plays a leading role in the brain’s ability to carry out cognitive tasks. The researchers examined global cognition, memory, language, speed of information processing, verbal fluency, and attention. They found that music therapy is...
This article examined whether music therapy promotes emotional skills in adolescents with a mental health condition, and whether those skills transfer to real life situations. “Emotional skills” were arranged into 6 categories, ranging from awareness, expression, and understanding of self and others’ emotions, and regulating one’s own emotions. This information was then broken into skill...
One of the music therapy goals I frequently find myself writing is “to increase confidence through the acquisition of a new skill”, and it just so happens that my philosophy has popped up in some peer reviewed evidence, which is always great! This week, I wanted to refer to research examining music therapy in children...
This study found walking was markedly improved through the use of music after a stroke. The principle is that musical sounds entrain movement through the auditory system (a core element of Neurologic Music Therapy). Aural cues from music can correct neuromotor defecits causing gait asymmetries. The participants needed only 30 minutes of music to see...
This article examined music therapy in the Nordoff-Robbins tradition in young adult autistic* clients. It interviewed clients about their experiences participating in music therapy and confirmed that music therapy is shown to develop peer relationships, develop the self, and develop sociocultural identity in young autistic adults. Sarah Grey trained in the Nordoff-Robbins tradition at Western...
My name is Sarah Grey and I’m a Registered Music Therapist (RMT), Neurologic Music Therapist (NMT), and performing musician in Canberra, Australia. I own and run Sound Effect Music Therapy in Fyshwick, and have many years of experience facilitating community music and teaching music, too. Earlier today, I was looking up something on Google relating...
Sarah Grey is a registered member of the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the World Federation of Music Therapy.
The AMTA is a member of Allied Health Professionals Australia (AHPA) and the National Association of Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP).
