Music Therapy
Music therapy sessions are facilitated by a Registered Music Therapist (registered with Australian Music Therapy Association) to promote physical, communication, emotional and functional skills through fun and engaging music activities. Our passionate music therapists are skilled in evidence-based clinical use of music to improve clients’ quality of life.
Music therapy is suitable for children & adults across all ages with different types of disabilities; Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, global development delay and more. We welcome clients with special needs, geriatrics, mental health conditions and provide joint therapy with other professionals within our multidisciplinary team.
Music therapy can address social (pre-communicative skills like eye contact, age appropriate social norms), cognitive (follow instructions, improve attention span & memory), emotional (identify different emotions, express feelings, build confidence & lower anxiety) & physical (gross & fine motor) developmental goals.
Music therapists can engage with clients through musical activity such as active and receptive music making, instrument playing, improvisation, music for relaxation, songwriting.
Contact us to find out more about how Music Therapy can assist your daily life.
What is Music Therapy?
A registered music therapist (RMT) is an allied health profession conducted by a university trained postgraduate who has a Masters in Music Therapy and registration with the Australian Music Therapy Association.
Our music therapist draws on clinical research and uses music-based interventions to address social, psychological, emotional and physical needs within a therapeutic framework. Our music therapist works on health care goals within a multidisciplinary professional team, hence it differs from musical entertainment or music education.
The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) defines music therapy as a research-based practice and profession in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing. Music therapy is the intentional use of music by a university-trained professional who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. Registered music therapists draw on an extensive body of research and are bound by a code of ethics that informs their practice.
Music therapists incorporate a range of music-making methods within and through a therapeutic relationship. They are employed in a variety of sectors including health, community, aged care, disability, early childhood, and private practice. Music therapy is different from music education and entertainment as it focuses on health, functioning and wellbeing.
Music therapists are committed to supporting people of any age and ability regardless of musical skill, culture or background.”
At Tilegne Therapy, music connects our community. Our clients get involved in music therapy through listening, playing instruments, improvising, dancing, singing, joint sessions with other team members such as our occupational therapist working on gross motor skills and many other myriad ways. Our clients appreciate our family-centred and strength-based approach of developing and exploring social communication, developing cognitive and physical skills, accessing emotional responses, vocalising, singing, body moving, and using musical instruments in structured and improvisational music-making.
Music Therapy For Kids
Psychologists believe that music therapy improves the quality of life (Scott, 2018). From pain to personal loss, attentional disorders to relationship issues, music therapy is non-invasive method that suits all. Music therapy motivates kids of all ages and is an excellent intervention for managing autism, childhood depression, impulse control disorders, disability-related issues and attention-related disorders. Music stimulates sensory awareness in children. They learn to communicate, express, and understand through listening and playing music.
Some areas where children can benefit from music therapy are :
- Early childhood (e.g. developmental delay, early autism intervention, ADHD)
- Disability support (physical and/or intellectual disabilities ranging from mild to severe)
- Schools (e.g. programs for students with disabilities or learning difficulties)
- Communication impairments, such as difficulty vocalising or verbalising
- Cognitive impairments, including issues with attention, memory, expression, self-regulation or behaviour
MUSIC THERAPY FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITY
The Australian Music Therapy Association has produced a range of resources explaining how music therapy can help with different populations. This very brief video explains a bit about the role of music therapy for kids with disabilities. Episode 2 of the RMTs Change Lives Series “Jackson’s Story” discusses Music Therapy with Children with Disabilities
DR GRACE THOMPSON (RMT)
This video explains how sensory integration, emotional regulation, enjoyment, and the training to become a Registered Music Therapist play into music therapy for kids with disabilities.
Music Therapy For Adults
Teens and adults who may need a boost in confidence, suffer from poor mental health, depression, eating disorders, Post-traumatic stress disorder( PTSD), Personality Disorders and other chronic illness (e.g. cancer, stroke, spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative disease) would benefit from music therapy. At Tilegne Therapy, your music therapist would use music as a means of expression and emotional regulation to help address issues that they may not be able to address using words or verbal communication.
Research has shown that music therapy can improve mental health and wellbeing. It can help:
- Reduce anxiety or stress
- Regulate moods and energy levels
- Increase motivation
- Manage anger and frustration
- Manage challenging behaviour.
- can improve the body’s ability to deal with pain.
- Reduce pain perception by increasing the body’s production of natural pain killers.
- Support faster recovery from medical procedures.
Music Therapy For Seniors
As seniors approach old age which comes with many age-related issues such as changes in their family structure, level of health and social circumstances, we may find that the senior population are in need of emotional security and well-being. Music Therapy can help in these areas including physical rehabilitation and movement facilitation, an increase in people’s motivation, emotional support for clients and their loved ones, and a creative outlet to express feelings and emotions. Music therapy can stimulate cognitive function, learn new skills, activates long and short-term memory through musical association, reality orientation and physical skills through rhythm and movement.
Types of elderly conditions that Music Therapists work with:
- Cognitive impairments, including issues with attention, memory, expression, self-regulation or behaviour e.g., Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, brain injuries
- Physical impairments such as those involving motor skills, coordination, endurance and strength e.g. stroke, motor vehicle injuries, neurodegenerative conditions, had surgery or other medical procedures
- Conditions that limit access to social interaction, participation in community activities and/or quality of life
- Conditions requiring ongoing pain management (e.g. chronic pain conditions, cancer treatment, palliative care)
Our Music Therapists Are Skilled To Help With
At Tilegne Therapy, our Music Therapists are skilled to help with:
- Disability support (working with people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities ranging from mild to severe)
- Early childhood (e.g. developmental delay, early autism intervention)
- Neurological treatment (e.g. recovery from brain injuries)
- Aged care (e.g. working with people with dementia)
- Hospitals and cancer centres (e.g. working with children and adults undergoing traumatic medical procedures)
- Palliative care/end-of-life settings
- Schools (e.g. programs for students with disabilities or learning difficulties)
- Community settings (e.g. groups delivered in any of the above settings)
What Does A Music Therapy Session Look Like?
Because everyone’s healthcare goals are different and our music therapists tailor their therapy to the individual, each therapy session would look different for everyone.
Sessions activities may involve:
- A range of instruments appropriate to the client’s interests and abilities, including small percussion, tuned percussion, keys, drums, guitars, electronic instruments and voice.
- Learning social concepts such as turn-taking, collaboration and interactive expression.
- Writing and recording original songs
- Sharing and discussing songs
- Playing and learning songs
- Building confidence through instrument learning
- Learning choice-making around the type of music worked with, preferred songs or artists, instruments to be played and the types of activities undertaken. Visual choice cards and working collaboratively with other health professionals can be used to facilitate this.
- Brainstorming uses of music as a health resource
- Improvising on instruments
- Drawing to music and guided meditations
- Opportunities for family members, carers or support staff to participate and support therapeutic objectives.
Contact Us
Our Clinic Locations :
80 Paisley St Footscray, VIC 3011
1A Austin St Balwyn, VIC 3103
17 Pickett Street, Footscray, VIC 3011
Contact Hours :
Monday – Saturday : 9am to 5:30pm
