About Music Therapy
- Definition
- Goals
- Philosophy
- How can music help?
- Supporters of the Music Therapy Unit
- 15 Years Of Music At Royal Children's Hospital
- Guidelines for 'Recorded Music in the Hospital Environment' (PDF)
Definition
Music Therapy is "the planned and creative use of music to attain and maintain health and well being. People of any age or ability may benefit from a music therapy programme regardless of musical skill or background.
Music therapy may address physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals within a therapeutic relationship. It focuses on meeting therapeutic aims, which distinguishes it from musical entertainment or music education." (Australian Music Therapy Association Inc.).
Music therapists are registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association. They must be proficient musicians before undertaking one of the tertiary courses of training accredited with the Australian Music Therapy Association. (www.austmta.org.au)
Goals
At RCH, the goal of Music Therapy is to use the experience of music to aid the patient in attaining, maintaining, or regaining optimum levels of functioning or adaptation in all areas of development. This is achieved through a range of face-to-face services, resourcing, and team participation.
Philosophy
Music therapy is a service intended to meet a need within the whole child. That need may be related to the child's psychological, physical, social or developmental well-being / progress. Programs may be most effective with the child alone, with his/her family, or in a peer group. The intervention acknowledges the whole child in the scheduling, duration and orientation of session.
How can music help?
Music is a familiar part of life for children in Australia. They are exposed to recorded music on radio, television, compact discs and tapes. Many still share in making music at kindergarten and school. Music is a part of a child's healthy life.
The music therapist engages that healthy part of the child to help him/her cope with the illness, disorder, disease or other medical crisis which has caused them to be hospitalised.
Music therapy is adaptable to any child, no matter how sick, disabled and regardless of age.
Based on the child's medical and developmental status, the music can be employed in structured ways (songs, song-writing) to help contain or clarify emotions and empower the child. Or it may be just framed (improvised instrument playing) to allow a totally free, but supported expression of emotion. In these ways the music therapist helps to alleviate tension and anxiety and aids pain control through distraction and/or relaxation.
Hospitalised children can control music - they can decide if they wish to participate, what they will do, how it will be done and when it will conclude. Such freedom of choice is not available in many other aspects of hospitalisation.
Supporters of the Music Therapy Unit
The Music Therapy Unit is grateful for the generous support from the following organisations and groups:
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RCH Music Therapy Auxiliary
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Hush Music for Sick Kids Auxiliary (previously Live Music in Hospitals Committee)
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Dyson Foundation
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Challenge Cancer Support Network
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Safeway Staff Association
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William Buckland Foundation
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Topliss Foundation
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The Freemasons
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Melbourne Sinfonia
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Charli's Angels Auxiliary
15 Years Of Music Therapy At Royal Children's Hospital
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In 2006, the Music Therapy Unit celebrated 15 years at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The celebration on October 4th involved an afternoon for 70 guests included administrators, supporters, fund-raisers, former music therapy staff & students, hospital staff and colleagues and friends.
The guest speaker was Professor Cheryl Dileo, from Temple University in Philadelphia. Professor Dileo is Director of the Arts and Quality of Life Research Centre at Temple University.
Prof. Dileo presented “Quantitative analyses and meta-analyses of the effects of music therapy on the longevity, biomedical, biochemical and psychosocial factors of medical and terminally ill patients”.
The Music therapy program started with one clinician in 1991. Over the years, the program has grown and been sustained by grants, donations and committed fund-raising efforts. Today the Unit has four music therapists and four University of Melbourne music therapy students providing services to most of the inpatient wards.