Patient Drawings
Therapeutic Music
What happens during a typical therapeutic music session?
First I introduce myself. I ask if they would like to hear some therapeutic music and if they say, “no” then I leave. If they say “yes” I tell them that I have my harp with me and I will bring it in. Often the client replies with what I call the “wow” response: “Wow! You really have a harp with you”? or “Wow! I’ve never seen a harp before.” I bring in my harp and sit close enough to the client that I can observe their facial expressions and body movements.
Before I begin I tell the patient that they do not have to do anything except listen. It’s perfectly OK for them to close their eyes. If they fall asleep that’s just fine – maybe that’s exactly what they need to do. If they reach a point where they want me to stop, just say so and I will stop.
All visitors are welcome to listen if desired. People visiting loved one’s in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, etc. are also stressed. Listening soothes them too.
I begin a musical assessment. If you have ever had physical therapy you know how the therapist begins by slowly moving your body part, for example your leg, and asking you if this hurts, can you move your leg to here, how far can you bend your knee and so forth.
A CMP does something similar with music. I slowly play single notes and closely watch the client to see their response: which note do they seem to prefer? I then increase to two notes more closely together and then to triple notes. All played slowly while carefully watching the client.
As CMPs we learn the skills of playing in different modes and keys. As I monitor the client’s response, I play more of music they prefer. I expand the music by improvising and then weaving in different melodies as well as moments of silence which, as we CMPs say, allows the music to “breathe.”
I pay close attention to the client ‘s response. Does their face look more calm? Is their posture more relaxed? Has their breathing changed? Do they appear to hear and enjoy the music? The advantage of a live musician means that I can adjust the music depending the client’s response and play what leads the client into a state of relaxation.
A typical session ranges from 20 minutes up to an hour depending on the needs of the patient and the setting.
*The drawings in the banner image were made by patients participating in art therapy sessions.