The theory, practice, and measurement of Music Therapy:Developing evidence from diverse practice

Abstract

Music therapy is a clinical healthcare discipline that draws its evidence base from music neuroscience and psychology to improve the health and well-being in individuals from varied clinical populations. Working with individuals across the lifespan, evidence-based therapeutic methods are developed from an understanding of music perception and cognition. Given the diversity of practice, there are several key challenges for the discipline. One is developinga theory-based clinical and research approach. This supports a deeper understanding of the complex music stimulus and therapeutic interactions that occur in a session. A second challenge is establishing means for evaluating the effects of intervention using neurophyisiological and behavioral measures. Issues of practice and measurement are confounded by the complex presentations typical of many of the populations that are frequently the focus of interest.This symposium will bring together some of the latest research from the discipline of music therapy relating to the clinical needs of complex neurological and psychiatric populations. The papers offer diverse perspectives reflectinginterdisciplinary influences on the theory and practice of music therapy including measurement and developing a theoretical framework. We will cover assessment and rehabilitative approaches with adults with disorders of consciousness, Huntington’s disease and depression, and children who are at-risk neurodevelopmentally. The symposium aims to stimulate dialogue with the neuromusicology community in order to heighten awareness of theclinical challenges faced in the course of applying evidence in the theory, practice, and measurement of music as a clinical tool