Case Studies

Music Therapy Case Examples

Grace

Grace is an adult with a variety of development disabilities who attends a day centre that offers activity programs such as computers, crafts, and complementary therapies like Music and Art Therapy. Although Grace took part in activities she was completely non-verbal. One day the music therapist introduced the clients to a new karaoke machine, which turned out to be the medium Grace needed to begin her vocal expression through music. Though she refused to make eye contact with anyone in the room, the music therapist and volunteers watched in shocked amazement as Grace sang the words to each song. After two more consistent sessions, the music therapist successfully attempted to take Grace’s voice further, asking her questions in a sing song melodic tone. Grace slowly began to converse with the music therapist in this way, sharing that she was fine when asked how she was, and religiously answering “McDonald’s” whenever asked what she did on the weekend.

Elsie

Elsie is an 81 year old woman with multi-infarct type dementia, living in an intermediate care facility. Elsie’s biggest symptom of her dementia is her constant state of grief, anxiety and agitation which is focused exclusively around her husband Harry’s death. Though Harry died peacefully in old age, Elsie is convinced that she witnessed his murder. Elsie spends her days with tears streaming down her cheeks, and describing the story of Harry’s “murder” to anyone who will listen – including other residents with dementia, contributing to their agitation. This was the primary reason for Elsie’s referral to individual Music Therapy sessions. The music therapist’s main goal for Elsie was to decrease her level of agitation for as long as possible, which if successful, would mean delaying sedation. As Elsie was also once a singer, the music therapist found it fairly easy to redirect her through harmonizing slow songs together – this gave Elsie an aesthetic respite from the ugly murderous images in her mind. On days when it was more challenging to redirect Elsie, the music therapist went to Elsie’s level of grief and joined her there, allowing her to express her feelings of loss through songwriting and improvising on the glockenspiel or the drum. By the end of most of these Music Therapy sessions, Elsie’s was noticeably relaxed and more peaceful.

Kathy

Kathy is a shy, quiet 13 year old girl in a high school life skills class, with a variety of developmental disabilities. Kathy was having problems keeping up with the rest of her level with basic number counting, unable to count correctly from 1-20. She was referred to the music therapist to address this particular learning disability, as well as some of her self-esteem issues. After the first session Kathy’s love of the piano became obvious, as it was difficult for the music therapist to focus her attention on any other instrument or task. The music therapist used this love for piano as part of her behaviorist approach to tackling the problem of Kathy’s counting. Week after week the music therapist would sing counting songs with Kathy, such as “Ten Little Indians” and “This Old Man” while pointing at the corresponding number on a drawing. Every time Kathy would recite her numbers correctly, the music therapist would reward her with high praise, and allow her to play the piano. Over the course of the sessions, Kathy’s counting improved until she was able to correctly recite and point to the corresponding numbers both in order and randomly up to 20, proving that she clearly understood them. Being recognized for her hard work and success both in Music Therapy sessions and in class was effective in improving Kathy’s shyness and self-esteem. It was observed in Kathy' s group Music Therapy sessions that she was more willing to answer questions without cues and was more engaged in socializing with her peers.

EMBE Music Therapy
	Back to Music Therapy
	Music Therapy Case Examples Grace Grace is an adult with a variety of development disabilities who attends a day centre that offers activity programs such as computers, crafts, and complementary therapies like Music and Art Therapy. Although Grace took part in activities she was completely non-verbal. One day the music therapist introduced the clients to a new karaoke machine, which turned out to be the medium Grace needed to begin her vocal expression through music. Though she refused to make eye contact with anyone in the room, the music therapist and volunteers watched in shocked amazement as Grace sang the words to each song. After two more consistent sessions, the music therapist successfully attempted to take Grace’s voice further, asking her questions in a sing song melodic tone. Grace slowly began to converse with the music therapist in this way, sharing that she was fine when asked how she was, and religiously answering “McDonald’s” whenever asked what she did on the weekend. Elsie Elsie is an 81 year old woman with multi-infarct type dementia, living in an intermediate care facility. Elsie’s biggest symptom of her dementia is her constant state of grief, anxiety and agitation which is focused exclusively around her husband Harry’s death. Though Harry died peacefully in old age, Elsie is convinced that she witnessed his murder. Elsie spends her days with tears streaming down her cheeks, and describing the story of Harry’s “murder” to anyone who will listen – including other residents with dementia, contributing to their agitation. This was the primary reason for Elsie’s referral to individual Music Therapy sessions. The music therapist’s main goal for Elsie was to decrease her level of agitation for as long as possible, which if successful, would mean delaying sedation. As Elsie was also once a singer, the music therapist found it fairly easy to redirect her through harmonizing slow songs together – this gave Elsie an aesthetic respite from the ugly murderous images in her mind. On days when it was more challenging to redirect Elsie, the music therapist went to Elsie’s level of grief and joined her there, allowing her to express her feelings of loss through songwriting and improvising on the glockenspiel or the drum. By the end of most of these Music Therapy sessions, Elsie’s was noticeably relaxed and more peaceful. Kathy Kathy is a shy, quiet 13 year old girl in a high school life skills class, with a variety of developmental disabilities. Kathy was having problems keeping up with the rest of her level with basic number counting, unable to count correctly from 1-20. She was referred to the music therapist to address this particular learning disability, as well as some of her self-esteem issues. After the first session Kathy’s love of the piano became obvious, as it was difficult for the music therapist to focus her attention on any other instrument or task. The music therapist used this love for piano as part of her behaviorist approach to tackling the problem of Kathy’s counting. Week after week the music therapist would sing counting songs with Kathy, such as “Ten Little Indians” and “This Old Man” while pointing at the corresponding number on a drawing. Every time Kathy would recite her numbers correctly, the music therapist would reward her with high praise, and allow her to play the piano. Over the course of the sessions, Kathy’s counting improved until she was able to correctly recite and point to the corresponding numbers both in order and randomly up to 20, proving that she clearly understood them. Being recognized for her hard work and success both in Music Therapy sessions and in class was effective in improving Kathy’s shyness and self-esteem. It was observed in Kathy' s group Music Therapy sessions that she was more willing to answer questions without cues and was more engaged in socializing with her peers.