Song Collage Technique: A New Approach to Songwriting

Abstract

Song Collage Technique is a therapeutic songwriting intervention. The presentation and discussion of this technique provides music therapy clinicians with detailed resources, consistent terminology with which to describe treatment, and therapeutic applications for clients who have cognitive impairments, difficulty articulating feelings due to cultural or gender issues, or time restrictions in therapy. A discussion of traditional therapeutic songwriting techniques provides a foundation for the evolution of Song Collage Technique. Trauma, disability and the need for emotional expression in rehabilitation are presented to provide a clinical context for the use of Song Collage Technique. Case examples and contraindications are offered to highlight clinical application of the technique with clients undergoing rehabilitation for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.

Collaborative peer lyric writing during music therapy training: a tool for facilitating students' reflections about clinical practicum experiences

“…A large survey of clinicians found that some of the most common reasons for employing songwriting with clients were to assist them to: (a) externalize their thoughts, fantasies, and emotions: (b) tell their story: (c) develop a sense of self; and (d) gain insight or clarify thoughts and feelings . The songwriting process documented by many authors in Baker and Wigram's (2005) text on songwriting methods and other authors (for example : Baker, Kennelly, & Tamplin, 2005a, 2005bDalton & Krout, 2006;McFerran, Baker, Patton, & Sawyer, 2006;O'Callaghan, 1996;Silverman, 2003;Tamplin, 2006) allow clients a therapeutic space to express and reframe their thoughts and feelings, and construct a creative representation of them in the form of a song. The researchers propose that songwriting maybe a suitable approach for students to express and deepen their thoughts and feelings around training to be a music therapist.…”

The Potential of a Narrative and Creative Arts Approach to Enhance Transition Outcomes for Indigenous Australians Following Traumatic Brain Injury

“…The narrative approach enables discussion between individuals experiencing TBI, their families and service providers, encouraging empowerment and post-traumatic growth (Ownsworth, 2014). The narrative approach enables opportunities for individuals experiencing TBI to express gratitude to family, friends (Tamplin, 2006), and in this study, service providers, for their support during the rehabilitation process. It provided a non-confrontational way to engage family members in the transition process, promoting honesty, reconnection and forgiveness.…”

“…As identified in other studies (Hogan, 1999;Tamplin, 2006), the narrative approach produces a range of valuable outputs and can lead to other outreach opportunities for the individual living with TBI. Digital storytelling, as used in this study, is particularly valuable in the context of Indigenous Australians.…”

“…An arts-based and narrative approach may also engender healing and identity reconstruction, specifically to think about the incident and the context surrounding how their injury occurred, allowing processing of feelings in relation to the trauma of the event (Tamplin, 2006). This healing approach may be particularly important for Indigenous Australians experiencing TBI due to assault, a common cause of head injury for Indigenous Australians (Jamieson et al, 2008).…”

Musicoterapia. En sintonía al final de la vida

“…Cuando el paciente todavía se puede expresar verbalmente, escuchar y componer canciones (songwriting) es una forma poderosa de identificar emociones espontáneamente, expresarse, explicar historias, evitando así procesos de pensamiento concretos y mecanismos de defensa (Heath et al, 2012;Tamplin, 2006).…”