Using Electronic Music Technologies in Music Therapy: Opportunities, Limitations and Clinical Indicators

Abstract

In recent years there has been growing interest in the use of a range of electronic technologies in music therapy. However, there remain no empirical investigations into the clinical applications of these tools, nor guidelines for their use. This article draws from a recent research study which explored how music therapists are using technology in practice with children, adolescents and adults across special educational, community, hospice and rehabilitation settings in the UK (Magee & Burland in press). Particular focus was given to technology requiring switches and sensors. The purpose of this article is to make clinical recommendations regarding the opportunities and limitations of using technology in music therapy, using illustrative data extracts from therapists experienced in using technology in practice. The study shows that music therapists turn to technology to enable a client to participate actively or to widen the client's musical expression. Technology offers improved access for people with complex physical needs to engagement in active methods of music therapy. Using technology in music therapy has benefits for the client, the therapist and the wider interdisciplinary treatment team. Despite its positive role, technology is experienced as offering a lesser aesthetic experience than acoustic instruments. Finally, clinical indicators and contra-indicators are offered to guide clinicians in understanding when technology may be helpful and when it might be avoided in the clinical context.

moosikMasheens

“…This correlates with the findings of Magee [26] and Farrimond et al [10] who have conducted work from a survey and document analysis method. Another outcome was the initial lack of strategies for using such technologies available to the teacher, and subsequently the fact that the teacher successfully used narrative as a tool to underpin both student contribution and session structure.…”

“…Music technologies are used with young people who have complex needs in disciplines such as Music Therapy [26] Special Education [10] and Sound Therapy [6] [7]. However it has been shown that in fact, uptake in practice is generally quite low in the UK [25] [10] and in 2003, Ockleford et al [30] suggested that only 2% of students with complex needs received any sort of music therapy.…”

Developing identities using music technology in therapeutic settings

“…Not having anyone else interfering really. (Participant 5 B7) Providing clients with a sense of control over their environments offers feelings of empowerment, especially if they are aware of the sense of cause and effect which so often gets lost when using traditional instruments (see Magee & Burland, 2008a, 2008b. For individuals who are living with a long-standing disability or who are adapting to a more recently acquired disability, EMTs offer an opportunity to overcome some of their frustrations associated with physical disability: I think it's .…”

“…(P4B18) It is the breadth and accessibility that make EMTs an appealing choice for the study's participants, particularly because there are so many ways in which they enable clients to express themselves, communicate and connect with others, and construct and develop alternate identities as they 'repair the self ' (Charmaz, 1991). Therefore using EMTs in therapy has benefits for the client as well as the range of available opportunities for the therapist (Magee & Burland, 2008b). It would be misleading to claim that using EMTs is superior to using acoustic instruments, as a number of limitations have been identified, including aesthetic drawbacks and risks for both the therapist and the client (Magee & Burland, 2008b;Whitehead-Pleaux, Clark, & Spall, 2011).…”

“…The next section outlines the aims and methods of the study in its entirety in order to provide a context for the results reported here. Full details of all findings are published elsewhere (Magee & Burland, 2008a, 2008b). …”