Virtual Music Therapy: Developing New Approaches to Service Delivery

Abstract

As the global Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic transforms our society, music therapists must adapt service delivery models that ensure client safety. Given the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities and lack of personal protective equipment in many settings, music therapists are faced with the need to shift delivery models in order to provide safe and relevant services. Telehealth is one solution to these current service delivery challenges. Music therapists possess a depth of practice-based knowledge and understanding of client populations, which enables them to develop virtual services, matching both the clinicians’ and clients’ technical capabilities. Developed during the initial wave of COVID-19 infections in the United States, this article describes the coauthors’ three-tiered scaffold model intended to support the program development and deployment of virtual music therapy (VMT) services. The model describes an approach to developing VMT services that directs the clinician’s goals of care in formats that are accessible, appropriate, and best meet the patient/client’s needs and abilities. The severity and lasting nature of this worldwide health crisis and its disruption of traditional service delivery models require clinicians and researchers to develop the most effective uses of VMT while considering its limits with regard to clinical populations and need areas.

Adaptation of Music Therapists’ Practice to the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Going Virtual: A Scoping Review

“…Ten articles were included in this scoping review, eight of them identified through database search (published and unpublished sources) [ 2 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] and two identified through a manual search of websites of MT associations [ 23 , 24 ]. The basic characteristics are in Table 1 and all data-charting tables and a data summary table are in Supplementary S3 .…”

“…[23] Preparing the client: You [client] need to consider the room you're in quite carefully-quiet, so not much background noise, and that's unlikely to be disturbed for the duration of your session; background, good light. [17,24] Adaptation concerning the space:…”

“…[18] Using household items and DIY instruments. [19,[21][22][23][24] Active music-making (solo improvisation [22,24], musical dialogues, a verbal reflection of music made) [19], movement to music, songwriting and composing (e.g., adding lyrics to instrumental music or loops [23]) and song discussion, listening to music (e.g., a music-assisted relaxation [17]) and creation of audio/video recordings with clients [17].…”

Music Therapy During COVID-19: Changes to the Practice, Use of Technology, and What to Carry Forward in the Future

“…Indeed, some practitioners have been honing the art of teletherapy. Knott and Block (2020), for example, offer a model for VMT that describes how to develop VMT that carefully considers the clinical goals, and ensures that the online format is as accessible, appropriate (taking into consideration the patient's abilities), and effective as possible to meet the patient's needs. Further, Molyneux et al (2020) describe how continuing to deliver sessions virtually provided support, continuity, and an ongoing connection for people living with dementia and their companions who were isolated in their own homes due to the national lockdown in the United Kingdom.…”

Covid-19 and absence of music therapy: Impact on mother-child dyad during invasive procedures in pediatric oncology

“…MT interventions can also save time, weigh less on staff and equipment resources in pediatric care ( Millett & Gooding, 2018 ), and reduce procedural time ( Chlan, Heiderscheit, Skaar, & Neidecker, 2018 ). During the Covid outbreak, literature explored recommendations to expand tools and employ communication technologies in order to stay in contact with patients ( Clerici et al, 2020 ; Knott & Block, 2020 ; Giordano, Scarlata et al, 2020 ; Marianne Rizkallah, 2020), and several professional MT organizations paid particular attention to remote intervention modalities ( AMTA, 2020; BAMT, 2020; AIM, 2020). However, in our context, support with MT was completely suspended for 3 months.…”