HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF THE PRACTICE OF MUSIC THERAPY IN HONG KONG
By LAM HOI YAN
April, 2007
04002865
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to examine the development of music therapy in Hong Kong. Specifically, a number of related issues were studied including
definition of music therapy, the origin of music therapy, the recent developments in music therapy in China, establishment of a music therapy session, and the setting of therapeutic goals and the use of techniques in the professional practices of music therapy. Data were obtained by interviewing local music therapists, focusing on the
current professional status and practice of music therapy in Hong Kong.
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therapists in Hong Kong. At that time, there were only three music
There are twelve registered music therapists practicing
locally at the moment, serving a more diversified population of clients including people with autism, developmental retardation, emotion problem, cancer, as well as psychiatric patients and geriatrics. The increasing number of specialists in the field and the popularity of music therapy over the ten years have shown that interest in and demand of the subject among the general public and the professionals had grown a lot. This paper is going to describe and analyze the practice of music therapy and evaluate this profession as a possible career in Hong Kong. It will investigate the
function of music therapy, look into the common therapeutic techniques used in music therapy practice and study the limitations of and prospects for music therapy in Hong Kong. By interviewing with current music therapists, evaluation of the
status and function of music therapy in Hong Kong will be shown in. In the last section, discussion on the challenges of developing music therapy and suggestions on further developing music therapy in Hong Kong will be drawn in the following context.
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Very little research has been done on music therapy locally.
There was one
thesis titled The Use of Music Therapy In The Treatment Of Autistic Children With Special Reference To Hong Kong
Following the developing of social sciences, everybody has started to get concerned about the issue if music is good for healthy body and mental recently. This phenomenon makes the music therapy becomes popular. Music therapy is defined as “ the therapeutic use of music as to reduce anxiety, improve cognitive functioning, promote physical rehabilitation, or enhance interpersonal communication that typically involves listening to music, singing, playing musical instruments, or composing music “ in the Merriam-Webster.com. In other words, through the activity of music people can improve physical or psychological disease that achieves cure and health.
A recent study of music therapy interventions was conducted on 1,891 participants. The study was offered by music therapists and medical staff.
“The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) defines music therapy as ‘an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals’” (Barnett & Shale, 2013, p.48). Music Therapy (MT) is shown to be able to help people with many different kinds of mental health problems such as anxiety, stress, and minor cases of depression. There have been many studies done showing that MT is an effective form of therapy that can improve someone’s overall Quality Of Life (QOL). MT is known as an alternative technique therapy. It is often used instead of, or along with, medication to produce a result in the patience who need it. MT involves all aspects of the music process, including listening to, writing, singing, and analyzing music. Overall MT addresses physical and emotional problems and is used to enhance the life and health of the patient. This review is simply to inform readers of the effects music and MT has on mental health, specifically:
There are many different ways that we benefit from music. Music can inspire better self-esteem, and confidence. It’s a great way to set the mood, and a wonderful tool. Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (Gram, 2005). Music therapy can reach out to anyone, age, race, gender it doesn’t matter. Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs can benefit from music therapy. As well as, those who have developmental and learning disabilities, those who suffer from Alzheimer's
Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by an accredited professional who as completed an approved music therapy program. “Music therapists hope that scientific research continues to define how their work differs from entertainment, and how it benefits patients as much as other more familiar complementary therapies such as art therapy.” (Mellskog) This shows how even though there is little research and evidence on music therapy, it is still very effective and a
According to Geretsegger et al. (2014), music therapy is an effective clinical intervention for a varied of medical conditions, which are profoundly supported by strong scientific evidence on their significance for mood enhancement and stress relief. The five conditions for which music therapy has been studied, backed up by good scientific evidence are; dementia, autism, sleep quality, depression and infant development.
Music therapy is not a new idea. In fact, it’s been used in thousands of civilizations throughout history. The Incan nation thought that a soul was connected to the gods through music and it determined the health, success, and future of every living thing (Stobart et al, 26). But most every nation, from Africa, to Asia, to Europe, has had a history of music being used as a healing tool. There is evidence of music therapy leading to an increase in emotional functions and motor control skills (Warner et al, 15).
Music therapy comes in all sorts of different shapes and forms, with the therapist choosing which process should be used with the patient in order to maximise the session’s potential. These can range from the patient playing a previously learned piece on an instrument (if they already have a musical background), to
Not only is musical therapy an extremely effective practice to use for many different issues, it is also very fast acting with long term benefits as well. Patients often experience the positive effects of therapy during or immediately following their session. The benefits are also felt long after the music has stopped, especially if sessions continue over a span of several days or weeks (Ramsay). For thousands of years, humans have relied on music therapy; it is one of the most successful and cheapest treatments available to
B. Music therapy is a skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Through musical participation in the therapeutic environment, clients ' capacities are reinforced and conveyed in other areas of their lives. Additionally, Music therapy also offers ways for communication that can be accommodating to the people who find it challenging to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people 's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings (Gregory59). Whether it is apparent at first or not music therapy interventions help the patient improve their diminishing cognitive function ability with the music that is selected as well as the intervention applied, which plays a major role in the process.
Music Therapists (MTs) borrow from a range of non-music based therapy models in their development of Music Therapy-specific treatment models. Many widely used Music Therapy (MT) techniques have their roots in psychological theories and treatment models. Cognitive Behavioural Music Therapy (CBMT) draws on the widely-used and extensively researched psychology approach, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to address CBT goals through MT interventions. Despite the many parralels between CBT and MT there is limited literature on CBMT; the existing literature indicates that CBMT may be an effective treatment for clients with a variety of needs. Improvisation in CBMT makes up an even smaller portion of the literature, however the theoretical underpinnings of the CBT approach are congruent with the use of music improvisation.
According to the American Music Therapy Association (A.M.T.A.), music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” As a generally new and upcoming industry, music therapy is often underestimated. By incorporating different areas of the brain, music can reduce stress, ease
Music therapy, a clinical use of music interventions to accomplish therapeutic goals, involves a broad range of activities including playing an instrument, singing, or listening to music. Similar to occupational and physical therapy, this expressive arts therapy remedies psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or hypertension to maintain the well-being of an individual. Likewise, music has been a therapeutic tool that has shown positive effects to parts of the brain including regions involved in emotion, sensation, movement, and cognition. Although music therapy is a somewhat new-found treatment, it is used prominently today. Administered by a trained therapist, this type of therapy is used in correctional facilities, nursing homes, hospices, and special education schools.
A song or a piece of music has the power to transform an individual and take them not only to a different state of mind, but quite possibly a different consciousness. Making or singing music also has the power to transform an individual. “There is a resemblance of music in pitch, volume, rhythm, melody and structure to the natural human expression of emotion in voice, demeanor and behavior” (Ushedo, 2006, 1). Making music can create an environment where it indirectly teaches individuals communication and social skills through the emotions brought out by the music. The social interaction between individuals with behavioral problems has been aided by using musical activities. It can “encourage or motivate communication through musical activities, which are responsive to the child to promote eye contact, turn taking, sharing, joint attention” (Stephenson, 2006, 297). While creating a calmer and more relaxed environment with musical activities, behavioral problems can be aided through the use of this form of music therapy.