Improvisation
There are many techniques a music therapist can use when working with clients. This week I have learned about the importance of improvisation especially when working with clients who have autism or who are nonverbal. One study called The Effects of Improvisational Music Therapy on Joint Attention Behaviors in Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Study shows the benefits of improvisation with this population. They found that music therapy led to longer lengths of eye contact and turn taking. Techniques such as matching were used to fit with the participants style, dynamic and tempo, which led to more connections between the therapist and child. This study also found that the improvisation aspect helped the children work through their rigidity and inflexibility, which often children with autism struggle with.
Improvisational music therapy could be a whole course because there are so many techniques and methods to learn. Below I have defined a few improvisational techniques that I find useful and have used with clients before:
Mirroring: imitating or copying the client musically and meeting them exactly where they are.
Reflecting/Matching: following the client’s mood musically, and playing the style, tempo, dynamics, and complexity of the music the same.
Grounding: creating a beat or melody that anchors the client’s music. This could be holding strong octaves, playing a steady pulse on the drum, or playing a simple ostinato.
Dialoguing: communicating through musical play. This could be similar to a conversation where you may interject, take turns, or play at the same time.
All of these techniques allow the therapist to begin to connect with the client, and can be very effective if the client is having a hard time engaging with you. In some cases the client might begin to notice you are playing with them, and this can help to guide the therapeutic experience for the rest of the session.
Emily Kent
Resource
Kim, J., Wigram, T., & Gold, C. (2008). The Effects of Improvisational Music Therapy on Joint Attention Behaviors in Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(9), 1758-1766.
