Resources & references

This study surveyed accredited music therapists in Canada to examine the impact of religious beliefs on their clinical practice. Results found that religious devotion had more positive benefits than negative repercussions in the workplace among participants.

Research conducted at the University of Melbourne demonstrates that familiar songs can stimulate brain responses that other stimuli cannot in children with severe brain injuries. This article suggests that music therapy can facilitate neurorehabilitation and speed recovery.

Click here to read the study referenced in this article.

This study evaluated the feasibility and potential benefits of a drum circle activity designed to improve the affective experience of patients, families and staff in a large pediatric hospital. This preliminary study supports the usefulness of group drumming to enhance the well-being of pediatric hospital patients, families and staff.

This research study explores various music experiences for adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease including music therapy, recreational music groups, music listening and more. It delineates the difference between each type of experience and explains which to choose when working with this population. Individuals with dementia, members of the public and music therapists also share their perspectives.

This article examines as a clinical report two years of an ongoing music therapy journey with a young woman with autism. The different phases of the music therapy process are investigated from a relational point of view, explaining the therapeutic choices made by the therapist. including the application of theory of "Forms of vitality".

This article is a narrative review which offers background information on palliative care music therapy, and reports the authors’ viewpoints and reflections on supervision strategies and models employed with music therapy interns in palliative care settings based on their experiences. Approaches are shared on supporting pre-professionals as they begin working in palliative care contexts, as well as implications for supervision practices.

Click here to read a summary of the article.

Read an article exploring the use of narrative songwriting into family music therapy sessions. Results suggest that the final product of a song supports sustained positive changes beyond the therapy space.

Read a scoping review on the use of music therapy in pediatric neurodisability. Results indicated that music therapy is effective both as a stand-alone treatment and in interprofessional teams within this population, and targets a wide range of domains of function.

Click here to listen to a podcast about the article / Cliquez ici pour écouter un balado a propos de l'article.

Read a plain language summary of an article discussing the use of music therapy in pediatric neurodisability.

Click here to read the original article.

Listen to Karen Twyford discuss her scoping review on the use of music therapy in pediatric neurodisability.

Click here to read the article being discussed.

This article reviews the use of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) to improve gait and other motor behaviors in Parkinson's Disease (PD). It aims to appraise the current state of knowledge in order to direct further neuroimaging studies about the therapeutic effects of rhythm and music based interventions for motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. 

Informed by personal experiences, queer autoethnographic research, and literature from the fields of speech-language pathology, vocal pedagogy and music therapy, this paper is an introduction to gender affirming voicework in music therapy, the training that it might involve, and several questions/issues that need further exploration. As a new holistic method grounded in a queer theoretical framework, the author envisions this work to be a therapeutic space focused on accessing and embodying affirming gender expressions by working with the intersections of the physical voice, the psychological voice, and the body as these each become relevant to an individual.