What is Therapeutic Music
| Sure harp music is soothing, but there is a lot more to it than just the plucking of angelic-like sounds. Clinical music can be played on almost any instrument. Of course electric music and even some types of drumming are not appropriate, but for the most part a harp or guitar or flute (to name a few) would be a wonderful addition to the treatment and therapy already given to a patient. The phrase to remember is “addition to the treatment”. Music is an adjunct therapy in the healing process. The skills of the doctors, nurses, therapists and other clinicians are a vital part of the healing process. Music adds the extra dimension to the patient. Obviously, it is a means of distraction – but there is even more than that. Therapeutic music is not entertainment. Rather it is a service. A music practitioner does not arrive knowing in advance what they want to play. The practitioner will assess the patient and determine at that time the needs of the patient. It is great to know a bit about the situation: the condition of patient, the medications, and most importantly what is affecting the patient at that moment. At that time, the music practitioner will determine what rhythm to play; should it be melodic or free; should it have a tempo or should it be non- rhythmic. |
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In acute care or cases where the patient is agitated, pulse-tempo music should be played. 60
-80 beats per minute. It does not have to be melodic, it should have harmony and it should
keep a steady beat. Therapeutic music is simple and straight to the point. As I said before, it
should not be considered entertainment.
Then again, an agitated patient might respond better to a free flowing non-rhythmic sound.
This is where live music takes precedence over recorded music. The musician can change at
a given moment to fit the needs of the patient.
A patient in pain may also respond well to a non-rhythmic piece of music taking them away
from a defined structure and allowing them to sleep.
Alzheimer or dementia patients respond well to old familiar melodies. It gives them a
foundation that they often times remember from their past.
Neo-natal? Yep, you guessed it. A tempo type of music would be best, but not structured to
the baby’s heartbeat; it is structured to the heartbeat of the mother.
As for pre-op or some chronic cases, some simple melodies would be a grateful distraction to
the unusual sounds of the hospital.
Hospice music is anything that would allow the patient to live until they die; allowing them the
dignity of transition. Depending on the stage, it can be anything from melodic to non-rhythmic.
It is an honor for clinical musicians to play for hospice.
-80 beats per minute. It does not have to be melodic, it should have harmony and it should
keep a steady beat. Therapeutic music is simple and straight to the point. As I said before, it
should not be considered entertainment.
Then again, an agitated patient might respond better to a free flowing non-rhythmic sound.
This is where live music takes precedence over recorded music. The musician can change at
a given moment to fit the needs of the patient.
A patient in pain may also respond well to a non-rhythmic piece of music taking them away
from a defined structure and allowing them to sleep.
Alzheimer or dementia patients respond well to old familiar melodies. It gives them a
foundation that they often times remember from their past.
Neo-natal? Yep, you guessed it. A tempo type of music would be best, but not structured to
the baby’s heartbeat; it is structured to the heartbeat of the mother.
As for pre-op or some chronic cases, some simple melodies would be a grateful distraction to
the unusual sounds of the hospital.
Hospice music is anything that would allow the patient to live until they die; allowing them the
dignity of transition. Depending on the stage, it can be anything from melodic to non-rhythmic.
It is an honor for clinical musicians to play for hospice.