Music therapy for special kids

Little is known about the music therapy profession in Malaysia even though there has been a growing interest worldwide.

Music therapy has been practised in over 40 countries in health and educational settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, special schools, hospices and rehabilitation and community centres.

Throughout the ages music has been used as a soothing balm when medication alone is insufficient. Music is an intrinsic part of us; our breathing, movement and heartbeat – each consists of rhythm and pulse. Melody is produced in our laughing, crying or singing. These personal connections with music make it a creative and motivating medium which can stimulate, calm or inspire us consciously or subconsciously.

So what really is music therapy?

It is the planned and creative use of music to attain and maintain health and well-being. It is a therapeutic relationship that addresses the following needs of a person: physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive, communication and social.

Music therapy is used with people of all ages and from all walks of life, from newborns to adults in palliative care. It is found to be an effective behavioural treatment that is also pleasurable especially for children with disabilities.

Music therapy focuses on individualised goals, programme plan and evaluation to achieve non-musical skills. These include developing communication skills, appropriate social behaviour, motor skills, etc. It is different from music education, which is about honing and achieving greater musical skills.

In music therapy, a child who is non-verbal is prompted to communicate musically via vocalisation through singing, chanting or breathing exercises.

Apart from that, they are offered a variety of instruments to express themselves.

The therapist guides the child to respond within his/her own time and space. Through this therapeutic relationship, the child will begin to use music as a language where words alone are inadequate.

For children with various disabilities, such as autism, Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy, the benefits are manifold, in developmental, communication and motor skills and social behaviour.

Children who are vision-impaired or have hearing problems can also gain from music therapy through instruments carefully selected for their tonal qualities, where the vibration or low tones are felt when they are played. “Vibroacoustics” enables children with disabilities to enjoy, feel or relax with the music.

There was a time when I was communicating through gathering drum (bass drum) alone with a blind and deaf man. That drum conversation where we each took turns in responding through rhythmic patterns proves that music is an alternative form of communication.

The different ways in which instruments are played also encourage fine and gross motor skills.

Today, more organisations and parents in Malaysia are beginning to acknowledge music therapy as a means to discover the potential of people with disabilities.

Music therapist Cheryl Mow will be conducting a parent and teacher workshop on Music Therapy For Children With Special Needs in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 8. For more information, contact Coreen at [phone] or email [e-mail].