[Music is a tool to communicate with other people]

People tap their fingers or clap hands with rhythm when they are listening to the music. With variety music style in the background, it becomes enjoyable when we watch movie. It is much easier to feel the emotionally intense in a movie.  Music as a tool to let us communicate with the movie.

Many people think, music therapy almost like music teacher. Music teacher teaches students how to read/ play/ sing music. But music therapist use music as a tool to communicate with their clients.

Music therapy is enjoyable. With non-musical goals, clients will participate in their uniqie way with music. From the mirroring to each other, then create something together. It is natural to feel the movement of music. As we breathing, talking and walking, those elements can be found in music too, which help clients to participate, to feel the rhythm, melody (harmony) and listen to others, even some of clients may have physical or/ and mental disabilities.

Music is not only for an education purpose, but also a tool for communication.

2010-2011 Devastating Queensland Floods

During the devastating floods in Queensland, everyone is pitching in and helping to clean up the muck. Those people stayed in the evacuation centre knew their safety was at risk.

Yesterday, one of my client told me his feeling of the floods, and it came out with a song- 'Don't Tell Me Now'.

' Don't tell me now, the flood is coming up.'
  Don't tell me now, the river is filling uo.'

  I feel anxious for people who didn't evacuate
  I worry about bad people 

 My place is safe now  I want to check the safety of my housemate'

We haven't finished his song, because the other client was considering my safety on the road due to the floods in Brisbane. But it can be seen clearly how devastating and serious floods affect everyone's thought.

We pray for those still threatened by flood in city & rural areas in all Australia and other countries.

Music therapy in Aged Care

Music therapy in Aged Care

'Music therapy 'helps Dementia'' in November 2000, BBC News

Scientists conducted a study about introducing music therapy to help dementia patients in London. It says music therapy helps dementia patient to communicate. A Neuroscientists Professor discribed the music therapy is amazing which the the trials was not involved drug or any medication. Music therapy is not a cure, but it will slow down the progression of this disease.

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1026153.stm)

For stroke patients. Singing helps stroke patients regain language ability. Music therapy can improve speech, behaviour and pain in patients with brain injuries.

In BBC News [ Music 'can aid stroke recovery' ] says the music group showed better recovery of memory and attention skills, and a more positive general frame of mind. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7250594.stm)

'Music Therapy Beneficial for Depression' from Psych Central says music therapy can improve depression patients' health. "During this study, it indicates that music therapy may be able to improve mood and has low drop-out rates," says Anna Maratos, an Arts Therapist who works in the Central and Northwest London Foundation NHS Trust, London. “It is important to note that at the moment there are only a small number of relatively low quality studies in this area, and we will only be able to be confident about the effectiveness of music therapy once some high quality trials have been conducted,” says Maratos. (http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/01/23/music-therapy-beneficial-for-depression/1823.html)

From Medical News Today, 2009, University of Alabama senior Sarah Pitts brought her music therapy skills to patients in Hospice of West Alabama. Pitts says' We've gotten a lot of encouraging comments from families," says Pitts, a music therapy major from Memphis, Tenn. "Sometimes families who hear us say, 'Can you come and play a song or two?' Even one session with a music therapist can reduce pain and anxiety in this setting.'

(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172658.php)

Nordoff-Robbins Creative Music Therapy

Nodrodd-Robbins Creative Music Therapy is originated in the work of Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins in the 1960s to the 1970s. This approach focuses on awakening an inborn musicality in every client in order to develop his or her full potential as a human being. Creative Music Therapy uses improvised live music to build a relationship between therapist and clients where clients actively participate in, interact and communicate directly through music. Out of this interaction therapeutic goals are identified by the therapist and evaluated through regular sessions recordings on video and/ or audio.

Music Mind Connection Music Therapy Servive

For people who like to know more about Music Mind Connection music therapy service, which involve:

• Client will be assessed for individuals and groups to identify abilities and needs.
• The music in sessions is live and improvised by the therapist for the client. Clients are invited to respond and make music with the therapist on a range of instruments, through vocalisation/ singing, and movement.
• During the musical interaction, the therapist will analyse client responses and evaluate for therapeutic goals.
• Music therapy sessions are recorede on video for therapeutic analyse purpose.

For further information, please contact Shuyi

Something about Shuyi (Sue) Che

Shuyi is a registered music therapist and holds a master of creative music therapy from the University of Western Sydney and Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the University of Newcastle. Shuyi has worked with children and adult with special need, mental health, disability centre, as well as with children with trauma in children hospital. Shuyi has been deeply involved in special education in Maryborough.

For more information, please contact me.

Registered Music Therapist (RMT)

Registered Music Therapist (RMT) is registered with the Australia Music Therapy Association Inc (AMTA Inc) and bound by the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics of AMTA Inc.
RMTs are proficient musician and have a practical knowledge of wide range of music and music style. They also have a broad knowledge on human development, disability, illness and medical conditions.
RMT designs musical activities to achieve non-musical goals which are based on each individual's needs.

For more information about AMTA, please visit http://www.austmta.org.au/