+ Improvisation as Music Therapy By Gilbert M. Batangan
Transcript
1. + Improvisation as Music Therapy By Gilbert M. Batangan
2. + Characteristics of Improvisation Improvisation is
described as taking place on a one-to one basis with a therapist
over multiple sessions. This essentially involves therapist and
client performing music together that is spontaneously in some or
all respects. Wigram (2004) has categorized the activities that may
be undertaken by a therapist and improvising on a one-to-one basis
with a client. These include:
3. + Improvisational Actvities for Music Therapy Mirroring:
simultaneously playing what the client is playing, as nearly as
possible. This is intended to give a message to the client that
they are meeting them at exactly at their level and provide
conformation of their activity. Matching: producing musical input
compatible with the clients though not identical, within the same
parameters of tempo, dynamic, etc. Emphatic improvising and
reflection: the therapist playing to the client, or following the
clients input, in a way that articulates or restates the clients
apparent emotional state, to provide supportive and emphatic
confirmation.
4. + Grounding, holding, and containing: providing ongoing
stability through constant and repetitive rhythm or tonality.
Dialoguing: understood as communication through music analogous to
conversation, either on the basis of turn-taking, interjection or
simultaneous input. Modeling: providing a musical idea or theme for
the client to develop of respond to. Accompanying the clients music
at a lower dynamic level on the basis of rhythm, harmony and/or
melody, to provide support and empathy.
5. + Music Therapy Improvisation Session In example of music
therapy improvisation, Ben improvises a melody over a chord
structure played by the therapist. Ben has no previous musical
training. Many techniques are used such as mirroring, matching,
grounding, dialoguing, and modeling.
6. + Example of Grounding
7. + Effects on health of well-being Physical benefits
Improvisational therapy can benefit patients recovering from
neurological damage. Aigen (2009) describes the experience of
time-keeping on a cymbal during improvisation sessions improving
the recovery of motor skills of a patients arm. Benefits to mental
health Improvisation increases vigour Reduces tension, stress, and
anxiety. Enhances self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-awareness
Improvisational theory can improve patients with communication
difficulties.
8. + Group improvisation in music therapy Musical therapy group
improvisations are a powerful tool for working with groups of
clients who do not communicate successfully using verbal means.
This technique has grown in popularity for those interested in
using creative experimental modalities for gaining insight into
self and their relationships with others (McFerran, Wigham,
2007)
9. + Advantages of Music Therapy in Groups Music Provides an
Opportunity to Work Through Issues in a Different Way: Music
therapy group improvisations encourage people to participate freely
and express themselves spontaneously, resulting in a unique manner
of interaction with group members. Music is Different to Words
Music offers the opportunity to express abstract ideas and
feelings.
10. + Music can communicate feelings without words Music
Transcends Psychology Music may provide a link to the spiritual
side of human nature. Experiences such as spiritual can transcend
the individual experience. Improvisations Create a Musical Portrait
of the Individual Music Creates an Interactive Entity Music therapy
group improvisations result in the creation of group music. The
group sound is experienced as an interactive entity that overcomes
individual issues.
11. + What is happening in an improvising brain? Charles Limb:
Your brain on improv: https://youtu.be/MkRJG510CKo Charles Limb a
neurosurgeon conducted a study to see how the brain works during
musical improvisation. Jazz musicians and rappers were put in an
fMRI to measure brain activity during improvisation.
12. + In the study two paradigms were given: Scale paradigm;
which consists of playing a scale up and down memorized, and
improvising on the scale. Jazz paradigm: which consists of learning
the melody of the music, then improvising melodies on the exact
chord changes
13. + The image below represents the contrast maps that show
subtractions between what happens during improvisation versus
playing music that is memorized. The red area is the prefrontal
cortex, represents the frontal lobe of the brain. The blue sections
represent the deactivated areas of the brain.
14. + According to Limb, consciousness is contained in the
frontal lobe. During improvisation, a part of the brain is self-
monitoring. This is the area that is thought to be autobiographical
and expressive.
15. + It is reasonable to hypothesize that to be creative, you
have to disassociate yourself with your frontal lobe, or your
consciousness. This way, you will be willing to make mistakes and
take chances during an improvisation.
16. + In Conclusion Improvisation as music therapy can provide
benefits to patients as well as students. Improvisation provides an
outlet of creativity for the subject. More research needs to be
conducted to provide evidence of how improvisation works with the
brain, and how can it be used to treat patients suffering from
alzheimers, dementia, and depreusission.