FAQs

Music therapy is a research-based practice and profession in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing. (This definition comes from the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc.)

Music therapists partner with people to set goals to be worked on in music therapy. These might be communication, social, movement, emotional, and/or spiritual goals. A range of music-making methods are incorporated, within a safe therapeutic relationship. Music therapists are committed to supporting people of any age and ability regardless of musical skill, culture or background.

Further information: To watch engaging case studies and interviews with leading music therapists working in neurorehabilitation, disability, aged care, palliative, mental health and pediatric, please visit the RMTs Change Lives website.

Neurologic Music Therapy is an advanced form of music therapy that uses research-based techniques to address cognitive, sensory and motor functions that are affected by neurological diseases of the human nervous system.

Research has shown that music and rhythm affect multiple areas of the human brain at once on a subconscious level. Neurologic Music Therapists use music and rhythm to “bypass” the affected areas of the brain and work with undamaged areas of the brain to create new neuropathways, thus improving brain function.

Neurologic Music Therapists are required to complete specialised training beyond standard music therapy qualifications.

Neurologic Music Therapy programs are developed specifically for people of all ages with neurological disorders including, but not limited to:
• Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Developmental disorders
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Cerebral Palsy
• Autism
• Other neurological diseases affecting cognition, movement, and communication.

Musicgrace has a special focus on rehabilitative work for people with neurological disorders. The outcomes will vary for individuals, depending on their goals and their conditions. Some positive outcomes can include:

Cognitive:
• Increase attention functions.
• Facilitate memory recall.
• Improve function skills, such as organization, problem solving, decision making, reasoning and comprehension.
• Facilitate meaningful responsiveness and orientation to time, place and person.

Speech and Language:
• Enhance speech development.
• Improve muscular coordination and pacing for apraxia of speech, dysarthria or fluency disorder.
• Facilitate voice control including inflection, pitch, breath control, timbre and dynamics.
• Facilitate initiation and articulation in speech and language.
• Enhance articulatory control and respiratory strength.

Sensorimotor:
• Improve the control of movement.
• Enhance functional gait patterns.
• Facilitate functional movements.

At the first meeting with you, the therapist will assess your needs and abilities. We use a music therapy assessment tool to identify various areas, including current health status, diagnoses, cognition, communication, emotion, social interaction, motor skills, musical preference and musical training. Then we develop a music therapy program to meet your needs and abilities, enabling you to make progress at your own pace.

Our therapist will address specific therapeutic goals using various music interventions, such as:
• Singing
• Lyric discussion or analysis
• Playing musical instruments
• Songwriting
• Listening to music
• Improvising music
• Movement to music

No background in music is required to benefit from Music Therapy, and the sessions are guided by your ability and preference. We do not focus on teaching skills or an instrument, but you may enjoy learning some specific techniques from your therapist as you work together.

The music that is used during the sessions will be chosen by you or by the therapist. The music therapist will ensure the type of the chosen music, as well as the timing of the interventions, are appropriate for meeting your needs and your goals for the session.
When introducing music, the therapist will base their choice on your current situation. For example, the therapist will ensure the lyrics and melody of a selected piece of music are well matched with your mood and psychological state during the session.

Our therapist comes to you. Sessions can be conducted in your home or other premises such as aged care facilities, a community centre, disability organisation or rehabilitation centre. Musicgrace is based in Brisbane and services individuals and organisations in the wider Brisbane area.