Music Therapy Activities Wiki
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One-on-one or group music therapy sessions may include singing which is less formal than a choir. Singalongs may use songbooks of the music therapist's Repertoire, plain copies of popular song lyrics, preferred and highly familair songs by memory, or learning of new song by rote. Singalongs encourage participation in a fun music-making process, and can be used to address a variety of goals and objectives, including teaching breathing exercises.

Activities[]

Singalong with Discussion: Use songs to spark conversation. Gfeller and Thaut (2008, pp. 238 - 239) suggest the example, "My Favorite Things." After singing the song, individuals will be asked prompted to discuss their favorite kind of music, sport, season, or anything else in a reality-based discussion of "favorite things." This can lead to Fill-in-the-Blank/MadLib Songwriting.

Singalong with Lyric Analysis: Use songs to build a therapeutic relationship and guide counseling sessions. See Lyric Analysis and Lyric Divergence.

Resources[]

See Repertoire. See Singalong Games to add variety and structure to singalong sessions.

References[]

Gfeller, K. E., and Thaut, M. H. (2008). Music Therapy in the Treatment of Behavioral-Emotional Disorders. In W. B. Davis, K. E. Gfeller, and M. H. Thaut (3rd ed.) An Introduction to Music Therapy: Theory and Practice (pp. 209-246). Silver Spring, MD: The American Music Therapy Association, Inc.

Further Reading[]

Contributors[]

James E. Riley, MT-BC 

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