One thing that always interests me in Therapeutic Recreation besides TR and gardening is TR and music. I was introduced to TR and drumming in the first section of this class and became very interested. There are many therapeutic benefits to using music such as: relieving stress, positive state of mind, slower heart rate and slower more relaxed breathing, lower blood pressure, boosts your immune system, and many other physical and mental benefits. Music therapy can be used with anyone and in many different ways, which makes it a great universal activity! Obviously there will be different goals and objectives for the different populations, but they will all work towards the main goal of trying to reach the full potential of the client. Women transitioning from rehab centers into the community could use music as a way of expressing their fears and concerns and working through those obstacles. It also could help them become for comfortable in front of people and show them how to express their emotions appropriately. Music could be used for children who have non-verbal communication to express themselves. You could also work with geriatrics and use music for sensory stimulation. I know from volunteering at Hillview Healthcare Center that music is the highlight of the resident’s month, even though they just sit in their wheelchairs while people sing and play music. Depending on what type of music and how involved you want the participants to be effects what types of resources you need. You could bring in drums or other instruments and have the participants play or you could just bring in a radio or have music playing off of a CD or tape player. You can facilitate music therapy in many different ways, also depending on how involved your participants are. When working with high functioning patients you can front load an activity and have specific goals, objectives, and then debrief. The activities I found have to do with using music for participants to become aware of body awareness and the other activity uses music as a repeating game to work on memory. I found these activities on the Therapeutic Recreation Directory (www.recreationtherapy.com) and there were many more.
Musical Play with Body Awareness(Submitted by Melissa Cook of Center for the Disabled on December 31, 2003)
Size: 2-8
Equipment: Variety of music, variety of instruments
Objective: Incorporating musical play while helping individuals with disabilities become more familiar with their bodies/body awareness.
Description: While playing instruments, having participants play in a variety of areas, including over the head, behind the head, over shoulders, in front of their bodies, in front of their knees, down by their feet, etc. Sometimes with the disabled population, they are unaware of their bodies in space and many times cannot distinguish between body parts. With instrument play while incorporating body parts, participants can feel successful in making music while becoming more familiar with their own body parts.
Follow you, Follow me
submitted by Mindy Fulk of Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2001
Size: 2 - 10
submitted by Mindy Fulk of Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan on Friday, June 1, 2001
Size: 2 - 10
Equipment: Small percussion Musical Instruments, drum sticks, maracas, tambourines, etc.
Objective:
1. Increase attention
2. Increase mental flexibility
3. Increase short-term memory
4. Increase participation in group activities
1. Increase attention
2. Increase mental flexibility
3. Increase short-term memory
4. Increase participation in group activities
Description: Everyone gets an instrument. Chose someone to lead the activity that is comfortable with using percussion instruments. The leader plays a simple rhythm (start with 2-3 beats) and the group plays it back together. You can increase the complexity of rhythms and number of beats as the activity progresses.
SOME ADAPTATIONS:
a)Some patients may also like to lead the activity.
b)You can make this competitive and give a reward to the 'last person standing'. To do this, every time a person plays the rhythm incorrectly, they are out of the game. The leader should increase the speed and complexity of the rhythms.
c)Have the leader play to one person at a time, that person plays the rhythm back, then the next, then the next, and so on.
a)Some patients may also like to lead the activity.
b)You can make this competitive and give a reward to the 'last person standing'. To do this, every time a person plays the rhythm incorrectly, they are out of the game. The leader should increase the speed and complexity of the rhythms.
c)Have the leader play to one person at a time, that person plays the rhythm back, then the next, then the next, and so on.
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