Social distancing precautions related to COVID-19 have had a significant impact on the delivery of music therapy services across the United States, and music therapists have had to adjust to changes in billing and regulation as well as the sudden need to deliver services via telehealth. The purpose of this research project was to collect data regarding the increased demand of information related to telehealth education, use of technology, and specific billing and regulation concerns from music therapists. Searches related to the categories of (a) billing, (b) technology, and (c) regulation were collected from the music therapy Facebook group, Music Therapists Unite (n.d). These searches were then compared according to (a) dates (January-February 2020 vs. March-April 2020), (b) poster status (student vs. professional), and (c) category (technology, billing, and regulation). Based on the results of this study, posts related to billing, technology, and regulation increased from January-February 2020 to March-April 2020. Posts related to technology increased the most extensively across both music therapy professionals and students before and after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. The results of this study suggest that music therapy professionals and students' interest in knowledge related to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic increased. This increase is consistent with research that has shown that technology is increasingly integrated in the field of music therapy but understanding of and education about technology is still limited. While there is much uncertainty regarding when this pandemic will end, the changes brought about in the field of music therapy will surely have strong implications on the future development of the field.

Combining essential information, professional insights, and lived experiences, this book offers a unique overview of the use of music therapy with active-duty service members, veterans, and other military-connected populations in the United States. Contributors include music therapists specializing with the military, as well as military personnel, veterans, and their families, providing an in-depth review of the impact that music therapy can have within this community. Detailing the historical evolution of the approach within a military context, the book explores the integration of music therapy into traditional treatment programs for service members and veterans particularly those with TBI and PTSD. Chapters cover the use of music therapy in both individual and group settings, and the opportunities to facilitate therapy via virtual platforms. Throughout, it emphasises the importance of music in military culture, highlighting the benefits of this approach with military communities. Personal accounts from military families are also included, as well as discussion on continued clinical and research innovation within the field. The first book to address this growing practice, it will inspire, inform and empower therapists and professionals working with and supporting military populations.

There is a rapidly emerging and developing area of music therapy practice that uses electronic music technologies in a range of therapeutic and clinical settings to help clients with complex needs. This edited volume explains cutting edge technologies and how to apply these tools in practice. With contributions from leading experts in the field, the book takes the reader through the equipment that is available including computer-based software; electronic devices which produce musical sounds with minimal movement or skill; assistive devices such as switches and sensors; and recording and listening equipment. Clinical case studies are then offered that show these technologies being used successfully with a broad range of child and adult populations, including those with visual impairments, autism spectrum disorders, medical needs, physical challenges, and mental health issues, and within a variety of settings, including a neonatal intensive care unit, schools, hospital environments, and palliative care settings. The final section looks toward the future and examines philosophical and theoretical perspectives on the use of technology and its relationship to aesthetics, gender and identity. This book will be a key resource for all music therapists, special needs educators, and professionals from the field of assistive technology, as well as allied health professionals such as occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.

Get a quick, expert overview of the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions in health care. This practical resource compiled by Dr. Olivia Swedberg Yinger provides a concise, useful overview of the profession of music therapy, including a description of each of the research-support practices that occur in the settings where music therapists most commonly work. Features a wealth of information on music therapy and its relevance in education settings, mental health treatment, medical treatment and rehabilitation, hospice and palliative care, gerontology, and wellness. Includes a chapter on current trends and future directions in music therapy Consolidates today’s available information and guidance in this timely area into one convenient resource.

Many musicians, music students, and general music lovers are curious about the field of music therapy the who, what, where, and how. This book provides a general overview of the profession, and it includes 26 audition essays, written by former students, confirming their motivation to "do good in the world through music." A career in music therapy combines their love of music with the desire to be of service to others. This book offers both the pragmatic reasons and "feel good" aspects that inspire people to enter this fulfilling profession.

Portraits of Everyday Practice in Music Therapy is an edited volume of case studies providing music therapy students and new professionals with critical reflections on everyday clinical practice across a variety of treatment settings, theories, approaches, and cultural contexts. These case studies articulate the important foundational work occurring around clinical breakthroughs to illustrate less of what music therapy could be given extraordinary circumstances and more of what music therapy frequently is given realistic circumstances. Additionally, each author explores the impacts of cultural values, expectations, and roles on clinical contexts through examinations of their sociocultural identities and how they intersected with those with whom they worked. Discussion prompts at the end of chapters help readers engage in similar reflective practices and sustain engagement with introduced concepts and ideas. By providing ecological real-world contexts for practice and culturally reflexive lenses through which to understand how therapeutic processes evolved, music therapy students and professionals can be better prepared for the authenticity and complexity of everyday clinical work.

Telehealth, the remote care of an individual through any means of technology, is an ever-growing field in the medical world. Videoconferencing is often used as a method of providing telehealth to individuals. This study determined if a music-assisted relaxation session administered through a videoconferencing format had a significant effect on the anxiety levels of a participant, and if this session through videoconferencing resulted in significantly different anxiety levels when compared to an identical in-person session. Participants (n=10) attended both an in-person music-assisted relaxation session and a session through videoconferencing, completing the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after each session. The music-assisted relaxation through videoconferencing showed a significantly lowered participants' state anxiety levels. There was no significant difference between the change in participants' anxiety levels during the in-person session and the change in participants' anxiety levels during the videoconference session.