Musicking: Forest Lake
Physiotherapy in Brisbane

Musicking offers specialised FLUTE tuition & MUSIC THERAPY services. The efficacy of these outcomes is enhanced by the power of music to arouse emotions that can be used to motivate and engage clients toward achievement of their therapeutic goals. Some examples of techniques adopted by music therapists in addressing the client’s needs include: * Song writing to facilitate self-expression * Movement to music * Singing and chanting * Educational/instructional songs * Involvement in a group * Improvisation * Instrumental play * Music listening RESULTS: A range of empirical literature supports the effectiveness of music therapy in increasing the skills and abilities of people with special needs in the areas of 1) social and emotional behaviour, 2) motor skills, 3) communication skills, 4) language and vocal production, and 5) pre-academic and academic skills. MUSIC THERAPY TECHNIQUES: After assessment, the RMT selects and applies a range of techniques in order to achieve the program goals. Some examples of music therapy goals for children and adults with special needs are: * To increase opportunities for cognitive, * To develop complexity and completeness of sentences, * To increase awareness of one’s immediate environment and of others, * To enhance self-confidence, * To develop appropriate emotional expression, * To promote social skills and interpersonal communication, and gross & fine motor skills), direction, gait, confidence to move, * To develop orientation and mobility (ie. spatial awareness, balance & coordination etc), improve motor planning skills, increase muscle tone, * To develop motor skills (e.g., physical and sensory stimulation, and appropriate use of vocabulary. MUSIC THERAPY GOALS: As all music therapy programs are specifically designed for the individual, the exact goals cannot be determined until after the assessment. Music therapy can therefore contribute to the quality of life of people with special needs and their families. In the case of adults with special needs, occupational therapists, such as physiotherapists, music therapy goals can support long term goals suggested by other members of the therapy team, as well as by the client. In the case of special education, music therapy goals can be an integral component of progress toward attainment of educational goals as identified by the clients’ Individual Education Plan (IEP) team and parents. THE MUSIC THERAPY PROCESS: Specific music therapy goals are determined by the RMT through initial music therapy assessment and ongoing review of the client. Music educators specialize in students’ acquisition of musical knowledge, and appreciation while music therapists use music primarily to achieve non-music goals (Daveson & Edwards, skills, 1998). The difference lies within the specific goals targeted by each discipline. They both aim to facilitate the growth and development of the student. WHAT MAKES MUSIC THERAPY DIFFERENT? The overall aims of music education and music therapy are, in fact, complementary. (Oliver Sacks, Albert Einstein College of Medicine) WHO IS A REGISTERED MUSIC THERAPIST (RMT)? Registered music therapists (RMT) are skilled and qualified musicians and therapists who assess, Prof Neurology, MD, design and implement programs to meet the needs of individual students/adults with special needs. Music is fun and engages us physically, cognitively and emotionally, involving whole brain function and making it a wonderfully powerful tool. For example, music therapy with people with special needs is the functional use of music to achieve and enhance special education goals, while offering an alternative to traditional teaching methods. WHAT IS MUSIC THERAPY? Music therapy is a professional discipline that uses music to achieve therapeutic aims. Our practice is bound by the Code of Ethics of the Australian Music Therapy Association. (See our website or www.austmta.org