In his article 'musical therapy', Brian Abrams explains how music therapists must learn how to dialog with uninformed or misinformed members of the public in tolerant, diplomatic ways, in the interest of advancing the music therapy profession. He presents one example of these misconceptions being the term 'musical therapy'. Abrams states that this term, when used by the public is a deliberate expression of belittlement, denigration, or deep insult.
As a music therapy student at the University of Louisville, I very often have to explain what music therapy is to family and friends who are not familiar with the profession; therefore, I agree with Abrams' view 100%. People often think that music therapy can also be referred to as musical therapy. I find it difficult to explain that these terms are not exactly interchangeable.
Abrams says that many of his colleagues have similar feelings about the term. He said that he found himself joining in the joking about the term. He said that he found himself joining in with the joking about the phrase. He said that at conferences, he and other therapists would discuss what the term actually signified—3 very anxious psychoanalysis clients who march around 2 couches, while a bearded Viennese man plays an excerpt of "Pop Goes the Weasel" on an old fashioned phonograph.
While I would not have thought of this particular mental picture of 'musical therapy', it does make quite a bit of sense in the colorful way that Abrams explains it. Because of this skewed view of our profession when the term "musical" is used, we, as music therapists, need to have a clear, concise definition of music therapy. One of the main questions to ask ourselves is, what precisely, is natural to music therapy? Also, what exactly can be distinguished as uniquely characterized music therapy discipline, and the music therapists experience?
When I try to answer these questions, I think of the terms creative, improvisatory, helpful, inspiring, and intimate. While all of these terms can be musical in nature, I do not think musical is the appropriate term to use in defining the profession.
Abrams says we need to look at music therapy through an artistic lens, in which the value of the work and its goals are weighed according to such criteria as an experiential depth, narrative coherence, personal meaningfulness, and expressive beauty. The work is understood as musical, involving client and therapist in clinical musical relationship with one another. The goals are understood as musical, in that music can be viewed as an expression of health itself.
I think that looking at music therapy through an artistic lens is a great way to put it, because music therapy is in fact artistic. This artistic lens can be experiences through various music therapy techniques including improvisation, singing, and music listening.
He concludes by saying that 'if one grants that being musical is at least one legitimate way of describing the essential distinguishing features of both work and outcomes of music therapy, then perhaps the term 'musical therapy' is really not a horrible misnomer after all'.
I am currently in my last year of school as a music therapy major. I do think that musicality plays a big role in music therapy; however, I do not think that "musical" is interchangeable with music. I think being musical is an attribute of music, but it is not the music itself.
It is very difficult to explain to others that music therapy is to aide in all areas other than music, not necessarily music itself. When I am explaining music therapy to friends, family, and colleagues, I usually try to incorporate clinical and personal experience, to provide a "real life" picture of what it is precisely that I do. I have been involved in many sessions that were quite meaningful to me, and I think when I convey this to the listener, they can glean from it a better understanding just of how effective music therapy can be.
To conclude, I agree with most of Abrams' statements about using music therapy instead of musical therapy. I hope I can continue to develop and improve my individual definition of music therapy for future use with patients, clients, family and professionals.
About Megan Ball
Biography
Senior music therapy student at the University of Louisville
In his article 'musical therapy', Brian Abrams explains how music therapists must learn how to dialog with uninformed or misinformed members of the public in tolerant, diplomatic ways, in the interest of advancing the music therapy profession. He presents one example of these misconceptions being the term 'musical therapy'. Abrams states that this term, when used by the public is a deliberate expression of belittlement, denigration, or deep insult.
As a music therapy student at the University of Louisville, I very often have to explain what music therapy is to family and friends who are not familiar with the profession; therefore, I agree with Abrams' view 100%. People often think that music therapy can also be referred to as musical therapy. I find it difficult to explain that these terms are not exactly interchangeable.
Abrams says that many of his colleagues have similar feelings about the term. He said that he found himself joining in the joking about the term. He said that he found himself joining in with the joking about the phrase. He said that at conferences, he and other therapists would discuss what the term actually signified—3 very anxious psychoanalysis clients who march around 2 couches, while a bearded Viennese man plays an excerpt of "Pop Goes the Weasel" on an old fashioned phonograph.
While I would not have thought of this particular mental picture of 'musical therapy', it does make quite a bit of sense in the colorful way that Abrams explains it. Because of this skewed view of our profession when the term "musical" is used, we, as music therapists, need to have a clear, concise definition of music therapy. One of the main questions to ask ourselves is, what precisely, is natural to music therapy? Also, what exactly can be distinguished as uniquely characterized music therapy discipline, and the music therapists experience?
When I try to answer these questions, I think of the terms creative, improvisatory, helpful, inspiring, and intimate. While all of these terms can be musical in nature, I do not think musical is the appropriate term to use in defining the profession.
Abrams says we need to look at music therapy through an artistic lens, in which the value of the work and its goals are weighed according to such criteria as an experiential depth, narrative coherence, personal meaningfulness, and expressive beauty. The work is understood as musical, involving client and therapist in clinical musical relationship with one another. The goals are understood as musical, in that music can be viewed as an expression of health itself.
I think that looking at music therapy through an artistic lens is a great way to put it, because music therapy is in fact artistic. This artistic lens can be experiences through various music therapy techniques including improvisation, singing, and music listening.
He concludes by saying that 'if one grants that being musical is at least one legitimate way of describing the essential distinguishing features of both work and outcomes of music therapy, then perhaps the term 'musical therapy' is really not a horrible misnomer after all'.
I am currently in my last year of school as a music therapy major. I do think that musicality plays a big role in music therapy; however, I do not think that "musical" is interchangeable with music. I think being musical is an attribute of music, but it is not the music itself.
It is very difficult to explain to others that music therapy is to aide in all areas other than music, not necessarily music itself. When I am explaining music therapy to friends, family, and colleagues, I usually try to incorporate clinical and personal experience, to provide a "real life" picture of what it is precisely that I do. I have been involved in many sessions that were quite meaningful to me, and I think when I convey this to the listener, they can glean from it a better understanding just of how effective music therapy can be.
To conclude, I agree with most of Abrams' statements about using music therapy instead of musical therapy. I hope I can continue to develop and improve my individual definition of music therapy for future use with patients, clients, family and professionals.