I BELONG TO TWO BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUPS, PASADENA CITY COLLEGE &
REHABILITATION INSTITUTE---ADVENTIST HOSPITAL GLENDALE CA.  MOST OF US
KNOW THE VALUE OF MUSIC THERAPY BUT WHAT CAN WE DO ON LIMITED FUNDS IN
UTILIZING THE VALUE OF MUSIC THERAPPY.  ARE THERE VIDIO'S, WEB SITES
THAT CAN GIVE INFORMATION WHAT THE PATIENTS CAN DO FOR THEMSELVES. 
HOW CAN WE HELP OURSELVES IN OUR OWN BRAIN INJURY RECOVERY  PROGRAM
UTILIZING THE PRINCIPLES IN MUSIC THERAPY?

Hello charlie~

Music therapy is certainly something you can do without a trained
professional--although someone with experience in music therapy is a
boon. Nonetheless, with some help from friends and family, your group
could receive music therapy at little or no cost.

It?s important to have a non-patient involved in the organization of
music therapy. The therapy time should be well structured and well
planned. Your helper should choose songs ahead of time, and lead all
singing.

Here are the basic guidelines for successful music therapy for brain
injury patients:

Music therapy for brain injury patients should include ?structured
music? that has a definite beginning, a definite end, and predictable
chord progressions. Therefore, favorite folk music or children?s songs
are a good place to start. However, the choice of music depends
largely on the patients themselves. Patients who are recovering more
quickly may prefer classic rock songs, for example--as long as they
fall into that ?structured? framework.

Music therapy works best for brain injury patients if the songs are a
bit slower than might otherwise be played or sung.

Music therapy often begins by listening to a song or two first.

Music therapy should also include singing. Even those who can no
longer talk may be able to sing, and those who have trouble
concentrating can often focus on a song at a time.

Music therapy should include stretching and moving to the music, to
help with physical issues associated with brain injuries.

Music therapy should include improvisational music, to help patients
relieve emotion and stress via song. On-the-spot lyric- or
song-writing is the preferred method.

Music therapy should take place at least 2 to 3 times a week.



You may also wish to read ?Music Therapy & Brain Injury? by Katherine
Wright, BMT, MTA, http://www.mtabc.com/brain2.html

In addition, you may find the Voices (?A World Forum for Music
Therapy?) website useful: http://www.voices.no/

While there are CDs and DVDs for music therapy, I could find none that
were specifically for brain injury patients. Really, you are better
off customizing the music to your group, anyway. Just follow the
guidelines above, and you?re set!



Best wishes,
Kriswrite


KEYWORDS USED:
"brain injury" "music therapy"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22brain+injury%22+%22music+therapy%22&btnG=Search

"music therapy"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22music+therapy%22&btnG=Google+Search

"how to" "music therapy"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22how+to%22+%22music+therapy%22&btnG=Search

"music therapy" DVD
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22music+therapy%22+DVD&btnG=Search

"music therapy" VHS
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22music+therapy%22+VHS

"music therapy" CD
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22music+therapy%22+CD

---

Request for Answer Clarification by charlie5545-ga on 14 May 2004 02:39 PDT

Reference Brain Injury Rehab.  
Are there specific selections for:

   ADD & ADHD
   Mild Depression
   Anxiety
   Relaxation
   Energy
   Giving Thanks

THANKS  

CHARLIE5545.ga

---

Clarification of Answer by kriswrite-ga on 14 May 2004 05:31 PDT

I'm not sure I understand your clarification, Charlie. Are you asking
another question? (If so, it needs to be posted as a new question.) Or
are you asking if there's music therapy info that relates both to
brain injury AND the conditions you describe?

Kriswrite

The extra mile was more than appreciated. Material so apprepriated for
a scheduled meeting with the Speech Pathologist incharge of the
Acquired Injury  Program, Pasadena City College, Pasadena,CA.  Thank
you again.

Charlie, thank you for the great rating--and the tip! I appreciate
both and I hope your meetings progress well!

Kriswrite