Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - Research Publications
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ItemEfficacy of Parkinsong Groups for improving Communication and Wellbeing in Parkinson's Disease(World Federation of Music Therapy, 2017)Communication impairment is one of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, significantly impacting quality of life (Miller, 2012). Speech characteristics may include a soft, monotone, breathy or hoarse voice quality, imprecise articulation, dysprosody and dysfluency (Skodda et al., 2013). These characteristics, combined with reduced nonverbal communication, cognitive-linguistic impairment and poor self-perception of speech, make communication difficult and lead to self-consciousness, reduced likelihood to participate in conversation, and the avoidance of social interaction that requires speaking. Communication difficulties can compound issues of depression and related social isolation (Miller et al., 2006).
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ItemMusic interventions for acquired brain injury: Findings from an updated Cochrane review(The Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, 2017-06-01)Background and aims: This Cochrane review update examined the effects of music interventions and standard care versus standard care alone or standard care combined with other therapies for adults with non- degenerative acquired brain injury (ABI). Primary outcomes were gait and upper extremity function. Secondary outcomes were communication, cognition, mood and emotions, social skills, pain, behavioral outcomes, activities of daily living, and adverse events. Method: We searched electronic databases, dissertation and specialist music databases, and hand-searched grey literature. All randomised controlled and controlled clinical trials with quasi-randomised or systematic methods of treatment allocation were included, in any language, published and unpublished. Results: We included 29 trials with 775 participants. Meta- analyses indicated that music interventions may improve gait velocity, stride length (affected side), gait cadence, stride symmetry, general gait, and timing of upper extremity function. Using a rhythmic auditory stimulus embedded in music may lead to greater improvements in gait velocity than using rhythmic auditory stimulus without music e.g. metronome. Interventions delivered by a credentialed music therapist generated greater improvements than interventions delivered by other professionals. Music interventions may also improve quality of life and overall communication with beneficial effects in naming and repetition. Conclusions: Rhythm-based interventions remain important for movement rehabilitation in ABI. Future research should examine music intervention effects on cognition. Measures used for mood outcomes require greater uniformity and improved reporting. Across all domains, improved agreement on the core outcomes examined will enable more comprehensive meta-analyses and more accurate evaluation of the effectiveness of music interventions.
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ItemMusical memories: Connecting people with dementia and their caregivers through song.(World Federation of Music Therapy, 2017)Active music participation may offer benefits for people with dementia (PWD) and their family care givers (FCG) living in the community (Baird & Samson, 2015). For the PWD, this capacity to respond to music-making activities, such as singing, may facilitate reminiscence and successful social engagement (Vanstone & Cuddy, 2010). As a consequence, FCG may experience meaningful and satisfying connection with their loved one (Baker, Grocke & Pachana, 2012). Receptive music listening interventions may also assist with the management of challenging symptoms of dementia, such as agitation and anxiety, offering FCG strategies to use in the home.