Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - Research Publications
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ItemThe dynamics of musical participation(SAGE Publications, 2021)In this paper we argue that our comprehension of musical participation—the complex network of interactive dynamics involved in collaborative musical experience—can benefit from an analysis inspired by the existing frameworks of dynamical systems theory and coordination dynamics. These approaches can offer novel theoretical tools to help music researchers describe a number of central aspects of joint musical experience in greater detail, such as prediction, adaptivity, social cohesion, reciprocity, and reward. While most musicians involved in collective forms of musicking already have some familiarity with these terms and their associated experiences, we currently lack an analytical vocabulary to approach them in a more targeted way. To fill this gap, we adopt insights from these frameworks to suggest that musical participation may be advantageously characterized as an open, non-equilibrium, dynamical system. In particular, we suggest that research informed by dynamical systems theory might stimulate new interdisciplinary scholarship at the crossroads of musicology, psychology, philosophy, and cognitive (neuro)science, pointing toward new understandings of the core features of musical participation.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableMusic interventions for dementia and depression in elderly care (MIDDEL): The Australian part of an international cluster randomised controlled trial(Wiley, 2021-12-01)BACKGROUND: Dementia and depression are highly prevalent, comorbid conditions in older adults residing in care homes and are associated with individual distress and associated challenges for care staff. Music-based interventions are widely used and potentially effective nonpharmacological interventions, due to the relative preservation of the ability of people with dementia to respond to music even with disease progression. However, there is a lack of large-scale studies evaluating the effectiveness of music-based interventions in dementia care. Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in the Elderly (MIDDEL) is the first large-scale international cluster-randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of small group music therapy (GMT), recreational choir singing (RCS) and their combination on levels of depression in residents with dementia. The trial is currently being conducted across six countries, and this presentation will outline the study outcomes from the Australian arm of the trial. METHOD: Between June 2018 and November 2019, 20 care home units were randomised to music interventions (GMT, RCS, GMT and RCS) or standard care delivered over 6 months. The primary outcome was level of depression as measured by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Secondary outcomes included neuropsychiatric symptoms, quality of life, care staff burden and adverse events collected at baseline, 3-months, 6-months and 12-months post-randomisation. Outcomes were analysed as intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and with exploratory predictor analyses. RESULTS: 318 participants (215 female; 103 male) aged 65 years or more with diagnoses of dementia and at least mild depressive symptoms (as defined by score of 8 or above on MADRS) residing in care homes were recruited. In addition, 131 care staff (108 female; 23 male) answered questions regarding perceived care burden to search for potential ripple effects of the music interventions. We will present the main findings of the study including the predictive effects of clinical characteristics on efficacy. CONCLUSION: The presentation will include discussion of contextual factors and conditions that support efficacy, and clinical implications for safety and quality of life for people with dementia living in care homes.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableHOMESIDE-A home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading intervention for people living with dementia: A randomised controlled trial.(Wiley, 2021-12)BACKGROUND: Pharmacological interventions to address behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) can have undesirable side effects, therefore non-pharmacological approaches to managing symptoms may be preferable. Past studies show that music therapy can reduce BPSD, and other studies have explored how formal caregivers use music in their caring roles. However, no studies have examined the effects on BPSD of music interventions delivered by informal caregivers (CGs) in the home setting. Our project addresses the need for improved informal care by training cohabiting family CGs to implement music interventions that target BPSD, and the quality of life (QoL) and well-being of people with dementia and CGs. METHODS: An international three-arm parallel-group randomised controlled trial has so far randomised 130 of the target 495 dyads from Australia, Germany, UK, Poland and Norway. Dyads are randomised equally to standard care (SC), a home-based music programme plus SC, or a home-based reading programme plus SC for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is BPSD of people with dementia (measured using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire). Secondary outcomes examine relationship quality between CG and people with dementia, depression, resilience, competence, QoL for CG and QoL for people with dementia. Outcomes are collected at baseline, at the end of the 12-week intervention and at 6 months post randomisation. Resource Utilisation in Dementia captures economic data across the life of the intervention and at 6-month follow-up. Our presentation will briefly outline the study protocol and describe the caregiver training protocol and interventions in detail with video footage illustrating how the intervention looks in practice.
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ItemPush and Pull: Creative Practice and Creating Technologies(Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research, 2020)The lures of technologically enhanced performance are numerous but present challenges. This paper discusses the interplay of creative practice and embodied technology design as I experienced it through the co-development and construction of a set of data-gloves for use in performance. The project grew from the desire to engage with technology in an intuitive and visually exciting way. Using an embodied technology to interact with the voice radically changed my experience when performing. It led to feeling immersed in the sound and performance in contrast to disconcerted (with sampling) or nonplussed (with effects pedals). The gloves encouraged specificity in performance techniques and the use of movement cues. Audio manipulation via embodied interactive technology was startlingly empowering. The gloves connected to Ableton via MAX/MSP. MAX/MSP monitored the movement of flex sensors and buttons and communicated this by Musical Interface Digital Instrument (MIDI) to Ableton. Data triggered samples and audio effects in Ableton that affected the audio output of two microphones. Making, evaluating, troubleshooting, and curating sonic effects led to the creation of the piece, Tāwhirimātea (Rose 2018a), the adaptation of Te Karanga (Rose 2018b), and use in These Would Be Other (Burke & Mann 2019). This is an ongoing project, which will build upon the initial iteration discussed in this paper, to explore using embodied interactive technology to manipulate, alter and spatialise sound in surround sound and Ambisonic environments. There is further work to be explored within the design and technical capabilities of these gloves, including how it changes the user experience and what effects the types of interactions have on composition and performative outcomes.
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ItemHope for in-person human connection in a virtual music therapy world(GRIEG ACADEMY, 2021-10-20)
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ItemExploring self-concept, wellbeing and distress in therapeutic songwriting participants following acquired brain injury: A case series analysis(Taylor & Francis, 2020-02-07)Acquired brain injury (ABI) presents a significant threat to sense of self and necessitates a complex process of psychosocial adjustment. Self-concept changes remain understudied in the early stages of inpatient rehabilitation. The aim of the current study was to examine changes in self-concept, distress, wellbeing and functional skills for five inpatients undertaking a music therapy intervention within a subacute rehabilitation centre in Victoria, Australia. Participants completed a six-week, 12-session therapeutic songwriting programme to produce past-, current- and future-self-focused songs. A range of self-concept, subjective wellbeing and distress measures were completed pre-, mid- and post-intervention. A descriptive case series approach was applied to determine trends in pre-post scores for five individual cases. Participants showing the greatest gains across self-concept and subjective wellbeing indices also showed the greatest functional gains on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) from admission to discharge. The current study highlights the importance of examining early changes in self-concept, wellbeing and distress in subacute rehabilitation, and suggests that individualised songwriting programmes warrant further research attention in neurological populations.
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ItemParkinSong: Outcomes of a 12-Month Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Singing Groups in Parkinson's Disease(IOS Press, 2020-07-28)Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) frequently causes progressive deterioration in speech, voice and cognitive aspects of communication. These affect wellbeing and quality of life and are associated with caregiver strain and burden. Therapeutic singing groups can ameliorate PD-related communication disorders and increase social interaction and wellbeing for caregivers and care recipients. Objective: To analyse the effects of ParkinSong group singing sessions on Parkinson’s communication and wellbeing outcomes for people with PD and caregivers over 12 months. Methods: A 4-armed controlled clinical trial compared ParkinSong with active non-singing control conditions over 12 months. Two dosage levels (weekly versus monthly) were available for each condition. ParkinSong comprised high-effort vocal, respiratory and speech exercises, group singing, and social interaction. PD-specific outcomes included vocal loudness, speech intelligibility, maximum phonation time, respiratory muscle strength, and voice related quality of life (QoL). Wellbeing outcomes were also measured for caregivers and care recipients. Results: We recruited 75 people with PD and 44 caregivers who attended weekly ParkinSong, monthly ParkinSong, weekly control or monthly control groups. We found significant improvements in the primary outcome of vocal loudness (p = 0.032), with weekly singers 5.13 dB louder (p = 0.044) and monthly singers 5.69 dB louder (p = 0.015) than monthly controls at 12 months. ParkinSong participants also showed greater improvements in voice-related QoL and anxiety. Caregivers who attended ParkinSong showed greater reductions in depression and stress scores. Conclusions: This 12-month controlled clinical trial of ParkinSong demonstrated improvements in speech loudness and voice-related QoL for participants with PD, and enhanced wellbeing for both caregivers and care recipients. No adverse effects were reported over 12 months and improvements were sustained.
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ItemReconsidering the Dominant Narratives of the Music Therapy Profession for the Future(Canadian Association of Music Therapists, 2021)Music therapy has always been a research-based profession that is informed by theory. However, many of the theories that we rely on were proposed nearly half a century ago. This paper, which was presented as a keynote to the Canadian Music Therapy Association in 2020, provides one answer to the question of what theoretical perspectives we might privilege if the profession were established now, instead of at that time. Critical theories including intersectionality, post-humanism, and post-ableism are highlighted and practical suggestions are made about how these perspectives would alter the way we describe our practice as music therapists. La musicothérapie repose depuis toujours sur une recherche aux fondements théoriques. Cependant, nombre des théories sur lesquelles nous nous appuyons ont été formulées il y a près d'un demi-siècle. Le présent article, qui a fait l'objet du discours d'ouverture du congrès de l'Association canadienne des musicothérapeutes de 2020, propose une réponse possible à la question des perspectives théoriques qui seraient adoptées si la profession s'était établie aujourd'hui plutôt qu'il y a cinquante ans. On y aborde des théories critiques, portant notamment sur l'intersectionnalité, le post-humanisme et le post-capacitisme, et on y fait des suggestions pratiques sur les variations qu'apporteraient ces perspectives à notre définition de l'exercice de la musicothérapie.
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ItemExploring the Experiences of Professional Practice for Australian Based Registered Music Therapists(Australian Music Therapy Association, 2021)The music therapy profession has grown in size and recognition within Australia since it was established over 40 years ago. It is therefore important to understand the needs of the profession and its future development in Australia. Recent international and Australian-based studies report that although music therapists generally experience their work as personally rewarding, and have a positive outlook for the field's future, stress related to advocacy and low rates of pay were identified as ongoing issues. To further explore this topic, rich descriptions of how professionally trained music therapists experience their careers have been gathered in order to analyse the ways Australian based registered music therapists (RMTs) describe their experiences of professional practice. A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted for this exploration, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 registered music therapists during 2019. Three common concepts were identified through analysis: the unique identity of a registered music therapist; the unique aspects of practice as a registered music therapist; and the impact of a registered music therapist's work environment. Australian based RMTs described an intertwining of their professional and personal identities. Even though the overall experience of practicing in Australia appears to be positive, issues relating to work conditions, advocacy and recognition for the profession are ongoing.
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ItemAdolescents and Music Therapy: Contextualized Recommendations for Research and Practice(Oxford University Press, 2020-03-01)Music therapists have been working with, writing about, and researching their work with adolescents for many decades. This paper provides a reflective review of the research literature in the field that is categorized in three contexts: education, mental health, and community. Grouping knowledge in this way affords a new perspective on how music therapists describe adolescents, including the terms we use to describe them, the types of programs we offer, the approaches to research that are most popular, and the way we talk about the focus of therapy. Distinctions between research in these fields are highlighted, with reference to the beliefs and values that are most congruent with each of these contexts. Following this reflective review on the literature, I provide five recommendations for consideration by researchers and practitioners. These include: determining if and when evidence is an appropriate focus; continuing to seek understanding; not underestimating the value of positive experiences; avoiding an exclusive focus on the music therapist’s perspective; and being realistic about the outcomes of group versus individual therapy. The paper concludes with an illustrative example to emphasize how one adolescent might be “seen” differently in each context.