Technology in Music Therapy and Special Education. What is Special Education?

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1 Technology in Music Therapy and Special Education What is Special Education? Disabilities are categorized into the following areas: o Autism, visual impairment, hearing impairment, deaf- blindness, multiple disabilities, developmental delay, traumatic brain injury, emotional- behavioral disorder, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment What is Music Therapy? Music Therapy can take place in public schools, family homes, private practice settings, preschools/daycares, early intervention programs, treatment centers, hospitals and more Benefits of Music Therapy Music Therapy on individuals with autism o Music Therapy interventions may impact joint attention, memory and visual recall of individuals with ASD o May enhance auditory processing and other sensory/motor, perceptual/motor or gross/fine motor skills in individuals with ASD Music Therapy on individuals with physical disabilities o Can be used to motivate movements or structure exercises o Increase motor coordination the use of selected instruments can improve range of motion as well as fine and gross motor skills

2 o Can promote relaxation by listening to carefully chosen music, instrumental improvisation and music- assisted relaxation exercises o Foster independence, self- confidence and self- esteem Technology in Music Therapy Technology can be applied in music therapy in several ways Adapted Musical Instruments Adapting the instrument for easier use by individuals with disabilities Recording Technology Recording technology can be used when the music therapists needs pre- recorded music in their session Assistive Technology In special education o Involves the use of devices to help an individual with a disability manage their daily lives, interact with the environment, and foster independence o This involves control devices, aids to mobility, and augmentative communication devices o Motorized wheelchairs, electronic travel aids for persons with visual impairments, cochlear implants o Augmentative communication for clients who are unable to speak, voice generating devices provide prerecorded verbal messages that are accessed by the client pushing a button for a particular message

3 In music therapy o They are used to allow a person with a disability to access and operate musical instruments o MIDI- equipped electronic keyboards (aka "synthesizers") are often used along with computers running software "Sequencers" and/or "Digital Audio workstations" to produce music o MIDIcreator switches can directly interface with electronic instruments o MidiGesture and MidiSensor use simple body movement like head nodding or minimal arm movement to control sound Electronic Musical Instruments Include electric guitars with amplification, drum machines and electric versions of acoustic instruments such as the Q- chord, electronic keyboards and keyboard synthesizers Electronic instruments such as keyboards can be connected to other electronic instruments such as synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers and personal computers through the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI). Qchord - I have seen increases in range of motion, muscle strength, attention, eye tracking, auditory perception, eye- hand- motor skills, emotional release, memory, alertness, and focused and appropriate behavior, through the use of the QChord. I have used it for language development in special education classes for song writing, diction, and articulation practice. Computer Applications

4 AUMI allows people with disabilities to play music by interacting directly with the computer screen through their motions as analyzed through the camera in the computer or ipad o Enables user to play sounds and musical phrases through movement and gestures o Enables exploration of sounds ranging from pitches to noises rather than learning set pieces o An entry to improvisation rather than hitting the right notes or playing set pieces of music SoundBeam o Soundbeam is a 'touch free' device which uses sensor technology to translate body movement into music and sound. o Soundbeam has been most extensively and thoroughly evaluated with children with Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities. o Soundbeam provides a medium through which even profoundly physically or learning impaired individuals can become expressive and communicative using music and sound. The sense of control, agency and independence which this provides can be a powerful motivator, stimulating learning and interaction in other areas. JamBoxx o You can trigger notes with your breath without a lot of effort. You blow and sip into the mouthpiece to create positive and negative breath pressure rather than air flow. o People with very little breath or lung capacity can get volume by pushing air into the mouthpiece. It was originally

5 designed so people can play a digital musical instrument hands- free. APPS for ipad/iphone/computer Singing apps, guitar apps, communication apps, documentation apps, picture schedule apps, sensory apps, relaxation apps, drum apps and instrument apps Beat Box Pad provides you with 28 pads to play. Each pad has a unique drum sound. Sounds include all the parts of the drum set and a few unique sounds like voice, guitar and bass Melody Bell allows you to display a single bell or multiple bells per page. Simply shake the ipad to play a single bell or touch the bell on the page to play o Great for reinforcing letter identification through hand- eye coordination and encouraging creativity and attention to task through improvisation Garageband with the touch of a finger you can play keyboards, organs, guitars and percussion kits. The options for recording, songwriting, developing musical skills and familiarity with a variety of musical instruments, improving listening skills Rainstick, beatwave, musicnotes, guitar tuner, relax melodies Benefits of technology in music therapy Active participation in the act of music making is the basis for a wide range of therapeutic goals Technology allows clients to act independently and interact with others more readily

6 It supports self- esteem through the production of musical performance Adapted instruments help the individual actively participate in music making, fostering goals such as attention to task, environmental awareness and response and group participation Augmentative communication gives non- verbal clients a voice in the music therapy session, while opportunities for musical performance increases communicative behaviors Physical Disabilities - Technology provides clients with physical disabilities a means to achieve goals in physical rehabilitation. Children with cerebral palsy and other physical impairments engage in movement patterns through technological means to make music Emotional behavioral disorders electronic instruments and computer applications are used to increase motivation, active participation and social interaction, self- expression, problem solving and decision making Autism provide familiarity, consistency, structure and predictability all characteristics that support the learning style of ASD