Music Therapy
Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT®) is a research-based clinical system guided by advances in neuroscience.
It focuses on how the perception, cognition, and production of music can influence and change brain and behaviour functions beyond music.
In simple terms – we use music based techniques that have a research basis to target specific areas of the brain and address a non musical goal.
This might be a speech and language goal, a physical goal, cognitive, sensory, social or emotional goal. Neurologic Music Therapists are Registered Music Therapists with specialist training.
Music Therapy in Brisbane
Rhythmic Integrations offers music therapy supporting neurodivergent children and adults in the areas of communication, sensory processing, motor planning and self regulation to improve aspects of daily life.
Based in Wavell Heights, Brisbane.
What Does Music Therapy Involve?
Assessment, planning & goal setting
We run an initial assessment session which involves planning and discussing with you, how music therapy can meet your/your childs’ NDIS goals.
Fun & relaxing space
It’s important that you/your child are relaxed and having fun during sessions. Learning takes place when we are regulated and music can have a positive impact on our emotions.
Music enjoyment
We are privileged to be able to use this great tool. Music is an enjoyable medium and within music therapy we can hide the goals to a certain extent. The child might think they are just having fun but we can structure an activity to focus on a particular goal.
Interactive sessions, playing, singing and moving
Our sessions are interactive. We have you/your child singing, moving and playing musical instruments. The misconception about music therapy is that it is a passive music listening experience. Music listening may be one small aspect of what we do.
Technique based
We used evidence based and standardised techniques. See here for further information.
NMT’s use a process called a Transformational Design Model® also known as the TDM.
This 6 step process involves the establishment of non-musical goals, and creating non musical functional exercises that can be translated into musical exercises, to bring about change in the brain.
An important aspect of the TDM is to ensure that any gains made within the therapy session are translated into activities of daily living (ie. outside of the session). We need to make sure that any improvements and positive changes for the individual that we might see and assess during our sessions, actually make a positive difference in their day to day lives.
Music Therapy Brisbane
Why do we create non-musical goals?
Well, music is not the goal, it is the tool.
For example, if a child has delayed speech and we know that use of melody and rhythm can access other neural networks in the brain impacting speech, then our goal is that after a block of NMT sessions we see an increase in spontaneous use of speech in the home, school and/or community environment. It’s not to improve the child’s ability to sing or to be able to use more words within a song.
To help organise and regulate the nervous system.
For an individual with sensory processing challenges, the use of rhythm can be effective in pairing with other sensory input (for example proprioceptive or vestibular input) and providing the brain with information about when that sensory information is coming into the nervous system. We use elements of music (ie. rhythm or ‘the beat’) to help organise and regulate the nervous system so that the individual can function at their best. The goal is again a non-musical one. Music is the tool to drive change at a neural level.
How do we differ?
Like many training courses, continuing professional development and even university degrees, it is up to the individual to take the initiative to continue their learning and understanding in a particular area once they have completed the initial training. At Rhythmic Integrations, our therapists have completed the initial 4 day training along with many other music therapists in Brisbane and Australia.
In order to continue to appropriately use the title of Neurologic Music Therapy and maintain the standard of NMT we:
Resources Include:
Apply the NMT system daily.
Engage in regular professional development in NMT.
Attend supervision with senior international NMTs.
Keep up to date with new research and information.
Attend advanced training opportunities.
Music Therapy (including Neurologic Music Therapy) is an allied health profession and is approved under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
All therapists at Rhythmic Integrations are both Registered Music Therapists (meaning Registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association) and Neurologic Music Therapists.
