Date of Award

12-2004

Degree Name

Master of Music

Department

Music

First Advisor

Brian L. Wilson

Second Advisor

Dr. David S. Smith

Third Advisor

Ed Roth

Fourth Advisor

Dr. David Sheldon

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine (a) which music therapy techniques may most effectively assist school-age clients with severe, profound, and multiple impairments to achieve certain goals; (b) assess whether music therapists currently feel that they were prepared to adequately serve the target population; and ( c) describe the demographics of music therapists who work with the target population. A researcher-designed questionnaire was completed by music therapists who served school-age clients who have severe/profound and multiple impairments. Results indicated that the use of singing and therapist-composed music were the most effective methods to develop nearly all types of skills. Approximately half of the respondents did not attempt to incorporate music applications of adaptive technology. The majority of music therapists stated that their training had adequately prepared them to work with the target population. The practitioners indicated that they were best equipped to develop communication, motor, and socio-emotional skills, which were also the most frequently addressed. Overall, the participants were female, had worked as a music therapist for more than eight years, and were self-employed full-time. They were as likely to hold a Master's degree as a Bachelor's degree.

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