Music Instinct | PBS

http://video.whyy.org/video

for missing reference to above

As a neonatologist and a music therapist, I can share with you that the live music is a criticial aspect of the music therapy being implemented and as I understand, is being researched at this hospital and other hospitals throughout the Northeast. The movement of the music therapist’s play/pulse in this case is entrained to the infant’s vital signs. It is carefully timed, and played to match the meter of the suck rhythm-in this case. And in another clip is matched to the respiratory rhythm. The rhythm used depends on diagnosis and/or goal. One cannot achieve this with recorded music, where the pulse is fixed and the dynamic level is not carefully monitored. Recorded sounds and music are not ‘alive’-Though recordings may be lovely; recorded music is not attuned to match the infant’s meter-or vital rhythms which change from moment to moment and warrant the attention and attunement of a trained music therapist-who can also show and instill parents/caregivers capacity for emphasizing such attunement.

Live music, provided by a music therapist, is necessary for music therapy to be effective because it is necessary to react “in the moment”, changing to meet the needs of the client immediately. The energy created by the human being is also an aspect of the therapy that can not be ignored. Consider the difference of listening to a band on recording, as opposed to in concert. Even if you can not see, you can feel the difference. Also consider reading a book to a child. A child will get more out of reading with an adult, than to listening to the book on recording.

For these reasons, live music has been primarily used in music therapy. It has been proven, however, that recorded music can be used for very specific goals in the NICU. The work of Jane Standley with FSU has shown that a pacifier activated lullaby (which is a recording of lullabies) can be used to encourage babies to suck with increasing strength and also at more consistent intervals to keep from tiring themselves out. This intervention is still overseen by a trained music therapist, however, it is sometimes appropriate for interventions to utilize recorded music.