Janet Perez
N310: Mental Health Nursing
Reference summary

Predictors of change in music therapy with children and adolescents: The role of therapeutic techniques

Christian Gold, Tony Wigram and Martin Voracek

The article by Gold, Wigram, and Voracek (2007) evaluates the outcomes of music therapy in a group of children and adolescents who participated in discipline-specific music therapy techniques.  The music therapy techniques that were used in the study included improvisation, use of pre-composed music and songs, listening to music, and verbal discussion of topics.  The researchers concluded that children and adolescents were able to use music therapy as an alternative way to express themselves and make changes in their behavior.  The findings also suggest that behavioral changes are more pronounced when there is a structured music technique used during therapy rather than when using free play.  

Resource

Gold, C., Wigram, T., & Voracek, M. (2007). Predictors of change in music therapy with  
children and adolescents: The role of therapeutic techniques. Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 80(4), 577-589. Retrieved from 
doi:10.1348/147608307X204396