Kevin O’Shanahan – notes and ideas on Music in Healthcare
Settings
Kevin O’Shanahan – notes and ideas on Music in Healthcare Settings
What is Music in Healthcare?
• Part of wider Arts and Health practice• Where the interests, resources and
expertise of the arts and health sectors intersect
• Collaborative/Participative model• Approach reflects individual practitioner
My approach to MIH
• Mental Health settings
• Bursary to develop practice
• Evolving
• Diverse influences
• Some key elements
• MIH and MT
Flexibility
• “Light Mind” V “Tight Mind” (B. Houseman)
• Balance of energy but not pushing too hard
• Plan but always ready to change
• Improvisation
Self Awareness
• Awareness of own tensions (breath)
• Awareness of Environment. In tune with energy/music in a room
• Self consciousness prevents connecting
• Listening/Stillness
• Reflective practice
Playfulness
• “Mental Bounce” (Houseman)
• Looks effortless (when working!)
• Smile! Play! Be creative
• Movement
• Out of left brain into right brain
• Humour (William Fry)
Patch Adams Quote
• “If we define health as a happy, vibrant, exuberant life, it allows everyone to be healthy, even the person with aids or cancer. Even the person dying that day can be healthy.”
Critical Thinking
• Continual reflection/refinement of practice
• Blacking.J (1987) All knowledge is open to scrutiny
• Folk music= to enhance a social occasion (MIH?)
• Art music= the reason for a social occasion
• Blurring of boundaries?
Link to the Spirit
• Music/dance are expressions of spirit
• Music/Health are both vital energies
• Awareness of own spirit and that of group
• Music for ritual purposes
• Role of Shaman (Joseph Campbell)
Creating Community
• All group members are equal
• Everyone is innately musical/creative
• From birth we are hardwired for music (Don Campbell)
• African aesthetic “Without participation there is no meaning”
• Rhythm/Voice/Movement
How MIH is similar to MT
• Music is the tool of communication
• Musical techniques (improvisation)
• Process of Assessment/Evaluation
How MIH differs to MT?
• Clinical information
• Purpose
• Structure
• Motivation of practitioners
Clinical information
• MT Clinical Diagnosis
• Music Therapist part of Multi Disciplinary team (MDT)
• MIH Practical clinical information
• Musician not part of MDT
• Benefit of autonomy
Structure
• Sessions prescribed for patient (MT)• More structured programme?• Clinical goals/Outcomes• Therapeutic “work” outside sessions?
• Patient choice to attend (MIH)• Music for all present• Less structured/Greater flexibility?
Purpose
• Clinical change in Client ? (MT)
• Greater level of analysis/link to psychology
• Counselling Expertise
• Creativity and Self Expression (MIH)
• Collaboration with other art forms
• If issues arise, forwarded to MDT?
Motivation
• Musician interested in formalised counselling training (MT)
• Musician interested in sharing passion for music with others?
