2. Music Therapy Sessions at StrongwaterStudios


​to inquire, email strongwaterstudios@gmail.com
2023: limited availability, VIRTUAL sessions only 

Potential Risks of Music Therapy

Music Therapy is generally a low-risk experience. Negative side effects are rare but may occur. Engaging in Music Therapy may invoke overstimulation, confusion or a negative emotional response. Music may call up repressed emotions.  Music may affect body pressure, body temperature and breathing rates.
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Music Therapy sessions may include

  • Active Music Making
  • Playing or Learning instruments
  • Singing
  • Songwriting
  • Music listening and discussion
  • Lyric analysis
  • Playlist Building

3. Music Theory Considerations for Cochlear Implant Users

Melody
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A melody is a series of organized pitches, the “singable” part of a song or piece. Generally, pitch discrimination is more difficult for CI recipients, as higher or lower pitches may be more difficult to perceive. Many CI users can perceive melodic contour. When using pitch and melody in music therapy,  we will likely utilize short or simple melodies that are familiar to the listener. We may consider using melodies without background instruments, or acapella music. Perhaps we will sing acapella ourselves. 

A music therapist may consider playing a melodic single-note instrument (violin, cello, flute, tuba instead of a piano or guitar) or re-recording preferred songs without instruments/back tracks. When possible, use a smaller range of pitches and avoid high/low notes. 

Lyrics
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Lyrics are the use of language, works and speech in music. Background instruments or sounds can impede perception of lyrics. Understanding lyrics, especially for new songs, can be difficult. The visual presence of lyrics can help CI users understand, learn and appreciate lyrics in music. 

A music therapist may consider providing a visual of the song lyrics, either printed out on paper or by watching a video on the internet - YouTube is a great resource for karaoke and lyric videos!  Watching a singer's face or mouth can help a listener comprehend the words. Listening repeatedly to songs may make the words more accessible.

Form & Instrumentation
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Form is the structure of a song or musical composition. Instrumentation is the number of instruments in play or which instruments are being used. A music therapist may consider introducing a song with a single melodic instrument, and then adding instruments while keeping the form simple and repetitive. Selections that are not overly complicated or noise may sound better. Fewer instruments may help, Being aware of what instruments are being used and practicing instrument identification is a useful skill to practice.

Tempo​
Tempo is the rate of speed, often measured in beats per minute, aka BPM. 60BPM means that each beat is equivalent to 1 second. Slow to moderate tempos (up to 100 bpm) are best for speech comprehension. It is important to note that slower music might be boring for CI users, a faster tempo with a more intricate rhythm can be more interesting. People tend to enjoy dancing to quicker tempos with upbeat rhythms and find it easier to feel the beat.

Timbre​
​Timbre is the character or quality of a sound. Dissimilar timbres are often easier to distinguish (discrimination is easier than identification) Timbre perception is often poor, but nonetheless, most CI listeners can identify some musical instruments in a closed set and may be able to improve this ability with practice. Timbre discrimination (rather than identification) is intact for many CI users.​

Rhythm​
Rhythm is the organization of sound patterns over time, often over a steady beat. CI perception of rhythm may be normal or near normal, and can often be a strength. A music therapist may consider using dance/movement or multisensory representations of rhythm, such as playing drums or feeling the vibrations on loudspeakers. It's recommended to make music or listen to music with strong rhythmic content. Can get more complex, creative, explorative with rhythm, and it's fun to play with.

Dynamics​
Dynamics are the variation in volume or loudness between notes or phrases. Increased volume means an increase in loudness, decreased volume means a sound is softer. Loud volume can distort sound quality or create discomfort for folks with hearing aids or CIs.

Dynamics are one of the most expressive elements of music. Used effectively, dynamics help musicians sustain variety and interest in a musical performance, and communicate a particular emotional state or feeling.   (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamics_(music)

Dynamics are the musical interpretation of the sound pressure level, or volume. Scientifically, this unit of measurement is called decibels. Although we wouldn't measure decibels in a musical piece or performance, it can be helpful to understand and perceive dynamics in relation to sound volume. 

4. Resources & Media on Music and CI Users

Meludia: Develop your listening skills through music.  Notes, chords, intervals, harmonies, melodies... you catch them all! With our app, learning to listen better has never been that much fun and playful. (https://www.meludia.com/en/​)
Canberra Symphony community programs enrich lives with music: One man with cochlear implants, she remembers, stood up at the end of one concert, and said: “Today, I have heard music for the first time in 70 years.” “There were almost tears in the room,” Ms Sutcliffe recalled. “Everyone was overwhelmed and emotional that it had that impact on him.” When people get hearing aids or cochlear implants, she said, sometimes music does not sound the same anymore. “That can be very difficult if music has been an important part of someone’s life to then not be able to enjoy music.” Participants learn to listen actively to music. Often the concerts feature familiar music – movie scores, or folk songs like Greensleeves – so listeners can latch onto the melody. Sessions focus on the range and timbre of a particular instrument. The concerts are interactive; participants can ask questions, touch the instruments, feel the vibrations, and see how they work.  “Having that background knowledge means they can feel more confident listening to it,” Ms Sutcliffe said. (​Canberra Symphony community programs enrich lives | CW (canberraweekly.com.au)
Sound Sensation MED-EL Music Festival (2022) available for online streaming: A virtual festival starring singers and musicians from around the world.  Connecting people with hearing loss to the magic of music is what we do. Since our founders pioneered the modern cochlear implant back in 1977, we’ve been dedicated to delivering the closest to natural hearing experience with our implants. With this approach to hearing technology, MED-EL recipients can hear every tone and the fine details of their favorite songs. But the proof is in our incredible users. From concert pianists to pop singers, so many of our implant recipients are successful musicians. That’s why we created Sound Sensation. We want to celebrate all the people who defy expectations with their hard work and natural talent to make world-class music. Because even with hearing loss, you can still enjoy music to the fullest. (MED-EL Sound Sensation | https://hearlife.medel.com/campaigns/sound-sensation)