Music therapy is a research-based healthcare profession that uses music interventions within a therapeutic relationship to achieve outcomes in various clinical domains such as psychological, physical, and social. It is commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease by maintaining speech and motor skills through techniques like voice training and rhythmic auditory stimulation. Research shows music therapy improves variables related to singing ability, speech intelligibility, vocal intensity, mood, and gait in individuals with Parkinson's disease. It is a promising treatment approach supported by a growing evidence base.

1. Music Therapy
in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
February 11, 2014
Daniel Tague, Ph.D., MT-BC
Assistant Professor of Music Therapy
Anne W. Lipe, Ph.D., MT-BC
Visiting Associate Professor of Music Therapy
Shenandoah Conservatory
Winchester, VA

2. What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is a research-based, client centered healthcare
profession where music interventions are used within a
therapeutic relationship to achieve outcomes in a variety of
clinical domains including:
Psychological/Emotional
Physical/Physiological
Spiritual
Social
Cognitive

3. American Music Therapy Association
(www.musictherapy.org)
Mission
The mission of the American Music Therapy Association is to
advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and
increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly
changing world.

4. Quality Assurance
Quality care is assured by AMTA and the Certification Board for
Music Therapists
• AMTA
– Standards of Education and Clinical Training
– Standards of Clinical Practice
– Code of Ethics
• CBMT
– National Board Certification Examination
– Scope of Professional Practice
– Continuing Education Requirements

5. Types of Music Interventions
Fowler, Oswanski and Forester (2007)
Intervention
Definition
Credentials
Research-based, client
centered healthcare profession
where music interventions are
used within a therapeutic
relationship to achieve
outcomes in a variety of
clinical domains.
Bachelor’s degree minimum
Music uses in medical
treatment
General application of music to
treat a variety of physical
illnesses and diseases
Entry-level degree and
applicable professional
credentials such as RN, MD,
LCSW, etc.
Harp therapy
Music intervention in which
harp is the primary instrument
used in institutional or clinical
settings
Harp Therapist
Therapeutic and
transformational uses of sound
and music
Training depends on
organization granting the
credential
Music Therapy
Music Healer
Music Practitioner
Sound Healer
Music Therapist-Board
Certified credential awarded
after completion of 6-month
internship and passing exam
Master’s and doctoral degrees
available
Harp Practitioner

6. Scope of Practice
Source: Music Therapy Sourcebook, 2013
• Populations served
–
–
–
–
–
Mental Health
Developmentally Disabled
Medical/Surgical
Elderly/Alzheimer's
Neurological Disorders
21.0%
14.0%
12.0%
10.00%
6.0%
• Work Settings
–
–
–
–
Geriatric Facilities
Mental Health Settings
Children's facilities/schools
Medical Settings
15.0%
14.0%
13.0%
11.0%
(Based on data from 1449 surveys returned by AMTA members, June 2013)

7. Major Goals of Music Therapy
Intervention for Persons with PD
(Thaut, Thaut & LaGasse, 2008)
• Maintain and facilitate verbal communication abilities
– Increase speech intelligibility, pitch and loudness
– Promote ability to control rate of speech
• Maintain and facilitate functional motor skills
– Improve gait to better facilitate ambulation
• Improve stride length, promote efficient and symmetric
muscle activation patterns in the legs
– Decrease fall risk
– Improve functional arm and hand movements

8. Highlights from Research Literature
• After a 20 week music therapy intervention, several variables
related to singing ability improved significantly among a
sample of 10 individuals with PD
– Singing accuracy and consistency of volume
– Decrease in “voiceless sounds” and breathiness
– Voice range
• No significant differences between the three measuring points
were noted for variables related to reading spoken material, but
intensity tended towards improvement, while “voiceless
sounds” tended to decrease
• Client perceptions
mood,
E
Elefant, C., Baker, F.A., Lotan,M. & Skie G.O. (2012). The effect of group music therapy on
speech an singing in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease – A feasibility study. Journal of music
therapy, 49(3), 278-302

9. Highlights from Research Literature
• Speech intelligibility, vocal intensity and range improved
significantly following 8 sessions of music therapy voice training
• Mood improved from the first to last session, but scores did not
reach statistical significance
Haneishi, E. (2001). Effects of a music therapy voice protocol on speech intelligibility, vocal
acoustic measures, and mood of individuals with Parkinon’s Disease. Journal of music therapy,
38(4), 273-290.
• Intensity of conversational speech improved significantly
following participation in six weeks of choir rehearsals
Yinger, O.S., LaPointe L.L. (2012). The effects of participation in a group music therapy voice
protocol (G-MTVP) on the speech of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Music therapy
perspectives, 30(1), 25-31.

10. Highlights from Research Literature
• Decreases in “freezing” during turning among N19 PwPD using
rhythmic cuing (Willems et al. 2007)
• Decreased muscle rigidity and fall risk, improvement in gait
velocity, stride length and balance (Nieuwboer et al. 2007)
• Improved gait cadence and velocity and stride length when
listening to music with an organized beat in daily routine (Ito et al.
2000).
Cited in: Lindaman, K. & Abiru, M. (2013). The use of rhythmic
auditory stimulation for gait disturbance in patients with neurologic
disorders. Music therapy perspectives, 30(1), 35-39.
• Other studies confirm the effectiveness of RAS in improving gait
and decreasing “freezing” episodes among PwPD.
Thaut,M. & Abiru, M. (2010). Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation in rehabilitation
of movement disorders: A review of current research. Music
perception, 27(4), 263-269

11. Final Thoughts
“Every disease is a musical problem;
every cure is a musical solution.”
-Novalis
(German poet and philosopher
quoted in Sacks, O. (2007, Musicophilia)