Electronic technologies in clinical music therapy: A survey of practice and attitudes

Abstract

Increasingly, electronic assistive technologies are enabling access to work and leisure pursuits for people with severe and complex disabilities. Despite this, there is limited published information about technology improving access to music composition and performance for people with severe disabilities, particularly in therapeutic applications of music within health and education services. This paper presents the results of a survey of British music therapists' attitudes towards and experiences with applying electronic music technologies in clinical work. Respondents included those who had experience of applying such technologies in their work as well as those who had not. The findings reveal that the primary barrier for incorporating these tools involves a lack of training at an introductory level and skills development at a more advanced level. Most particularly, training is needed in how to incorporate electronic technologies appropriately within the therapeutic context to meet client need. Information about which clients would benefit is also needed. The results suggest that further exploration is warranted into the application of electronic music technologies in clinical music therapy, particularly those technologies using alternative control interfaces.