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?