Group music therapy with children in a psychiatric hospital setting

Abstract: In this dissertation, the author describes her field work in music therapy carried out over a year as part of the requirements of the music therapy program at the David Yellin Teacher's College in Jerusalem. Sessions were conducted in a psychiatric hospital school setting with children ages 6-14. The childern were diagnosed with autism, schizophrenia and severe behavioural problems. Five therapy models are presented: The Experimental Improvisation model of Anne Riordan and Kenneth Bruscia; the Creative model of P. Nordoff and C. Robbins; the Analytical model of Mary Priestly; the Orff Improvisation model of K. Orff; the Metaphoric Improvisation model of S. Katoh and C. Merel-Fishman. The therapeutic process incorporated elements from those models which were suitable for group music therapy as opposed to those apprpriate for individualized therapy. The author arrives at conclusions regarding optimum number of patients in group therapy, the therapist's role, and the distinction between group music therapy and music education.

Note: Riordan, Anne,Bruscia, Kenneth,Nordoff, P.,Robbins, C.,Priestly, Mary,Orff, K.,Katoh, S.,Merel-Fishman, C.

Keyword(s): Psychiatric-hospital, children, group-therapy, music-therapy-procedures, mental-disorders, therapeutic-process.

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