PRINCIPLES OF CLINICAL COMPOSITION II

CRAFTING INSTRUMENTAL EXPERIENCES FOR MUSIC THERAPY

III. Preparing to compose: Clinical considerations

In this section you will focus on a person (or group) for whom you think a pre-composed instrumental experience would be beneficial.  This can be a current or past client, or someone you have observed. 

Read over the following questions and then enter your answers on the Digital Worksheet below (which restates the questions).

1.     What are your impressions of this person’s strengths and areas of need?

2.     On which particular developmental area or issue would you like to focus in your composition, i.e., social engagement, impulse control, attention, etc,

3.     What kind(s) of music do you sense would be engaging for the client(s)? This can include style, mode, tempo, mood, meter, etc.

4.     What instrument(s) could encourage their musical and creative responsiveness?

5.     What particular words/lyrics would be effective in encouraging participation?

6.     What overall form might enable the person to participate? ABA form, with a contrasting mood or tempo in the B section? A Rondo form, with            a motif that repeats in between sections of new music?

7.     What kind of musical part will the person play? Rhythmic? Melodic? Simple call and response?