Sensory Ideas and Interventions for Music Therapy Sessions
Our intern, Mary, will be diving into a variety of music therapy topics to increase her knowledge as her final project! She not only is gathering this information for herself, but also to share with you in the form of a blog post. Thanks for reading!
Overview
Music therapists should always consider the effects an intervention may have on a client’s sensory systems. When engaging in music therapy with instruments, props, and songs, our auditory, tactile, and visual systems are naturally stimulated (Dynamic Lynks). Yip & Moore (2017) state that engagement in multisensory interventions can improve quality of life as they have the power to increase participation and communication in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It’s important to remember that each client is different! The sensory needs of one client may differ from those of another client. While someone may not have sensory “needs” so to speak, they can still be affected by any sensory stimuli, such as bright lights, strong smells, soft squeezes, and more (Leavell). For example, I know many people enjoy receiving massages, but I don’t like them. I enjoy strong scents, but I know this bothers my mom! The same is true in music therapy. These considerations also apply to musical structure and techniques, such as volume, tempo, and timbre. Consider others' senses as you make therapeutic choices with clients each day. In this blog, I’ve compiled examples from my own experience and research of sensory activating interventions for the music therapy space.
Research
What is sensory processing? How may clients have a deficit in this area? Sensory processing, which can also be called sensory integration, refers to the way our brains process information in the environment, which is important for daily functioning. Our brains process sensory information from various body systems, including vestibular, proprioceptive, interoceptive, auditory (hearing), gustatory (taste), olfactory (smell), tactile (touch), and visual (sight) systems (Sensory Integration Education).
Additionally, many people have coined the vestibular and proprioceptive systems as the sixth and seventh senses, which are both related to movement. I recall learning about these systems in my psychology of perception class in college. The vestibular system includes aspects of balance and gravity and is located in your inner ear. For example, if you spend time on a moving object, such as a carnival ride or playground swing, your body needs time to adapt to this change in motion, so you may experience a feeling like you are moving even after you get off the object (Sensory Pathways 4 Kids). On the other hand, proprioception includes your body’s internal positioning, and therefore it’s awareness of space and ability to coordinate movements. Proprioception is a natural and unconscious process. For example, if you transition from walking on pavement to grass, your body works to maintain strength and tension in your leg muscles in order to aid your balance (Cleveland Clinic). Sensory Pathways 4 Kids shares that staying active and moving is a helpful way for us to practice these skills, especially for those who are younger and still growing! Lastly, interoception is often the least known sense, but I believe the interoceptive system deserves a seat at the table. Interoception refers to what happens inside our bodies and refers to specific signals such as hunger, thirst, tiredness, anxiety, and many more (Harvard, 2024). Some people experience challenges with sensory processing, as these systems may not have developed fully. This could be diagnosed as sensory processing disorder (SPD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Sensory Integration Education).
Sensory regulation refers to processing stimuli in a calm, accessible way and can be utilized with various clients, as needed. Additionally, co-regulation can be considered as the ways in which we can support others through our own mental, physical, and emotional state (Leavell). In addition to regulation, possible goals and needs sensory integration can support include motor skills, communication, participation, and social skills. Populations who may benefit from sensory integration include … anyone! It is most likely beneficial for clients with an ASD diagnosis, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, etc., but has some kind of effect on each individual.
Song Suggestions
“Light a Candle, Blow It Out” by Stephanie Leavell
This regulation song is simple and easy to integrate into music therapy sessions! I use this with one of my sensory-seeking clients whenever they appear to become overwhelmed.
“Patty Cake,” “Row Your Boat,” and “Going On a Bear Hunt”
Any song can be adapted into a tactile sensory experience! One of my supervisors engages a client of ours with high sensory needs in stimulation by sitting on the floor and adding touch and movement to these songs. The simple lyrics of these songs can also be adapted to mirror a client’s actions
Movement-based songs:
“Shake My Sillies Out” by The Wiggles
“The Goldfish” by Laurie Berkner
“Can’t Stop the Feeling” from Trolls
Instrument Suggestions
Ocean Drum & Rainstick
Due to the beads in these instruments, they provide a multi-sensory experience engaging the tactile, auditory, and visual systems. One of my clients enjoys creating the loudest noises he can by shaking the ocean drum. On the contrary, the ocean drum as well as the rainstick can be used to reach regulation goals, providing a more relaxing stimulus.
The desk bells and boomwhackers are a simple way to provide multisensory stimulation due to their bright colors’, sounds, and feel. If you want to add movement to this activity, consider setting the instruments up in various places around the room, encouraging the client to move from one spot to another.
This instrument is unique in its shape and flexibility. I’ve used the kokoriko with one of my high-sensory-seeking clients by playing it up and down their arm.
Cabasa
The cabasa is a nice instrument to activate the tactile system as it can be used on various areas of the body. Some of my clients enjoy rolling the cabasa on their arms, legs, and feet! You could also deconstruct the cabasa and work on putting it back together!
Guitar & Ukulele
Due to the vibrations that occur with stringed instruments, clients may feel drawn to the tactile stimulation the guitar and ukulele provide. These vibrations can be experienced auditorily or also through the client putting their hand on the body of the guitar.
Hand Chimes
Hand chimes also provide a vibration effect in one’s hand when rung. I can foresee clients enjoying this tactile stimulation as well as activation of the auditory system, especially when played along to a familiar song.
Props and Visuals
Movement Props
We created a whole blog post recently about all sorts of movement ideas and props that can be used to stimulate the senses. Find the blog here.
A college friend of mine always carried various fidgets with them and would share with any classmate who needed or wanted one. Although they are not inherently musical, fidget toys can be beneficial in the music therapy space. Fidget examples include spinners, stress balls, rings, wiggle slug, push pop, etc.
Tickles & Squeezes
Physical touch is a big way to engage a client’s tactile system. One client of mine will stick out his hand to request tickles (light, quick finger touches up and down his arm) or squeezes occasionally throughout each session we have, and this action seems to either make him laugh or aid him in calming down.
Breathing Cards
Breathing cards are a helpful visual that can aid clients in taking deep breaths in a fun way when they feel upset or overwhelmed. Examples of this include pretending to blow bubbles in order to take deep breaths in and out, as well as breathing as you trace shapes such as the number eight or a spiral.
8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Movement Exercise
This activity incorporates body movement to aid one in regulation. My choir director would have us do this at the beginning of each class to re-center ourselves. You begin by shaking your right hand 8 times while counting up to 8, followed by your left hand, right foot, then left foot. The activity continues on with counting up to 7, 6, 5 and so on until you just have one movement from each limb.
5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Identification
This activity directs service users to take a moment and recognize the space they are in whenever they need to re-center. This experience can be written, spoken, or thought to oneself. First, find 5 things you can see, followed by 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. I have personally found this activity helpful when needed.
Creations
Sensory Bottle
If your client enjoys crafts and creations, a sensory bottle could be an intriguing activity! Begin with a clear water bottle, fill it halfway with warm water, then include glitter, food coloring, beads, and anything else you’d like to shake up!
Sensory Bin
A sensory bin is a fun way to compile various sensory-activating objects. For example, a fall-themed sensory bin could include leaves to stimulate tactile and visual systems as well as a candle to stimulate the olfactory system. Sensory bins are adaptable for each client and situation.
Shakers
DIY shakers are a fun way to shake things up in your sessions! Different egg shapes are available online and can be created for various holidays and seasons!
Patatap (www.patatap.com)
The patatap website is a simple tool to include in sessions that provides a multisensory experience for service users. Each letter on the computer keyboard creates a different sound accompanied by visual effects. Multiple sound palettes can be found by clicking the space bar. Unfortunately, there is no recording feature on this website, but I have made my own recording on my phone or through the screen record feature on phones/laptops.
References
Sensory Regulation https://www.dynamiclynks.com/sensory-regulation
Vestibular vs. Proprioception https://www.sp4kids.com/blog/zzzsleepzzz
Proprioception https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/proprioception
Sensory Integration Education https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/what-is-si#:~:text=Sensory%20integration%20refers%20to%20the,from%20our%20senses%2C%20which%20include:
Making Sense of Interoception https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/making-sense-interoception#:~:text=But%20sometimes%20a%20signal%20breaks,it%20matters%20that%20we%20do.
Hilary Yip, Kimberly Sena Moore, Music Therapy for Multisensory and Body Awareness in Children and Adults With Severe to Profound Multiple Disabilities: The MuSense Manual, Journal of Music Therapy, Volume 54, Issue 4, Winter 2017, Pages 479–483, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thx015
Stephanie Leavell www.musicforkiddos.com
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