Direct work with children and Adults using musical instruments for engaging and positive outcomes; why are more workers not doing this?

1. Elevate Training and
Development
Gradle Gardner Martin

2. Using Music to engage and communicate with
service users

3. Communication
• Communication is at the centre of our lives
• It helps us to express our identity as
individuals
• It helps us to form relationships with others
• It is how we take our place in society

4. “Play is the natural language of
children” Dale 1992

5. Music Helps Dementia Patients Recall
Memories and Emotions

6. "Music is a world within itself, with a
language we all understand"

7. Direct work with Children
Music/Dance: movement and sound can be
used to support children with expressing
emotions and feelings. They can also help with
ice-breakers at the start of sessions and as
ending activities to sessions – The College of
Social Work “Return to social work”

8. Alzheimer's
Social work today - Kuhn, author of Alzheimer’s Early
Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers,
“If you work with a client who seems to crave sensory
stimulation, the creative arts can be very powerful...I
worked with a woman with advanced dementia who
continually stomped her feet rhythmically. Though I’m
not personally trained in music therapy, I developed a
few techniques where she and I could explore rhythm. I
placed different surfaces underneath her feet to
produce different sounds. I used handheld percussion
instruments to mirror her beat, which sometimes lead
to improvised duets. In this way, we developed a form
of communication.”

9. Research
Dr. Laura Mosqueda, Director of Geriatrics at the
University of California, Irvine School of
Medicine, explains that because music affects
so many parts of the brain, it touches areas
that may not be damaged by the disease and
brings those pathways to the forefront. The
result is the astounding “awakening” that
often occurs.

10. What are the risks

11. Risks/ Benefits
• Low risk generally – surfacing of emotions
• Service user is in control
• Language issues
• All abilities
• Engaging
• Adaptable
• Icebreakers

12. ASD
“We know music therapy works with people on
the autism spectrum, even if we don’t always
know why or how” (Chase, 2009)

13. What are the barriers for social
workers using music as part of
engagement tool box?
Discuss