Online Communities - Music Therapy Groups

Music Therapy Groups

For this tutorial task I will outline three different music therapy groups and associations as a source of online communities that offer a networking service for people participating and facilitating music therapy groups. In the field of occupational therapy, therapists may use and/ or recommend websites or online groups to individuals so as they can communicate and network with these services, online groups and forums to further aid individuals in their discharge process.

Music Therapy New Zealand, The Music Club and Music and Movement Association are three online communities which people can use as a network provider to gain information about music therapy groups and to share knowledge.

Music Therapy New Zealand:

The Music Therapy New Zealand site helps people to explore the world of music therapy. It contains information regarding why music therapy is important, particularly for children and what forms of techniques they cover. This information is important for individuals both seeking this form of intervention for their children but also for those who are interested in the topic at hand.

As part of this site there is a 'frequently asked questions' in which people can easily access information they want to know. This is applicable for both therapists and people interested in the topic. This section covers many valid points people interested in Music Therapy want to know and also there is the opportunity for people to contribute if they find necessary.

This form of online community is a closed group in which one has to apply and request to join but once this has been achieved access to all parts of the website is available and contributions can be made. However due to this process it does not allow people to receive answers to their questions directly. This page also is limited in its navigation properties. Some elements are not easy to access or to find out where the appropriate information is.


However this sight does have its advantages in that you can acquire details of therapists and other music groups through the site with out having to be a member, giving people that unattached obligation if they require it.

This community can be accessed here:
Music Therapy New Zealand

The Music Club


The Music Club is another online community focusing of music groups with children. This site communicates with people in a less professional manor, allowing people to 'come and go' from the site as they please. This site is aimed to educate parents and careers about how music can assist children with disabilities.


There is selected sections in this site that allows individuals to find and access geographical communities associated with this group. It also like the Music Therapy New Zealand community has a question and answer section in which parents can receive feedback about specific therapies relating to their child's condition.


This community is more applicable for parents and careers as well as therapists. The terminology is less jargon like and is more centred to its client base. There is also great detailed pictures that show the therapy in practice. This is helpful to those wanting to participate in the music therapy group.
Some ethical issues would have to be considered with these photos as although this site is considered public one would need to ensure the photos were published with creative commons so that other members of music group communities could use them to illustrate the work of the group.


This site can be accessed here:
The Music Club

Music and Movement Association


Music and Movement Association particularly focuses on music groups in the early childhood sector and the benefits music has on young minds for example, growth in learning development and developig non-verbal communication.


This site acts as a networking system for other music groups, as it allows these smaller local music groups to access resources and advertise their service through this site. This is seen as a positive to the site as it allows individuals to readily access resources they require to enhance their music group sessions and optimize the child's learning.


This site offers communication systems through the means of there online blog, which various people can access and contribute to.


The site is furthermore segregated into appropriate links so that people can access the appropriate area that corresponds to their needs such as 'parent forum' or 'advertisements'.


Music and Movement have some fantastic ideas for young children so they can learn through music and offer some great game ideas and resources free from charge.


In order to access this site one does not have to be a member however joining the site allows you to receive regular updates and information about the site and other similar services.


This site can be accessed here:
Music and Movement Association

These three sites demonstrate the idea of occupational enrichment and occupational engagement.
Occupational enrichment is defined as the "enhanced environmental resources to enable optimal participation in occupations" (Christiansen & Townsend, 2010, p.420). Music groups help to optimize a child's participation in music discipline and helps to develop their skills to contribute to this area.
Occupational Engagement is defined as "full participation in occupation for the purposes of doing what one needs and wants to do, being, becoming who one desires to be and belonging through shared occupations in communities" (Christiansen & Townsend, 2010, p.420). Music groups help to shape children's identities and allows them to become part of a community they enjoy and to interact in a common language known as music.
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Reference:

Christiansen , C, H., & Townsend, E, A. (2010). Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living. (2^nd. Ed.).Upper Saddler River, New Jersey: Pearson.

Occupational Engagement Slideshow

Slideshare Video

This slide show will focus on aspects of play. Play is an important part of our life, not only as a child but throughout our life stages.It is through play that we learn, discover and create our identities. Play is defined as an "occupation selected for amusement, recreation, diversion, sport or frolic" (Christiansen &Townsend, 2010, p. 422).

In this slide show I will look at how play reflects the theme of belonging, being, doing and becoming as part of being an occupational being. 

Play is an interesting aspect of life and whilst on my fieldwork placement i was able to look more closely at why we play, why it is important to do so and how we can use play as an important intervention in practice.

As I have stated above belonging, being, doing and becoming are all important aspects of being human. Wilcock (1998) states that people spend their lives almost constantly engaged in purposeful ‘doing’ also known as occupations and activities often free from obligation.

Wilcock (1998) also discusses the idea of being describes with words such as "existing, living, nature and essence" (p. 250). Also stated in this article is Maslow's (1968) interpretation of being, stating it is the “contemplation and enjoyment of the inner life” (as cited in Wilcock, 1998, p. 250). This idea looks at ones enjoyment they receive for being no one but them self. 

Belonging according to MacMillan Dictionary (2012) is "to feel happy and comfortable in a particular place or with a particular group of people."

Becoming is based on the idea of what we might become in the future but is dependent on the people around us, our values and what we are doing in the future. Unlike the others, becoming has the ability for potential growth as our life progresses (Wilcock, 1998).


As you follow through the slides you will see various pictures of types of play and how they reflect the theme being, becoming, belonging and doing. Slide 1 looks at play in the old days. Slide 2 styles of games children can play. Slide 3 looks at a family playing a board game. Slide 4 looks at social interaction in a social situation. Slide 5 is considers play at all ages. Slide 6 is a photo of children playing a ball game. Slide 7 studies play at a young age. Slide 8 looks at electronic forms of play. Slide 9 looks at interactions with others. Slide 10 looks at playing sports and being part of a team. Slide 11 demonstrates recreational fun. Slide 12 looks at exploring through play. Slide 13 discovers play at a young age and social interaction. Slide 14 and 15 looks at a child exploring life by playing with food. Slide 16 studies the importance of understanding family concepts. Slide 17 and 18 playing and discovering music. Slide 19 and Slide 20 look at the growth of an individual through playing sports.

There were some ethical considerations that i had to take into account when creating the PowerPoint on play. Firstly, some of the photos taken were my own photos and therefore i had to relieve consent from those in the photos in order to publish them. The other photos which were taken from the internet database were published with creative commons which means that anyone can use the photo so there were no breaches of copyright laws. When looking at pictures to use I had to ensure they were from reputable websites so they were authentic photos and were published on the internet for other people to use rather than private photos from networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

References:

Christiansen , C, H., & Townsend, E, A. (2010). Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living. (2^nd. Ed.).Upper Saddler River, New Jersey: Pearson.

McMillan Dictionary. (2012). Belonging definitions. 


Maslow, A. (1968).Towards a psychology of being (2^nd ed.). In  Wilcock, A.A. (1998b).  Reflections on doing, being and becoming.  Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 248-256. 

Wilcock, A.A. (1998b).  Reflections on doing, being and becoming.  Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 248-256.