There are primarily two employment modes in music therapy - Passive [listening] and Active [participating].    Passive forms of music therapy may be beneficial in almost all ailments  and the active form will be of immense help in neurological problems. Passive and Neutral modes find employment in multiple social, educational, wellness as also regular work environments as both interventional and non-interventional mood management tools.

• Music Therapy in and as medical intervention is client specific

Music Therapy prescription must desirably emanate from the clients’ treatment team which can include doctors, psychologists, teachers, caseworkers and in the case of children with disabilities, their parents.   Based on a imperative preliminary evaluation and detailed analysis of the inputs and data provided, interaction with individual client and the degree and capabilities of the support system(s) available, Music Therapy sessions are carefully structured.  In a nursing and rehabilitation environment, the prescriptions also demand a variety of modulations and calibrated delivery.  It must be emphasized that no time frame can be prescribed to perceive positive results. Regular, systematic and dedicated sessions will establish noticeable changes in approximately a ten to twelve week period.  Sessions are carefully planned, executed and evaluated based on the specific needs of each client. Evaluation of progress in the designated goal areas is completed on a regular basis.

• Role of Patients / Clients in Music Therapy Settings

It is a fact that all music therapy interventions invariably involve the direct participation of the patient / client either in a small group or in an individual session. In listening sessions, the patient / client is expected to absorb and react to musical tones or melodies as selected by music therapist with his or her experience. The listening sessions can revolve around physical, emotional, intellectual, aesthetic, or spiritual aspects of the musical piece. The client is  encouraged to frankly respond to music  through various activities such as: relaxation or meditation, movements (structured or free), perceptual tasks, free-association, story-telling, imaging, reminiscing, drawing, singing along, playing beats, dancing etc. Music can be live or recorded. Commercial hits which are liked by the clients in various styles (e.g., classical, popular, rock, jazz, country, spiritual, new age ) could be a good choice. Often familiar  popular tunes, nursery rhymes and simple basic instrumental melodies are used to instill confidence in the patient / client .

One takes into consideration the profile of the client: his or her cultural/ regional background, likes and dislikes in music, tastes and preference s of tunes/ ragas etc before trying a musical piece. The music experience often includes learning how to produce vocal or instrumental sounds, imitating musical phrases or rhythms and  beats, vocalizing sounds  (not necessarily ‘singing’),   Further, the patient/ client is encouraged  by the therapist  to improvise quite  freely, responding spontaneously to the sounds as they emerge.  Clients are encouraged to create their own sound portraits, linked to persons, events or situations in the client’s life.  In all music therapy sessions, it may be said that clients need not be musicians, nor are they required any previous initiation to / or knowledge of music.  Music therapy sessions are designed to take advantage of the innate tendencies in all human beings to react, respond and resonate.  The therapist constantly monitors the reactions of the client and calibrates content or delivery as required. No value judgment is involved on the singing or performance by a client,  and the client should feel open and free with the music therapist – without any inhibition - so as to derive the best out of the therapeutic sessions.