Special Education Music Therapy Research

Special Education Music Therapy Research

Tuned in to Learning® is a special education music curriculum which  incorporates a variety of research-based techniques from the fields of special education, autism, Neurologic Music Therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis. Our special education music curriculum is intended to be used as an integrated approach within the student’s wider educational or home program and is not a substitute for music therapy provided by a Board Certified Music Therapist or other therapy services.

Research Highlights :

• Individuals with autism and Williams syndrome diagnoses demonstrate elevated music strengths.
• Music can act as a mnemonic device to improve memory.
• Music can act as an aesthetic to elicit attention, motivation, and positive mood.
• Rhythm can act as a timekeeper for movement.
• Singing and chanting can access different neurological pathways to speech.

Pilot studies have also been completed by educators on the use of Tuned in to Learning in their classrooms and can be explored below. Pilot Study – The Effects of Music Therapy on the Interaction of Verbal and Non-verbal Skills of  Students with Moderate to Severe Autism Pilot Study – The Effects of Music Therapy on the Social Behavior of Children with Autism In addition, a variety of research links are provided below citing the benefits of music as a  therapeutic support:

• Music & Autism
• Music & Williams Syndrome
• Music & Rett Syndrome

A Brain-Based Approach to Music in Therapy

Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) as defined by The Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State University is the therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor function due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system. Neurologic Music Therapy is research-based. Its treatment techniques are based on the scientific knowledge in music perception and production and the effects thereof on nonmusical brain and behavior function. Our Tuned in to Learning® team of Board Certified Music Therapists are also certified as Neurologic Music Therapists.  We incorporate NMT techniques within the Tuned in to Learning® curriculum such as Music Mnemonics Training (MMT) and Developmental Speech and Language Training Through Music (DSLM). Although NMT research and strategies are integrated into our songs, the use of a curriculum such as Tuned in to Learning is not considered a ‘music therapy’ service for a student unless it is provided by a Board Certified Music Therapist. Read More About Neurologic Music Therapy in Special Education»»

Connecting ABA Research with Special Education Music

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as defined by the Association for Behavior Analysis International is the scientific study of behavior. This research-driven and data-based field is widely utilized in the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. Under the direction of Autism and ABA specialist Michelle Lazar, MA, MT-BC, Tuned in to Learning® integrates ABA-based approaches into our curriculum such as the use of music as a reinforcer, prompt-fading procedures to assist in fading of musical cues, visual cues, the use of music as an intraverbal to teach conversational skills, and the use of music-based scripts and task analyses to help structure the presentation of information.