The interactive potential of creative music therapy with premature infants and their parents: A qualitative analysis

Abstract

Findings of a previous video analysis of creative music therapy (CMT) with premature infants indicate that music therapy in neonatal care may contribute to more than the infant’s stabilization and relaxation, as predominantly recognized in the literature to date. The aim of this paper is to further investigate the interactive potential of CMT, by comparing a larger number of cases. Video footage of music therapy sessions with 18 premature infants (and their parents) with a broad range of social and diagnostic diversity, as well as interview data derived from their parents, have been analysed in a qualitative grounded theory-based study. The results confirm that CMT may actively assist premature infants to uncover their communicative musicality, which in turn may promote self-regulation and development. CMT also may empower parents by supporting their well-being, self-confidence, and quality of interactions with their infant through music. However, high-level awareness, responsiveness, and the professional use of CMT by a specially trained music therapist are recommended to continuously adjust to the changing individual needs of both the infant and parents.

Keywords:

• creative music therapy
• interaction
• parents
• premature infants
• video analysis

Notes

1. Essen University Hospital, Germany and Children’s Hospital Bielefeld, Bethel, Germany.

2. The mother opted in for publication of the material as it is for scientific purpose.

3. E.g. World Congress of Music Therapy 2011, Seoul, Korea; International Summit of Music Therapy in the NICU 2010, New York, NY, USA; International Congress of the Association of Infant Mental Health 2010, Leipzig, Germany; Best Practice Day, 2011, Krems, Austria.

4. All names in the paper are pseudonyms.

5. During kangarooing, premature infants are held skin-to-skin on their parents’ chests in order to provide physiological and psychological warmth and bonding.

6. M = mother (F = father); P = participant; number = participant code.

7. CPAP = Continuous positive airwaves pressure to assist the premature infant with breathing.

8. In the pacifier-activated-lullaby (PAL) method developed by Standley, each infant suck of predetermined strength on a pacifier activates an electrical signal to a cassette player, and music only plays when an infant sucks; as such, the more it sucks, the more the music plays.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Friederike Barbara Haslbeck

Friederike Haslbeck, DMtG, SFMT, Master of Music Education, Master of Music Therapy, is a PhD candidate specially trained in NICU music therapy and has implemented music therapy service in two German NICUs. She has completed her PhD at the Universität Witten/Herdecke, Faculty of Health, supervised by Dr. Aldridge, funded by the German Foundation “Ev. Studienstiftung Villigst”. She is currently implementing music therapy at the University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland, and is lecturing about music therapy in neonatal care at various universities.