Shoptalk: Assessment of Music Skills and Responses

The process for music therapy assessments has not been standardized, although it includes certain basic elements. One of the basic elements in a music therapy assessment is to try and ascertain if a client has certain unprompted responses to musical elements. Some assessment procedures also include levels of response to music based on the number and type of verbal, visual and physical prompts. This information is helpful since many clients do not have many unprompted behaviors and so may qualify for music therapy services based on a difference in the number of prompts or self-initiated behaviors between music activities and non-music activities. I feel that it is important, however, to evaluate the power of music without prompts so that it can be argued very clearly that music stimuli alone is having an effect.

Music therapy in the public school setting, for example, requires that in order for a client to receive music therapy there must be a demonstrated effect of music to help the client achieve educational objectives. Over time, I have adapted from other assessment templates some groupings of music that I consider when evaluating a client for music therapy services. For each song or activity, I record my observations with a simple "yes" or "no" if the client exhibited responses without non-musical prompts.

Song/Activity:	Code		Code
Singing Vocalizes by:		Listening
Humming		Alerts to sound
Whispering		Attends to sound
Speaking		Responds/differentiates to dynamics
Singing on Sounds/Syllables		Responds/differentiates to timbres
Imitates		Follows one step lyric directions
Sings on Pitch		Follows two step lyric directions
Sings off pitch, but follows melodic pitch contour.		Responses to Musical Structure
Sings 2(+) note melodic phrases		Takes turns in call and response exchanges
Indicates song preferences		Responds to pauses in songs
Melody		Uses rhyming words
Motivated to complete melody		Motivated to complete chord/rhythmic cadence
Sings up/down a musical scale		Starts and stops to sound cues
Remembers lyrics with melody		Responds to 7th chords, suspensions to resolutions
Rhythm		Supplies sequential information
Maintains basic beat		Social Skills
Imitates 2 beat rhythm		Engages with adult during musical play
Responds to changes in tempo		Engages with peers during musical play
Moves body to rhythm		Maintains appropriate eye contact
Completes rhythmic sequence		Imitates gestures
Instrument Playing
Indicates instrument preference
Plays instruments appropriately
Plays instruments in rhythm with accompaniment

After each activity is scored, the data may be compiled for all the activities to give an idea of what music elements are most effective. The more unprompted responses, the greater likelihood that the client will respond to specially developed music activities. The unprompted responses also indicate that certain music stimuli are unique in aiding the function of the client. My template is still a work in progress, but I invite other therapists to comment about the idea.