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- Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Submitting institution
- Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation
- Unit of assessment
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Summary impact type
- Societal
- Is this case study continued from a case study submitted in 2014?
- No
1. Summary of the impact
Our research led to the transformation of patterns of care, for people living with dementia (PWD), their families and caregivers. Powerful evidence showed how music helps memory, reduces agitation, improves relationships and synchrony for PWD. In 2019, Odell-Miller led the British Association for Music Therapy’s (BAMT) response for evidence to NICE, including our underpinning research, resulting in the inclusion of music therapy in NICE guidelines for the first time. Our consultancy work in care homes enhanced care for c.20,000 PWD since 2014. Our participation in the 2019 BBC TV documentary Our Dementia Choir showed clear benefits of our music therapy approaches to PWD, their families and care givers.
2. Underpinning research
Our main underpinning research arose from our randomised controlled trial (RCT) feasibility study investigating the impact of music therapy on managing neuropsychiatric symptoms for people with dementia and their carers (Ref. 1). Designed and led by Odell-Miller and Hsu, in collaboration with an international network of experts, including Professor John Hodges (University of Sydney) and MHA Care Homes UK, our study analysed outcome measures for: individuals receiving weekly music therapy individually and standard care; and for those receiving standard care alone. Agitation reduced significantly for those receiving music therapy in a cluster randomised trial. In addition, carers’ attitudes showed improvement in their approaches to care. This led to exploring different environments, such as groups in the community, and adapting and investigating approaches including improvisation, live singing, song writing, listening to music, and instrumental musical interactions for PWD. Further underpinning collaborative research, including Odell-Miller’s contributions (Ref. 2), investigated changing policy for care of PWD. We also show (Ref. 1) indications that training carers to use music in their daily communication with people with dementia improves quality of life for both PWD and their carers. In 2015, we jointly ran the first international music therapy conference specifically on music therapy and dementia with BAMT, and MHA care homes, where 44 papers were presented and over 300 people from the health and care sectors attended.
Odell-Miller and colleagues (Ref. 3) discuss the ‘indirect’ role of music therapists, working with communities, families, carers and multidisciplinary teams, such as training and supervision of others using music in everyday care. As our previous study (Ref 1), and Ref. 3 show, indirect music therapy improves communication with PWD, and carers’ own well-being. Subsequently, Odell-Miller as Principal Investigator for the UK, together with academic partners from 4 other countries (Australia, Poland, Norway and Germany), developed a protocol for training family carers living at home, using a music therapy intervention, and won a £2,500,000 EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease (JPND) award for the project HOMESIDE. The UK part is funded by the Alzheimer’s Society for £367,000. The RCT research protocol, for which Odell-Miller is a lead author, is published in BMJ Open (Ref. 4).
A key element of our research is investigating the mechanisms of how music therapy works clinically, and scientifically. We investigate the links between music therapy techniques, and how these are delivered to meet the needs of, and achieve outcomes which benefit, PWD and their carers. Taking the neuroscientific understanding of music therapy for people with dementia to a new level, CIMTR’s Fachner and colleagues demonstrate (Ref. 5) ground-breaking research in EEG hyper-scanning studies, linking neural pathway activity to the synchrony between therapist and patients in music therapy sessions. Frontal dynamics of emotional activity confirm the strong musical impact upon brain activity, especially relevant for people with dementia. Results suggest that shared emotional states and experienced feelings of mutuality are shown in the corresponding EEG data. Normally-perceived changes during significant moments of interest, previously defined by the scientific community as ‘anecdotal evidence’, now have a neural signature that can be identified and analysed with adequate adaptive brain research methods.
3. References to the research
(Ref. 1) Hsu, M.H., Flowerdew, R., Parker, M., Fachner, J., and Odell-Miller, H. (2015). ‘Individual music therapy for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms for people with dementia and their carers: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility study’. Journal article. BMC Geriatrics. Vol 15, Issue 84 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-015-0082-4
(Ref. 2) Gold, C; Eickholt, J.; Assmus, J.; Stige, B.; Wake, J.; Baker, F.; Tamplin, J.; Clark, I.; Lee, C.; Jacobsen, S.; Ridder, H.; Kreutz. G.; Muthesius, D.; Wosch. T.; Ceccato, E.; Raglio, A.; Ruggeri. M.; Vink .A.; Zuidema, S.; Odell-Miller, H.; Orrell, M.; Schneider, J.; Kubiak, C.; Romeo, R.; Geretsegger, M. (2019). ‘Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in Elderly care (MIDDEL): protocol and statistical analysis plan for a multinational cluster-randomised trial.’ Journal article. BMJ Open 2019. DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023436
Submitted in REF2.
(Ref. 3) Odell-Miller, H., Ridder, H. M., and Schmidt, W. (2017) ‘Music Therapy: A Profession for the Future. Why music? Why and when is a music therapist needed?’ In Inge Nygaard Pedersen et al. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy Special feature Vol. 9, Issue 1. ISSN 2459-3338 pp. 9-56. [online] Available from:
http://approaches.gr/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Approaches-9-1-2017.pdf
(Ref. 4) Baker, F.A., Bloska, J., Braat, S., Bukowska, A., Clark, I.N., Hsu, M.H., Kvamme, T., Lautenschlager, N.T., Lee, Y-E.C., Smrokowska-Reichmann, A., Sousa, T., Stensæth, K., Tamplin, J., Wosch, T., and Odell-Miller, H. (2019). ‘HOMESIDE: Home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading interventions for people living with dementia: Protocol of a randomised controlled trial’. Journal Article. BMJ Open Vol 9, Issue 11 [online] Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031332. Submitted in REF2.
(Ref. 5) Fachner, J. C., Maidhof, C., Grocke, D., Nygaard Pedersen, I., Trondalen, G., Tucek, G., and Bonde, L. O. (2019). ‘“Telling me not to worry…” Hyperscanning and neural dynamics of emotion processing during guided imagery and music.’ Journal article. Frontiers in psychology, Vol 10, pp. 1561. [online] Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01561
Submitted in REF 2.
4. Details of the impact
Influencing Policy and Practice
Based on her extensive research (Refs 1-4) and expertise in music therapy, Odell-Miller was invited to be a Commissioner for the National Commission on Music and Dementia (NCMD) [Source 1]. Submitting our research as evidence, and reviewing global research, resulted in the report [Source 1] which was launched and presented at the House of Lords in January 2018. As a direct result, the national campaign ‘Music4Dementia 2020’ was initiated, implementing recommendations including those highlighted by Odell-Miller, on strategies embedding music and music therapy throughout the dementia journey, improving reduction of dementia symptoms. In her testimonial letter [Source 2], the CEO of Music4Dementia highlights the links between Odell-Miller’s research and the influence of the research in developing policies such as rolling out music therapy in dementia care. For example, the individualised music therapy programmes using Odell-Miller’s original approach have now been implemented in care homes such as Methodist Homes Association (MHA), a large service provider of 83 care homes in the UK. NCMD worked with policy makers for health and public health, and with health commissioners to embed music and music therapy in the normal pathway of care for older people with dementia from diagnosis to treatment. Influenced by our research outcomes, MHA care homes have increased their music therapy team from 12 to 25, to create the largest music therapy team in care homes in the UK [Source 3], thereby enhancing the lives of people living with dementia and their carers.
An ongoing collaboration with MHA, which included Odell-Miller serving as an official consultant (2017-2018), has led to MHA changing policy and care provision to offer music therapy to 22,000 of its clients across 65 care homes since 2014, transforming quality of life including reduction of agitation and regulation of mood [Source 3]. This includes countrywide improvisational music therapy approaches, developed by Odell-Miller (Refs 1-4).
Odell-Miller and Hsu’s research (2015), and project evaluations from Together in Sound (TiS), and CIMTR’s music and brain research (Fachner 2019), were also included in BAMT’s submission to the NICE (2019) guidelines, resulting in the inclusion of music therapy in guidelines for dementia and older people’s quality of life, for the first time [Source 4]. This means that people living with dementia and their families and carers have a right to receive music therapy, and that it should be funded.
Raising profile of music therapy and changing public perceptions
We have further contributed to the firm embedding of a musical culture in care, devising more formal and short training courses for professional musicians, for example with the Britten Pears Foundation and Saffron Hall Trust. This is evident through our project Together in Sound [Source 5] and evidenced in Music4Dementia 2020 and BBC Music Day campaigns in 2019 and 2020. Odell-Miller participated on a panel about music for PWD on the BBC’s Woman’s Hour on 26.09.19 [Source 2]. Woman’s Hour generally draws an average of 3.7 million listeners a week. In addition, Odell-Miller and Hsu’s research contributed to the evidence base for the recent web resource for PWD called BBC Music Memories.
Direct impact on PWD is exhibited in the ongoing collaboration with Saffron Hall Trust and the resulting programme Together in Sound (TiS), led by Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Researchers Odell-Miller and Senior Lecturer Molyneux. In November 2020, a new film was launched about the project, with PWD and their companions leading the making of the film [Source 6]. The programme has been running since 2017 and around 35 dyads (PWD and their home-based partner, family companion, carer/friend) per year have received music therapy over that time. Discussing the success of TiS, the CEO of Saffron Hall Trust stated that “both carers and those living with dementia have registered extraordinarily high levels of satisfaction with the programme” [Source 2]. Carers and the PWD reported positive changes in lifestyle and relationship quality, finding the music therapy different to other activities. [Source 5]. As one carer said “The music is wonderful, excellent. We do Singing for the Brain (SB) as well and have been doing that since [my wife] was diagnosed. They are both great [SB and TiS], but this is different with so many aspects, improvisation, more creative, a bit of everything.” [Source 5]. The project has also been used to demonstrate the impact of Saffron Hall itself through an official evaluation by NESTA [Source 5], enabling Saffron Hall to access further funding and increase client numbers from 20 to 50 couples 2018-2020. The TiS project music therapy groups, including professional musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia, continued and pioneered online music therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic which participants described as a “lifeline” [Source 5]. The move online of the music therapy groups due to COVID-19 connected couples with each other during lockdown and isolation. The work was featured on prime time BBC1 national news in April 2020, with participants describing music therapy as an “uplifting experience”. This contributed to a national change in perception of PWD and of how to combat isolation at home during COVID-19 positively [Source 7], as evidenced by Odell-Miller and Fachner’s invitations to interview for three national newspaper reports on music and dementia between September-December 2020 [Source 7]. Participants in the project were able to musically interact playfully with one another, reducing isolation during lockdown and the pandemic. Similarly, CIMTR’s team led the international change in delivery to dyads at home of the music and reading interventions from in-person to online delivery, in the aforementioned international Homeside RCT trial (Ref. 4).
Earlier, music therapy researchers at ARU improved the profile of music therapy for PWD. For example, in 2015 approximately 300 people attended the first international public conference for music therapy and dementia, hosted at ARU. Chaired by Odell-Miller, in partnership with BAMT and MHA, the conference united third sector organisations in dementia care including Dementia UK, Live Music Now, HEE England and BAMT, and improved knowledge of music therapy [Source 8]. The importance of access to music for PWD was further highlighted in 2016 when Odell-Miller was awarded an OBE for services to music therapy including research, resulting in publicity including conversations with HRH Prince William and MPs [Source 9]. Subsequently Odell-Miller led and hosted a high-level debate at the International Consortium for Music Therapy’s public meeting, for over 80 people, hosted by CIMTR. This event changed perceptions of the public on the latest music therapy research and, as a Commissioner from the NHS Cambridge Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) commented, the level of music therapy research is ‘compelling and ground-breaking’.
Seminal to changing patterns of music and music therapy interventions for PWD was the BBC1 documentary Our Dementia Choir, viewed by millions around the UK and beyond [Source 10]. It featured ARU neuroscientific music therapy research as well as ARU-trained music therapists. The CEO of Chiltern Music, a large music therapy provider, noted an increase of 27% in website visits the week after the broadcast . Page views relating to community music therapy groups increased by 300%, while page views relating to community events increased by 116% [Source 2].
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
[Source 1] Bowel, S., Bamford, S.M. (2018). What would life be - without a song or a dance, what are we? - Commission on Music and Dementia. Published by the International Longevity Centre (ILCUK) in collaboration with the Utley Foundation: London. Report. [online] Available from: https://ilcuk.org.uk/what-would-life-be-without-a-song-or-dance-what-are-we/
[Source 2] Testimonials from music providers and experts including the CEO of Music4Dementia and the CEO of Chiltern Music.
[Source 3] Collaboration with MHA Care Homes including testimony and press release.
[Source 4] Inclusion of music therapy in NICE guidelines: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/people-with-dementia-should-be-offered-activities-that-can-help-promote-wellbeing
[Source 5] Evaluations, testimony, and news coverage of Together in Sound.
[Source 6] Film: ‘Together in Sound: A Journey with Dementia’ (13 November 2020) link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8whgpvaCWcc
[Source 7] Interviews with national newspapers including the Guardian, the Observer and the Daily Mail.
[Source 8] BAMT ARU and MHA joint conference https://www.bamt.org/DB/news-view/bamt-collaborates-with-aru-and-mha-to-support-firs?ps=_mMKXViPAI8Hun1ifYoL9bt3BfV9eO
[Source 9] OBE Awards 2016 https://www.caremanagementmatters.co.uk/2016-new-year-honours-for-health-and-social-care/
[Source 10] Fachner et al. involvement in Our Dementia Choir: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-48124591
- Submitting institution
- Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation
- Unit of assessment
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Summary impact type
- Societal
- Is this case study continued from a case study submitted in 2014?
- No
1. Summary of the impact
Research into music therapy with children with autism and their families at ARU’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research (CIMTR) has enhanced clinical practice through the development of Oldfield’s specific interactive approach used by her with over 160 families. Music therapists trained by her (over 500) in the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada, and Australasia are using this new approach with families. Oldfield’s 2017 documentary Operation Syncopation, directed by an adult on the autistic spectrum, who previously had music therapy with Oldfield as a child, has impacted music therapists and the general public, improving life for children with autism and their families.
2. Underpinning research
There are two areas of Oldfield’s research which have developed simultaneously and have contributed to the effects of, and impact made by, music therapy with children with autism and their families. These are: “music therapy with families” and “music therapy with children with autism”.
Music therapy with families
Before 2001, music therapists did not often work with children with their families in the room. When Oldfield faced a clinical dilemma of a two-year-old boy with autism who refused to enter the room without his mother, work started with both the mother and the child. This clinical work was so successful that it led to the development of a new music therapy approach, developed through several ARU research investigations (Ref 1, pp.157-185 and Ref 2, pp.123-156). Oldfield showed that through including parents in the music therapy room, progress achieved in music therapy sessions generalised more quickly to other settings. Through mainly non-verbal musical exchanges, parents could be supported to rediscover the fun of playing with their child and regain confidence in their parenting skills. In 2008, Oldfield & Flower edited and wrote the first book about music therapy with families, bringing together publications by 11 music therapists (Ref. 3). Since then, Oldfield has contributed a chapter to the Oxford University textbook of music therapy (Ref. 4) and a chapter to an international textbook on the subject (Ref. 5). These recent texts reflect a development of the approach with Oldfield now supporting families in small group settings, and increasingly using video feedback from music therapy sessions to review the work with parents and enable them to identify strengths in their musical interactions with their children.
Music therapy with children with autism
Music therapy with children with autism is not a ‘new’ subject and has been written about since the 1960s. Oldfield, however, has developed a specific interactive music therapy approach with children with autism, which improves children’s communication and resilience. Between 2001 and 2004, Oldfield carried out research at ARU, investigating clinical work with young children with autism and their parents (Ref.1). Oldfield demonstrated that her music therapy approach with children with autism was characterised by eight specific points: the importance of using music to motivate children to be engaged, providing clear structures within the music making, the therapist alternating between following and initiating, using improvised music making as basic forms of communicative exchanges, being aware of issues of control in musical improvisations, combining music with movement, incorporating play and drama, and working in partnership with parents in the room (Ref 1). In another project, Oldfield trialled music therapy diagnostic procedures for primary-aged children with a possible diagnosis of autism. She demonstrated that her newly developed Music Therapy Diagnostic Assessment (MTDA) could serve a useful and distinctive purpose in helping the psychiatric team to diagnose children with autism (Ref. 2).
Between 2012 and 2016, the ARU Music therapy team led the UK arm of the international TIME–A RCT trial, with Odell-Miller as Principal Investigator and Oldfield as Clinical Supervisor. Music therapy treatment given once or three times a week was compared to standard care without music therapy. 364 children were recruited to the trial in total, including 120 from the UK, making this the largest non-pharmacological RCT investigation into autism (Ref. 6). The music therapy approach investigated was ‘improvisational music therapy’, a global term, which also describes Oldfield’s work. As a result, new research and knowledge were generated by researchers at ARU on how music therapy helps develop the resilience of children with autism, and how parent counselling alongside music therapy helps parents with children living with autism.
3. References to the research
Ref 1, 2, 3, and 5 available from the HEI on request.
Oldfield, A. (2006a) Interactive Music Therapy, A Positive Approach – Music therapy at a Child Development Centre. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Oldfield, A. (2006b) Interactive Music Therapy in Child and Family Psychiatry – Clinical practice, research and teaching. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Oldfield, A. and Flower, C. eds. (2008) Music Therapy with Children and their Families. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781843105817. (Submitted to UoA35 in REF2014).
Oldfield, A. (2016) Family approaches in music therapy with young children in: The Oxford Handbook of Music Therapy, edited by Jane Edwards, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 158-175. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199639755.013.25
Oldfield, A, (2017) Music Therapy with Families in a Psychiatric Children’s Unit in: S. Lindahl Jacobsen and G. Thompson (eds) Models of Music Therapy with Families, Jessica Kingsley Publications, pp. 72-91.
Bieleninik, Ł., Geretsegger, M., Mössler, K., Assmus, J., Thompson, G., Gattino, G., Elefant, C., Gottfried, T., Igliozzi, R., Muratori, F., Suvini, F., Kim, J., Crawford, M., Odell-Miller, H., Oldfield, A., Casey, Ó., Finnemann, J, Carpente, J., Park, A., Grossi, E., Gold, C. (2017) Effects of Improvisational Music Therapy versus Enhanced Standard Care on Symptom Severity Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The TIME-A randomized controlled trial, JAMA 318(6) pp. 525-535. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.9478; in REF2.
4. Details of the impact
Oldfield’s music therapy approach for children with autism and their families has had an impact on the families receiving treatment, the music therapists providing the treatment, and the training of music therapists. The approach was recognised by the profession in 2014 when Oldfield was awarded the first Clinical Impact Award for Music Therapy by the World Federation of Music Therapy.
Introducing Oldfield’s music therapy approach with children with autism to families in the Cambridge area
Between August 2013 and 2019, Oldfield successfully used her approach in her NHS work with around 80 families. Three music therapy colleagues in the Cambridge area who trained with Oldfield and received clinical supervision from her, have each treated similar numbers of families using this approach during that time.
In 2017, following treatment using Oldfield’s approach, a father of a 5-year-old boy told us: “I can’t imagine having made this kind of progress, even in other areas of his development without having had this sort of experience and this kind of opportunity … It’s so clear that he responds well to this kind of therapy. You really see him coming alive during these sessions” (Source 1).
In 2019, a mother of a 5-year-old boy wrote: “He enjoyed the sessions so much and they have helped with his speech and communication. We are able to communicate with him better and hearing him sing is a joy!” (Source 1).
Oldfield’s music therapy diagnostic assessments (MTDAs) have been continuously used at the Croft Child and Family Psychiatry Unit (Cambridge), impacting on multidisciplinary overall diagnostic assessments given to all the children attending the unit. Between August 2013 and 2017, Oldfield carried out MTDAs on approximately 120 children at the Croft Child and Family Unit in Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT), and her successor continues to carry them out up to the present day. MTDAs improve service provision, with many children finding it easier to engage with MTDAs than with conventional standardised assessments (Source 2).
Research assistants employed by ARU in projects described in section 2, have used Oldfield’s clinical approach and their work has led to the creation, in 2017 and 2018, of five new music therapy posts, in Cambridge and Peterborough, enabling more families to benefit from treatment.
Transfer of skills and competencies
Oldfield’s work has impacted music therapy by enhancing music therapy clinical practice and influencing the teaching of music therapy students both in the UK and internationally.
Between August 2013 and 2019 Oldfield’s approach has been taught to around 105 MA music therapy students at ARU. Music therapists have commented: “In adopting Amelia’s ‘positive’ and supportive approach […] we have received much appreciative feedback from families […] [and] have secured additional funding in order to continue the music therapy intervention for families.” (Source 3.a) “Her book […] inspired and encouraged me in the development of my own music therapy approach and […] the development of the music therapy service at the Child Development Centre” (Source 3.b).
Oldfield’s music therapy training DVD about this music therapy approach, produced at ARU, has been on YouTube since 30/07/14, and has been viewed 93,916 times (15/12/2020) (Source 4).
All seven UK music therapy training courses use Oldfield’s books and videos on music therapy with autism, and music therapy with families, in their teaching (Source 5). One course head has observed “Oldfield’s approach has had a significant impact on the way in which Music Therapists in the UK conceptualise and deliver music therapy interventions in these clinical areas” (Source 4). Another notes “her approach to working with children with autism and their families shape[s] how we encourage music therapy learners to practise and think about their work. This in turn influences the work that they have gone on to do” (Source 5). A third describes Oldfield’s publications as the ‘core of the UK literature in this area’ noting ‘our teaching in this area makes extensive use of these publications’ (Source 5).
Between August 2013 and 2019, Oldfield taught her approach to approximately 315 music therapy students at Montpellier University, France, and 130 students in Würtzburg University, Germany. The heads of these courses have confirmed the importance of her research and teaching in her specialist areas of autism and families (Source 6).
Between August 2013 and 2020 Oldfield ran and planned 9 specialist workshops and courses on music therapy with children with autism and their families for music therapy students and professionals in Singapore, Poland, Spain, Italy, Taiwan, Thailand, Canada and Finland. Testimonials indicate that her work has had an impact on both music therapists and their clients in these countries, becoming embedded both in education and practice in the field (Source 7). They describe Oldfield’s research as ‘extraordinary and influential’, ‘a cornerstone of the [Finnish] program’, as being ‘highly inspiring’ and ‘having influenced Polish music therapy in many contexts and aspects’. Other testimonies confirmed that Oldfield’s research has ‘widely impacted the music therapy work for children with autism and their families in Singapore’; that it has influenced ‘all Taiwanese music therapists, many of whom have incorporated her Music Therapy Diagnostic Assessments (MTDAs) and her family approach in their practice’; and that ‘many music therapists in Finland have been using Amelia’s approach and methods with children and autism and with families for the past 7 years’ (Source 7).
One director from Ontario, stated that Oldfield’s “’Integrative Music Therapy approach’ is exceptionally well received here in Canada and has garnered wide acceptance of our music therapy community.” Similarly, the head of a music therapy training programme in Poland, commented that Oldfield’s research-led contributions “undoubtedly enhanced the development of music therapy” in Poland (Source 7). An assistant professor at Khon Kaen University, Thailand explained how “children’s communication skills have improved” as a result (Source 8).
Between August 2013 and 2020, Oldfield remotely supported her Thai colleague, to develop her music therapy practice with children with autism and their families, and to teach students on this subject. As a result, Khon Kaen University has set up their first MA music therapy training course, due to start in 2021 (Source 8).
A new documentary film, changing understandings of music therapy
In 2017 Oldfield interviewed the families of the children with autism who received music therapy between 2000 and 2002, creating a full-length documentary film: “Operation Syncopation” (Source 9). The film director was a patient who received treatment from Oldfield as a child. The film received the Silver Punt Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2017 Cambridge Film Festival and, in 2018 and 2019, was shown at six International music therapy conferences, and cinemas in Montpellier and Katowice. Subtitles in Mandarin, Thai, French, German, Spanish, Polish and English are available.
In 2019, an evaluation of the film was made by 109 viewers, in Italy, Slovenia, Denmark and Spain. 90% indicated that they would change the way they worked with children with autism; 70% wrote that their view of autism had changed; and 92% said they would recommend the film to others (Source 10). The film has been available on YouTube since 06/09/2019 and has been viewed 4,847 times (15/12/2020). Along with Oldfield’s training videos, the film (Source 4) has been cited by course leaders (Sources 5, 6 and 7), as an important resource for teaching music therapists. As one commented: “There are very few such resources that are suitable for supporting the development of knowledge and skills in this applied discipline, so these are especially valuable” (Source 5).
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
Parents’ feedback from 2017 and 2019.
Testimonials: from Croft Child and Family Unit in Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Testimonials: from music therapists working with child development centre families.
Training videos: Links to training videos available on YouTube since 2014.
Evidence from UK music therapy training courses: testimonials and screen shots from course documents.
Testimonials: from course leaders in France and Germany.
Testimonials: from music therapists in Canada, Singapore, Poland, Spain, Taiwan and Finland.
Testimonial from assistant professor at Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
Operation Syncopation; Long Term Follow-Up Study on Previously Successful Music Therapy Interventions, full length documentary available on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaVtUHOk_RM
Results of 2019 evaluation of Operation Syncopation film.