Computational Music Therapy

Abstract

Free improvisation is a common technique in music therapy, used to express one’s ideas or feelings in the non-verbal language of music. More broadly, music therapy is used to induce therapeutic and psychosocial effects; i.e., to help alleviate symptoms in serious and chronic diseases, and to empower the wellbeing and quality of life for healthy individuals and for patients. However, much research is required in order to learn how music therapy operates and to enhance its effectivity. Here we utilize our broad computational paradigm, which enables the rigorous and quantitative tracking, analyzing and documenting of the underlying dynamic expressive processes. We adapt the method, which we developed for the art and music modalities, to music therapy and apply it in a real-world experimentation. We study expressive emergent behaviors of clients directed by a therapist in a succession of sessions aimed at developing and increasing their expressivity through free improvisations. We describe our empirical insights, and discuss their implications in therapy and in scientific research arenas.