Using the adaptive use musical instrument (AUMI) in music therapy clinical practice

Abstract

The Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (AUMI) is a software program and musical instrument that may be used by music therapists in clinical practice. As more music therapists incorporate software programs into their work, they may struggle with understanding the software, identifying possible therapeutic uses in clinical practice, and realizing the symbiotic relationships that can develop between clinicians and software developers. The purposes of this paper are to describe the use of the Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (AUMI) software program in music therapy practice through several case examples, address common concerns and barriers to using the AUMI shared by many music therapists, describe the improvements in software based on clinician feedback to the software developer, and discuss clinical implications and future directions for music therapy practice and research using the AUMI.