2021 Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

The purpose of this study was to examine participants' emotional and neurological responses when listening to stimulative and sedative music through electroencephalography (EEG) using the MUSE 2 headset. Brain waves were monitored using the MUSE 2 headset while participants listened to 7 musical excerpts (3 stimulative, 3 sedative, and 1 control). Data from these recordings were analyzed using the MATLAB EEGLAB toolbox. Following each musical selection, participants also provided self-reported mood assessment using a 5-point Likert-scale between pairs of bipolar adjectives (i.e., happy/sad, restless/calm, joyous/gloomy, whimsical/serious, vigorous/quiet, majestic/soothing, playful/dignified, and exhilarated/dreamy). Data analysis was aimed at identifying brain wave activity patterns associated with each category of music as well as assessing correlations between brain wave activity and self-reported mood ratings. Given the constraints of participant recruitment and data collection due to COVID-19, preliminary results from this pilot study will be presented. Additional discussion will include study modifications and limitations resulting from the need to incorporate COVID-19 precautions for all portions of the study. Perspectives on conducting collaborative student-faculty research using human subjects during a global pandemic will be addressed, along with suggestions for future research given the constraints of COVID-19.

Although the correct way to play percussion instruments is used in a professional performance setting, some of the techniques and physical requirements may not be practical for all clients in a Music Therapy setting due to a client's physical or cognitive abilities. The American Music Therapy Association defines Music Therapy as the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Within a Music Therapy session, it is not uncommon to use a percussion instrument, however, it may be uncommon to see the instruments being played as demonstrated in a percussion textbook. Just like most things in life, there is never only one way of doing something. In my presentation, I will demonstrate six alternative ways of using percussion instruments in a music therapy setting with a focus on specific domains. These domains include gross motor, fine motor, sensory, social, and musicality. Each technique is presented in the form of a Music Therapy intervention.