Musical Therapy

Posted on Fri Jan 24th, 2025 @ 19:23 by Alastair Temple & Jessica Leigh

Chapter: Besieged
Location: Avalon Institute
1191 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

The overlapping themes of psychology and music notwithstanding, a conversation with the music teacher had been on Jessica's to-do list for far too long. One of her classmate's thesis had been related to the use of music in supporting troubled teens with dealing with anxiety or ongoing emotional issues, and it was a thesis she had been curious to trial with the unique students she now had access to.

The array of musical instruments available in the department was actually surprising. On a par with a University's provision in many ways. Though Jessica suspected that much of it had come from personal collections or via Claire's remarkably long reach.

"Excuse me? Hello?" she called softly, wondering where the music teacher himself was perched. If he was indeed in his reputed raven-form. It wasn't until she heard the door shut behind her that she almost jumped out of her skin (literally). "Oh! Goodness. You must be Mr Temple?"

"Indeed I am," the reply came, in the familiar warm rumbling baritone. For someone who didn't sing (well, not really) he was sure blessed with a voice that many who did - or wished they could - would be envious of. "Jessica Leigh, right? I've seen you around, just never really had the pleasure," he offered with a smile, long strides carrying him deeper into the classroom. There were many instruments indeed, three electric keyboards of various design and quality, an old piano, well loved. A simple drum kit, with the basics. A xylophone, some other percussion instruments. A few guitars rounded out the collection - one red marbled five string bass, two acoustics and Alastair's own signature one, a custom black Ibanez. "What can I do for you this today, miss Leigh?"

"Music!" she replied brightly, before sharply recognising that the word required context. "I mean, there's a study about music and improving emotional wellbeing, and, well..." Jessica motioned to the various instruments. "I thought, why not ask an expert? That is, if you're interested?"

"Well, I know music can affect moods and with clever writing you can guide a listener through a story of sorts just by the feel and atmosphere of the music," it was relatively basic music theory, major versus minor chords, chord progressions, building anticipation and paying it off - or not, if you wanted to create a particularly unsettling atmosphere. Consider something like the music in A New Hope versus that in Friday the 13th, for example. John Williams created an uplifting, energetic atmosphere where Harry Manfredini used the same underlying theories to create a very unsettling, oppressive one. "What did you have in mind?"

Jessica felt a short burst of relief that he had overlooked her momentary miscommunication and was on board with the idea. "Perhaps some sort of lesson plan that includes the use of music to interpret how the students are feeling? As I said, I'm not really an expert - I read a couple of papers - but I guessed you could fill in some of the more practical gaps for me?"

Alastair made a face like he was low key overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. He sat down, contemplating, before speaking up. "Well, I could do some research on what songs fit what moods, but music is not a magic spell. Like, I know something like Pachelbel's Canon in D is a very soothing, calming piece, but if you play it for someone who's really angry it's not going to magically calm them down. The subject would have to be in a receptive mood. I'm still not quite sure what you're wanting to do."

Jessica paused, contemplating. "Perhaps...allowing the students to express their own feelings through music?" She asked, touching the strings of one of the guitars with her fingertips thoughtfully. "Use it as a medium for expression; to bring it out instead of holding it inside."

A soft, slightly out of tune tone rang out from the acoustic guitar when the string was stirred, as Al considered. "I can do something like that. Ask them to think of a feeling, then to write down a song or piece of music that makes them feel that way. I can then try to collect some of those songs and analyze with the class why those pieces evoke those feelings. It's kind of a natural progression of what I've been teaching them."

"Yes! Exactly!" Jessica exclaimed, before quickly reeling herself back in. "Er - if that fits in with the curriculum, of course? Just with everything else that has been going on...I'm sure you understand."

"Well, I was already thinking of doing something like this, just haven't written the module yet. Truth be told, with all that's going on and my own project I don't really have much free time to work on things like this, but I can give it a try. Sounds like fun and a good learning tool for the kids," Al mused, rubbing his luxurious bearded chin as he did, his rich baritone rumbling.

"And of course, Liana and I would really appreciate the outputs of the session; who engaged with it, what their choices were, and whether it allowed them to unlock any specific thoughts or feelings," Jessica added enthusiastically. "I'm so glad you agree!"

"Whoa, one step at a time," Al raised his hands in a 'slow down' gesture. "If I'm asking my students to think of a song that means something to them and explain why, there's a good chance that we're gonna enter into rather personal reasoning. Maybe memories stirred, things like that. That - ... starts pushing into confidentiality territory. If I am to do a task like this, it'll be anonymous, and I'm only going to discuss songs that they submit that don't have anything to do with memories, only with musicality and music theory. I get what you're saying, I hear you I do, but that's a counselor's wheelhouse, not a music teacher's. Best I can do is make the anonymity optional, like they can sign their name if they want to, and give me permission to share it with the counseling team. That sound ok?"

Jessica took a deep breath, stilling her enthusiastic instincts sharply. "Yes, yes. Of course. And you'll flag any...safeguarding concerns?" she added, trying to lock back into her theoretical psychology mindset instead of the enthusiastic fix-everyone mode. "I really do appreciate this, you know. It's so difficult to fund studies like this elsewhere..."

"I'm not sure any studies like this have been done. We're potentially breaking new ground here," Al smiled, sitting on the edge of his desk, regarding the young woman. "Anyways, I'll get a program written up. Make allowances for cooperation with the counseling department. I'll discuss it with the students, make sure they know it's completely voluntary and anonymous if they so choose but let them know they can sign it if they want. I think this is going to be very interesting."

"Wonderful. Thanks again. And I'll be sure to make sure you get credit on any research we publish!" Jessica gushed, trying to make sure her appreciation was fully heard.