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Music Therapy Part 2: Music Therapy for Parkinson's Disease - Maintaining Voice Strength - Music and Medicine on Monday

last modified on: Thu, 05/22/2025 - 15:46

return to: Music and Medicine on Monday (M+M+M) at the University of Iowa - Schedule of Events and Disclaimer

see also: Music Therapy Part 1: What is Music Therapy? M+M+M - Music and Medicine on Monday

Initial content compiled May 5th, 2025 by Sun Joo Lee PhD, MT-BC, NMT; Louise Pinkerton, MM, MA, CCC-SLP; Abby Dvorak, PhD, MT-BC; Kate Gfeller, PhD; Evgeniya Molotkova, BS; and Henry Hoffman, MD

 

Example of Music Therapy for Parkinson's and Discussion of Its Application (2 min 20 seconds)

Full Session - Addressing Music Therapy for Parkinson's Disease (38 min 45 seconds)

 

Definitions

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition that affects motor skills, speech, swallowing, and emotional well-being (Bloem et al, 2021)

 

Discussion

Music therapy is an evidence based and innovative approach to addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with PD and their caregivers (García-Casares et al, 2018)

 

Goals of Music Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Music therapy sessions are designed with the following goals (García-Casares et al, 2018)

  • Improve Voice and Speech: Through vocal exercises and therapeutic singing, we aim to enhance vocal strength, clarity, and projection, addressing common speech impairments associated with PD.
  • Enhance Motor Function: Using rhythmic and movement-based interventions, music therapy can improve gait, coordination, and overall mobility.
  • Support Emotional Well-Being: Singing and active music-making promote emotional expression and reduce anxiety and depression, fostering a positive mental state.
  • Promote Social Connection: Group singing creates a sense of community, helping individuals and their caregivers feel supported and less isolated.
  • Improve Quality of Life: By addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms, music therapy enhances overall well-being and treatment adherence.

 

The Benefits of Therapeutic Singing

Therapeutic group singing is at the heart of the music therapy program for Parkinson’s disease. Here’s how it can make a difference (Baird et al, 2018):

  • Vocal Strength and Endurance: Singing exercises the vocal cords, improving volume, breath control, and clarity of speech.
  • Enhanced Breathing and Swallowing: Techniques like straw phonation strengthen respiratory and phonatory muscles, reducing vocal fatigue and enhancing swallowing ability.
  • Mood Elevation: Singing releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin, reducing stress and promoting happiness.
  • Social Bonding: Group singing fosters camaraderie and connection, creating a welcoming and supportive community for both individuals with PD and their caregivers.
  • Motor Improvement: Rhythmic singing engages the auditory and motor systems, improving gait stability and movement coordination.

 

What to Expect in a Music Therapy Session

  • Warm-Up Exercises: Sessions begin with body movements, breathing techniques, and vocal warm-ups to prepare participants.
  • Therapeutic Singing: Carefully selected songs are chosen to match participants’ vocal ranges and therapeutic goals. Familiar and uplifting melodies encourage participation and engagement (Lee et al, 2024)
  • Interactive Activities: Sessions may include rhythm exercises, vocal improvisation, or movement activities to target specific needs.
  • Personalized Guidance: Therapists provide individualized feedback and support, ensuring exercises align with participants' capabilities.
  • Social Interaction: Group singing encourages interaction, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
  • Empowering Caregivers: Group singing extends its benefits to caregivers focused on (Gibson, 2017):
    •  Strategies to support loved ones with PD through music.
    •  A platform to share experiences and gain support from others in similar roles.


Join Our Community: What Is Tremble Clefs
Tremble Clefs is a therapeutic singing group for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), their caregivers, and family members. The program provides a safe, clinical environment where participants can address needs related to voice and speech, mood, and socialization. Tremble Clefs helps individuals with PD and their caregivers lead fuller, more fulfilling lives. Whether it's improving communication, boosting mood, or enhancing mobility, music therapy offers a holistic and effective approach to managing Parkinson’s disease. For more information and to learn about the history of our group, please visit our website: www.trembleclefsarizona.org. (https://youtu.be/X6tFitZWTyw, https://youtu.be/Kf6FAAhbFcE?si=K0VPFaQmNExyT-c2, https://youtu.be/HGwldHBMfzQ)

Tremble Clef, Iowa was established in 2023 in Iowa City, IA (Story: https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=2508) and provides a weekly session. It is open to anyone with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. No musical experience is needed to join the group. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Dr. Abbey Dvorak, Associate Professor of Music Therapy at the University of Iowa, at abbey-dvorak@uiowa.edu.

  • Established Expertise: Since 1994, Tremble Clefs Arizona has been providing music therapy for individuals with PD.
  • Professional Guidance: Our music therapy sessions are led by qualified music therapists, ensuring that participants receive clinically beneficial vocal and movement exercises in a supportive environment.
  • Community Engagement: In addition to regular meetings, our groups perform concerts. Often, individuals with PD attend a concert and then become interested in joining.

 

Complementary Therapies

Speech therapy services with a speech-language pathologist are beneficial for similar reasons as therapeutic singing. Speech therapy for Parkinson’s Disease can include singing and compliments Music Therapy.

  • Research-based programs: Short-term, intensive voice therapy with LSVT LOUD or SPEAK OUT! can improve and maintain the speaking voice and improve swallowing. Both are offered on our campus (Lee et al, 2024)
  • Compatible with music therapy: Speech therapy and music therapy are targeting similar areas and can be done at the same time or in sequence.  
  • Weekly Support: Free weekly, online practice groups for SPEAK OUT! graduates are available through our student training clinic. LSVT Global and Parkinson Voice Project have online practice videos available.
  • Additional support: SLPs can provide additional services for swallowing, cognition, and caregiver training

 

References

Bloem BR, Okun MS, Klein C. Parkinson's disease. The Lancet. 2021;397(10291):2284-2303. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00218-X

Baird, A., Abell, R., Bullot , N. J., & Thompson , W. F. (2018). Group singing enhances positive affect in people with Parkinson’s disease. Music and Medicine, 10(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd.v10i1.570

García-Casares, N., Martín-Colom, J. E., & García-Arnés, J. A. (2018). Music therapy in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 19(12), 1054–1062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2018.09.025

Gibson, G. (2017). What can the treatment of Parkinson’s disease learn from dementia care; applying a bio‐psycho‐social approach to Parkinson’s disease. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12159

Gilbert, R. (2019, February 5). Music therapy for Parkinson’s disease. American Parkinson Disease Association. https://www.apdaparkinson.org/article/music-therapy-parkinsons-disease/

Machado Sotomayor, M. J., Arufe-Giráldez, V., Ruíz-Rico, G., & Navarro-Patón, R. (2021). Music therapy and Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review from 2015–2020. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11618. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111618

Lee, S. J., Dvorak, A. L., & Manternach, J. N. (2024). Therapeutic singing and semi-occluded vocal tract exercises for individuals with Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial of a single session intervention. Journal of Music Therapy, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thae004

Stegemöller, E.L., Hibbing, P., Radig, H., & Wingate, J. (2017). Therapeutic singing as an early intervention for swallowing in persons with Parkinson’s disease. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 31, 127–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.03.002

Stegemöller, Elizabeth L., Radig, H., Hibbing, P., Wingate, J., & Sapienza, C. (2016). Effects of singing on voice, respiratory control and quality of life in persons with Parkinson’s disease. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(6), 594–600. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2016.1152610

Tamplin, J., Morris, M. E., Marigliani, C., Baker, F. A., & Vogel, A. P. (2019b). ParkinSong: A controlled trial of singing-based therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 33(6), 453–463. https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968319847948

Wan, C. Y., Rüber, T., Hohmann, A., & Schlaug, G. (2010). The therapeutic effects of singing in neurological disorders. Music Perception, 27(4), 287–295. https://doi.org/10.1525/mp.2010.27.4.287