title: Common Characteristics of Improvisational Approaches in Music Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Developing Treatment Guidelines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improvisational methods of music therapy have been increasingly applied in the treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over the past decades in many countries worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at developing treatment guidelines based on the most important common characteristics of improvisational music therapy (IMT) with children affected by ASD as applied across various countries and theoretical backgrounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  After initial development of treatment principle items, a survey among music therapy professionals in 10 countries and focus group workshops with experienced clinicians in three countries were conducted to evaluate the items and formulate revised treatment guidelines. To check usability, a treatment fidelity assessment tool was subsequently used to rate therapy excerpts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey findings and feedback from the focus groups corroborated most of the initial principles for IMT in the context of children with ASD. Unique and essential principles include facilitating musical and emotional attunement, musically scaffolding the flow of interaction, and tapping into the shared history of musical interaction between child and therapist. Raters successfully used the tool to evaluate treatment adherence and competence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Summarizing an international consensus about core principles of improvisational approaches in music therapy for children with ASD, these treatment guidelines may be applied in diverse theoretical models of music therapy. They can be used to assess treatment fidelity, and may be applied to facilitate future research, clinical practice, and training.
authors.affiliation: Aalborg University, Denmark; GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway Aalborg University, Denmark Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York; Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, Rockville Centre, New York University of Haifa, Israel Jeonju University, Korea GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway monika.geretsegger@uni.no.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geretsegger
authors.affiliation: Aalborg University, Denmark; GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway Aalborg University, Denmark Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York; Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, Rockville Centre, New York University of Haifa, Israel Jeonju University, Korea GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holck
authors.affiliation: Aalborg University, Denmark; GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway Aalborg University, Denmark Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York; Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, Rockville Centre, New York University of Haifa, Israel Jeonju University, Korea GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carpente
authors.affiliation: Aalborg University, Denmark; GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway Aalborg University, Denmark Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York; Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, Rockville Centre, New York University of Haifa, Israel Jeonju University, Korea GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Cochavit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elefant
authors.affiliation: Aalborg University, Denmark; GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway Aalborg University, Denmark Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York; Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, Rockville Centre, New York University of Haifa, Israel Jeonju University, Korea GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jinah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Aalborg University, Denmark; GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway Aalborg University, Denmark Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York; Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, Rockville Centre, New York University of Haifa, Israel Jeonju University, Korea GAMUT-Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gold
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; improvisation; music therapy; treatment guidelines