Music in the practice of dance/movement therapy

While music and dance are deeply connected art forms and music is frequently utilized in the practice of dance/movement therapy, little is known about how therapists apply it in their work and what their experiences are with music. In this convergent mixed methods study, we collected survey responses from 173 registered or board-certified dance/movement therapists and interviewed ten of them to learn about the use and role of music in their practice. Findings showed that dance/movement therapists mostly selected music based on their assessment of their clients even as they had playlists available. Frequently used genres were instrumental/relaxation, pop, and oldies, although this differed according to population, and important musical elements of consideration were rhythm, tempo, and dynamics. Based on the interviews, music has formidable effects that are mostly beneficial but may potentially be adverse to the process. Other themes noted were intentional music preparation and attunement in music selection. We recommend that clinicians personally engage with music to increase their knowledge of and comfort with a wide range, as well as collaborate with their clients to assure positive music reception.