Graphic Notation in Music Therapy: A Discussion of What to Notate in Graphic Notation and How

Abstract

This article presents graphic notations of music and related forms of communication in music therapy contexts, created by different authors and practitioners. Their purposes, objects of description, and the elements of graphic language are reflected upon in a comparative discussion. From that it becomes clear that the aspect of overview is a fundamental one, facilitating perception of complex data. This also makes possible to memorise complex data, extending the natural limits of human memory. Discovering hidden aspects in the clinical data, as well as sharing and communicating these aspects are also important concerns. Among the authors discussed, there is a large variety both in goals and methods. Keywords are proposed to circumscribe moments of possible interest connected to graphic notations. I suggest that the discipline of graphic notation can be useful for the grounding of music therapy presentation and research in empirical, clinical-musical reality, and welcome further discussion and explorative work.

Audio extracts: Click on the links to listen to the sound examples mentioned in the article: Sound example  1,  Sound example  2