Written by Genesis Barbosa-Padilla, Music Therapy Intern “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” – Victor Hugo During my training to become a music therapist, one of the main topics every student learns is cultural consideration. We are taught to be aware of cultures beyond our own and to adapt when interacting with clients from diverse backgrounds. One specific area I’ve encountered during my internship is language. At Musicworx Inc., I’ve worked with various populations and patients whose primary language is not English. I have found that music is the ultimate bridge, creating connections where words fall short. Entering a music therapy session can be intimidating for both the therapist and the client. Because music is incredibly personal, it can feel overwhelming for those who aren’t musicians to be asked to sing, play instruments, or make music with another person. Adding a language barrier to the mix can heighten that initial discomfort. So, how do we facilitate sessions that foster an open, welcoming environment? Since we can’t learn a new language overnight, how do we honor a client’s cultural needs while still facilitating a meaningful, realistic session?

Work within your means. While many music therapists would love to be multilingual, we simply cannot learn a language in a short timeframe. One of the populations I’ve worked with is a group of older adults, the majority of whom are Chaldean. When I learned I would be providing music therapy to this group, I was nervous. Anxious thoughts immediately filled my mind: “How am I going to sing Chaldean songs? Am I supposed to teach them English songs?” I was concerned about what I could offer. Every culture views music differently, and this felt so far outside my comfort zone that I didn’t know where to start. However, I knew I could provide the same client-centered experience I aim to give every client. I reached out to my supervisors for guidance and repertoire recommendations, and I made sure to bring music activities that didn’t require language.

Second Step:

Utilize your colleagues, supervisors, and your clients. My supervisors were my first source of advice. I was upfront about my nervousness, and they were eager to help, providing written resources and connecting me with other music therapists experienced in working with this culture. My colleagues also stepped in, sending me curated Chaldean playlists on Spotify and lists of popular songs for older Chaldean adults. I was also given the opportunity to observe this group with another music therapist before taking over myself. During that session, I observed what the clients responded to and took note of their preferences. Some clients spoke English and were very open about the songs they enjoyed, even making requests for our next session. You’ll often find that clients will tell you what they like and what they don’t—and that is a major advantage for a therapist, as it allows you to build sessions based on client-preferred music.

Create an ebb and flow of cultural sharing. While you may not be able to perform every song requested by clients, colleagues, or supervisors, you can certainly begin to incorporate those requests into your sessions. If you can’t play a piece live, create a music intervention where the client leads the singing while you play an instrument. Cultivate a relationship of understanding, even if your facilitation style looks different. Often, clients appreciate the effort to include their preferred repertoire and become more open to sharing about the songs they choose. Furthermore, once they see you’ve made an effort to include their music, they become more receptive to the music you share with them. In my latest session with the Chaldean group, I included two client-requested songs. You could see the bridge forming in our relationship; there is a unique comfort in feeling supported through the music you love. The clients were singing, clapping, laughing, and dancing—they even explained the significance of the songs to their culture. In that same session, I was also able to introduce new music, and that same level of comfort and interaction remained consistent for the remainder of the session.