Putting clinical process into image: A method for visual representation of music therapy sessions

In many instances, music therapists are called upon to analyze their own work or to present it to others. However, the temporality and complexity of clinical-musical events generates challenging difficulties in providing a quick overview of a single session. In the present paper, a methocl to visually map the events that occur in music therapy sessions is proposed, following in the footsteps of authors who have suggested graphical notation as a possible solution to the problem. The Music-therapy Analyzing Partitura(MAP) is used by the therapist to describe what happened in a session and is shared with colleagues who may read and discuss it. The establishment of a standard code is proposed, which is based on known principles of music notation and new simply designed symbols and icons. Two clinical sessions with a group are described and the advantages and disadvantages of the MAP are discussed.