Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

Based on his study Jungaberle formulated a theory of “the metaphorical circle”:
1) Extramusical structures influence the music experience, when we hear or project
specific qualities from our life world into the music.
2) Intramusical structures (the music experience) have an impact on our life
experience, when we extract or transfer qualities from the music that gives meaning to
our life.
Structures are transferred both ways - through the metaphor. And thus metaphors
provide clients and therapists in improvisational group music therapy with "maps" of
musical experiences.
The specific role of metaphors in BMGIM is discussed in section 3.7.
3.6.4 Three levels of music – or a metaphorical listening to four selections of
baroque music
Bruscia (1998) describes four specific levels of music therapy intervention which are
also linked to the status, training and clinical responsibility of the therapist. He calls
them auxiliary, augmentative, intensive, and primary. Dileo-Maranto (1993) proposes
three levels of clinical practice: supportive, specific, and comprehensive. In this
section three psychological levels of music itself are suggested, in a process of
metaphorical listening referring to the theories of music as analogy and metaphor
described above.
When talking about 'music' in the context of pain management, alleviation of stress or
anxiety, and psychotherapy it is important to be specific. Not all music has the
potential of pain or stress relief. And when music is used in psychotherapy we must
differentiate. Music may labelled supportive, regenerative and so on. However, it
would be sad if the music of Mozart, Mahler, Messiaën, Mendelssohn or Miles Davis
should be considered primarily on the basis of their medical or psychotherapeutical
potential, and not on their experiential, existential and aesthetic qualities. Music can
be arousing, hypnotic, anxiety provoking, mind healing or shattering, a source of
inspiration or spiritual vision – it is like a magic mirror enabling a listener, be it a
client or a therapist, to find answers to deep existential questions. No clear distinction
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