Thesis
Felt & heard: clinical applications of bass playing in acute inpatient rehabilitation
Master of Arts (M.A.), Drexel University
Jun 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011372
Abstract
Despite the foundational role bass and low-frequency instruments play within the music of many cultures and the growing interest from scholars exploring how low-frequency sound and bass-heavy rhythmic music affects the mind, body, and soul, bass playing remains a largely untapped resource in the music therapy literature. This culminating project aims to bridge the gap of knowledge between music therapy literature, current clinical practice, and the interdisciplinary research from the fields of music psychology, musicology, neurology, adaptive technology, and other related therapies by creating a practice field guide for clinicians looking to incorporate bass playing into their practice. Structured like a clinician's manual, this informed practice approach synthesizes the author's lived experience utilizing bass playing in their internship at an acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital with the available research on bass playing, low-frequency sound to address the needs of patients in an acute rehabilitation hospital. The project itself is organized into four sections 1) bass playing fundamentals for music therapists, 2) the therapeutic applications of the bass's vibroacoustic qualities, 3) the therapeutic applications of the bass's role in groove heavy music, and 4) the therapeutic applications of patients playing the bass and crafting bass sounds. This project concludes that live bass playing the application of its low-frequency sounds are positively indicated to help patients with physical, cognitive, social, and emotional goals, including pain management, relaxation, inspiration of movement, cultural validation, and emotional adjustment after traumatic illness or injury. It also provides recommendations for future research and literature based on the findings of this project.
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Details
- Title
- Felt & heard
- Creators
- Benjamin Magaziner Sheppard - Drexel University, Creative Arts Therapies
- Contributors
- Florence Ierardi (Advisor) - Drexel University, Creative Arts Therapies
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University
- Number of pages
- vi, 61 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Creative Arts Therapies; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022182071204721