Live Music for Critically Ill Children

Children will be offered live-music therapy for 3 consecutive sessions, 30 minute sessions in which 10 to 20 minutes of music is provided by a trained music therapist in the presence of parents. In the sessions, the music therapist will make a tailored plan for each child to avoid overstimulation, which includes choosing the appropriate instrument, determining the child's behavioural state, and continuously monitoring the child (i.e., looking for signs of relaxation but also of overstimulation such as tension, crying movements, hiccups, yawning or frowning). The music therapist will collaborate with parents in constructing a program for the sessions. Parents will be actively involved in the sessions, to stimulate their role as caregiver and empower them. The contents of the live-music is thus constantly evaluated and adapted for the individual child.