Effect of Vocal Style on Perceived Empathy, Rapport, Patient Engagement, and Competency of Music Therapists

Music therapy is unique due to the integration of music and therapeutic interactions to achieve functional outcomes among clients. The purpose of this study was to investigate if singing with accurate vocal style in a music therapy session affected perceived therapeutic outcomes of a music therapy session, including perceived empathy and competency of music therapists, rapport between patient and therapist, therapeutic value of interactions, and patient engagement. Participants (N = 42) were adults 20 – 81 years old who were part of the music ministry at a local religious organization. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups and viewed a series of four videos depicting a mock music therapy session that included excerpts of a gospel, jazz, pop, and country song either with or without vocal style. Participants rated dependent measures on a five-point Likert-type rating scale. Overall results indicated a significant difference between no style and style genres regardless of therapeutic outcome measure or musical genre. Further results showed significant differences in perceived rapport, therapeutic value, and patient engagement in country, jazz, and gospel genres and perceived competency in the jazz genre. Findings suggested that vocal style is important in music therapy practice as it enhances perceived therapeutic outcomes. Implications for practice are discussed.