Music Therapy in Virtual Environments

This project is developing a proof-of-concept online virtual reality platform designed to deliver telehealth group singing interventions for people with quadriplegia to improve respiratory function, voice, mood, and social connectedness. We aim to deal with latency effects by utilising hardware and software solutions that enable delivery of real-time uncompressed audio over the internet.

Successful demonstration of this proof-of-concept in this particularly vulnerable group will provide future scope to benefit other groups who are unable to access face-to-face music participation due to physical or geographical constraints.

Music therapist playing guitar and singing whilst wearing virtual reality headset

Publications

Tamplin, J., Loveridge, B., Clarke, K., Li, Y. & Berlowitz, D. (2019). Development and feasibility testing of an online virtual reality platform for delivering therapeutic group singing interventions for people living with spinal cord injury. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. doi: 10.1177/1357633X19828463

Media Stories

2018

AARNet News – VR therapy research transforming perspectives – and improving lives

2017

ABC news story on National Disability Awards nomination

Group of music therapy researchers and participants wearing virtual reality headsets

The Melbourne Newsroom –Music therapy receives National Disability Award nomination

Channel 7 – The Daily Edition (live interview) – MT & VR project 

BBC radio London interview in vTime on MT & VR research project – International interview within virtual reality could be a world first

2016

Channel 7 – The Morning Show – interview about MT & VR research project Screenshot of live television interview with Dr Jeanette Tamplin on Channel 7's The Morning Show

Huffington Post article on MT & VR research project 

Pursuit article on MT & VR research – Spinal patients sing to breathe easy in virtual world