Patsy Tan

Patsy Tan

Elder Conservatorium of Music

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

I am a United States of America board-certified and Australian registered music therapist with more than 25 years experience in healthcare and educational settings in the United States, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia. I have a good track record as a clinician, clinical supervisor, researcher and educator. I was a Senior Music Therapist at the Singapore General Hospital before my relocation to Adelaide. I pioneered medical music therapy in Singapore and established the first music therapy program specially designed for children with cochlear implants in SE Asia. For the past 11 years before my relocation to Adelaide, I worked closely with Neuro-rehabilitation department providing music therapy services to patients with stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease as well as those in Intensive Care Unit, General Medicine, Burns, Heart and Lung Transplant, Renal, Oncology and Geriatric Medicine at the Singapore General Hospital. I was involved in clinical research and also provided supervision to music therapy interns. Prior to my relocation to Singapore in 2005, I was working in the United States as a Music Therapist in both acute and long term care medical settings as well as aged care. I am currently a full-time clinician and researcher at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

I welcome inquires from MBBS, Masters and PhD students  interested in conducting research related to the effectiveness of music therapy interventions on the physiological, psychological and emotional well-being of patients in acute medical setting.

My projects include:

  • Looking at the Effects of Music Therapy Intervention in General Medicine ward at the Royal Adelaide Hospital 

This study looked at the effects of music therapy on the perception of pain, anxiety, depression and stress of patients in the general medicine wards at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. This project was funded by a grant from The Hospital Research Foundation as well as a collaboration between University of Adelaide Elder Conservatorium of Music and the Centre for Creative Health at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.  The study has been completed and published.

  • Pioneering Music Therapy Programs at the Royal Adelaide Hospital

Music therapy is relatively new in South Australia.  The Royal Adelaide Hospital has never had music therapy as part of their Allied Health programs.  Through the collaboration between the Centre for Creative Health at the RAH and the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide, I pioneered music therapy programs in South Australia largest acute medical facility in October 2018. By the end of 2019, I was able to justify for another full-time music therapist position with the support from THRF. To date, I have provided music therapy interventions to patients in General Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Neuro-rehabilitation/Neurology, Cardiology, Burns, Orthopaedic, Plastic Surgery, Oncology and ICU.  I have also started placement program for music therapy students currently doing their Master of Music Therapy Program at the University of Melbourne.

  • Research under Exploration

I have a special interest in exploring the use technology such as artificial intelligence and Virtual Reality for music therapy interventions in acute and community settings. I have a long term collaborative research relationship with Professor Ye Wang at the National University of Singapore Computer Science Department where we work on developing computer technology for music therapy. My other areas of interest include Aboriginal health, functional well-being of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients as well as what is the experience of music therapy for patients, caregivers and staff involved in Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) which is a relatively new phenomenon in Australia

 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2019 - 2020 Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2018 - ongoing Visiting Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2018 - ongoing Permanent Full -time Music Therapist (Ongoing) Royal Adelaide Hospital
    2017 - 2018 Music Therapist My Therapy House ( Early Intervention), Adelaide
    2013 - 2018 Honorary Fellow University of Melbourne
    2011 - 2016 Music Educator/Music Therapist Canossian Schools for Hearing Impaired
    2005 - 2016 Senior Music Therapist Singapore General Hospital
    2005 - 2007 Auditory Verbal Therapist Singapore General Hospital
    2004 - 2005 Head of International Programs KLC International Institute (Former KLC School of Education)
    2000 - 2002 Music Therapist Ebenezer Hall, Minnesota USA
    1998 - 1999 Lecturer National Hsinchu Teachers College, Taiwan
    1996 - 1998 Music Therapist, Alzheimer's Program Coordinator Maplewood Good Samaritan Center, Minnesota USA
    1994 - 1996 Music Therapy Assistant University Good Samaritan Center, Minnesota USA

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2012 Research Award Best Research Poster Award at The International Association for Music and Medicine Conference Chulalongkorn University Thailand -
    2007 Recognition Teams Up! The best clinical team members in providing care to patients in ENT Centre Singapore General Hospital Singapore -

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    Chinese (Cantonese) Can speak and understand spoken
    Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write and speak
    English Can read, write, speak and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2000 - 2003 University of Minnesota United States Doctor of Philosophy (Music Therapy)
    1994 - 1997 University of Minnesota United States Master of Arts (Music Therapy/Music Education)
    1992 - 1994 University of Illinois United States Master of Music (Music Theory)
    1989 - 1992 Ohio University United States Bachelor of Music with summa cum laude (Music Theory & Composition)

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2016 RMT Registered Music Therapist Australia
    2008 NMT Certified Neurologic Music Therapist United States
    2008 NICU-MT Certified Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Music Therapist United States
    2002 MT-BC Board Certified Music Therapist United States
    1997 RMT (USA) Registered Music Therapist United States

  • Research Interests
    Alternative Medicine Complementary Medicine Creative Arts Music Therapy

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2020 Tan, P., Lester, L. H., & Lin, A. M. (2020). Music therapy treatments in an inpatient setting—A randomized pilot study. Arts in Psychotherapy, 69, 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS4
    2017 Leow, M., Low, M., Loi, C., Tan, P., & Tay, S. (2017). Development of a Music Therapy Program for Healthy Elderly in the Community: A Pilot Evaluation Feasibility and Acceptability. Music and Medicine, 9(4), Online.
    2014 Kwan, M., Feng, N., Chiang, C., Loi, H., Lee, E., Spears, A., . . . Ruyters-Lim, A. (2014). Developing Music Therapy as a Professional Allied Healthcare Discipline: The Task Ahead for the Association for Music Therapy, Singapore. Music and Medicine, 6(1), 25-30.
    2014 Tan, P., Spears, A., Kwan, M., & Chiang, H. (2014). Music Therapy at SingHealth. Music and Medicine, 6(1), 31-39.
    2012 Ng, W., Zhou, Y., Tan, P., & Wang, Y. (2012). Using the MOGCLASS in Group Music Therapy With Individuals With Muscular Dystrophy: A Pilot Study. Music and Medicine, 4(4), 199-204.
    DOI
    2009 Tan, P. L. (2009). Music Therapy in the Hospital Setting: A Brief Overview. KK Hospital Review.
    2004 Tan, L. P. (2004). The Effects of Background Music on Quality of Sleep in Elementary School Children. Journal of Music Therapy, 41(2), 128-150.
    DOI
    - Tan, P., & Wang Feng, N. (n.d.). The Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology by Hallam, S., Cross, I., & Thaut, M. . Music and Medicine, 9(1), 64.
    DOI

  • Books
    Year Citation
    2017 Tan, P., Baltutis, D., Cummings, A., & Herbert, K. (2017). Moo Baa Oink- a series of 12 books about animals performing different actions to help children learn language concepts through music and play..

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2012 Zhou, Y. S., Wang, Y., Sim, K. C., & Tan, P. (2012). MOGAT: Mobile Games with Auditory Training for Children with Cochlear Implants. In Proceedings of the international conference on Multimedia (MM '12). New York USA.

  • Recorded/Rendered Creative Works
    Year Citation
    2001 Authors: Gail B, Harris D, Tan P, Chen L, Hsieh C, Western M. Title: Sing & Speak: Ms. Lola’s Our Day at School 1. Description: N/A. Extent: 1 CD.

  • Theses
    Year Citation
    2003 Tan, P. L. (2003). The effects of background music on quality of sleep in elementary school children. (PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota).
    1997 Tan, P. L. (1997). Case studies on the effects of rhythmic performance versus sing along on the wandering behavior of Alzheimer’s disease patients. (Master's Thesis, University of Minnesota).
    1994 Tan, P. L. (1994). Problems in strophic song writing as exemplified in seven musical settings to Goethe’s Kennst Du Das Land. (Master's Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).

 

Date Project Name Investigator(s) Funding Body Amount
2018-2019 Music Therapy in An Inpatient Setting Patsy Tan, Ye Wang The Hospital Research Foundation  $118,469
2012-2016 The Effects of Therapeutic Instrumental Music Performance in Group Therapy to Improve Upper Limb Function, Attention and Motivation of Patients in Rehabilitation Setting Patsy Tan, Yee-Sien Ng, Yi Chiong,Christal Chiang, Natalie Chew, Jessica Tan SingHealth Research Grant, Singapore $40,580
2011-2016 Music Therapy for Hearing Impaired Children from Needy Families Patsy Tan SingHealth Foundation, Singapore $100,000

 

Year Course

Course Level/Code

 Institution Country
2017 - 2020

Music, Health and Well-being. Course terminated due to Covid-19 restrictions

 Level 3 MUSGEN 3011 University of Adelaide Australia
2006-2016

Special Topics In Introduction to Music Therapy Course:

* Music Therapy with Hearing Impaired Children

* Music Therapy in Rehabilitation

 Level 3 Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Singapore
2016 The Role of Music Therapy and Importance of Music to Auditory, Speech and Language Development of Hearing Impaired Children in Aural/Oral Habilitation Post-graduate workshop for Music Therapists and Teachers International Association for Music and Medicine Conference in Beijing China
2014 The Role of Music Therapy and Importance of Music to Auditory, Speech and Language Development of Hearing Impaired Children in Aural/Oral Habilitation Post-graduate workshop for Music Therapists and Parents Mukogawa Women's University Japan
2008 Music Therapy Techniques in Auditory, Speech and Language Habilitation of Children with Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants Post-graduate:  Two-Day Workshop for ENT staff and  Lohguanlye Specialist Centre in Penang Malaysia
2004 Music and Second Language Acquisition in Early Childhood Level 1 KLC International Institute SIngapore
1998 Music Therapy in Special Education Settings Level 3 National Hsinchu Teachers' College Taiwan
         

 

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - 2023 External Supervisor Clinical Placement: Music Therapy in medical setting Royal Adelaide Hospital University of Melbourne Master Full Time Jarran Zen
    2020 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Cerebral Palsy and the Sound of Music Therapy (Students won silver award in 2020 Florey Critical Appraisal Award Competition) University of Adelaide MBBS Other Full Time Tegan Schellenbery-Beaver; Laura Kenyon; Daniel Munro'Janna Zwijnenburg
    2020 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Active Music Therapy and its Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis Rehabilitation University of Adelaide MBBS Other Full Time Tegan Schellenberg-Beaver; Laura Kenyon; Daniel Munro;Janna Zwijnenburg
    2019 - ongoing External Supervisor Clinical Placement: Development of Music Therapy Programs in Cardiology Ward at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Royal Adelaide Hospital University of Melbourne Music Therapy Master Full Time Gerard Goh
    2019 - 2019 External Supervisor Music Therapy Clinical Placement Royal Adelaide Hospital University of Melbourne Music Therapy Master Full Time John Lattin
    2011 - 2012 External Supervisor Clinical Placement:Music Therapy As An Intervention to Improve Communication Skill for a Child ith Cochlear Implant Singapore General Hospital University of Melbourne Music Therapy Master Full Time Mui Keng Tan
    2011 - 2012 External Supervisor Clinical Placement: Music Therapy in Neuro-Rehabilitation Singapore General Hospital University of Melbourne Music Therapy Master Full Time Evelyn Lee

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2009 - ongoing Co-Founder Board of Directors International Association for Music and Medicine United States
    2007 - 2017 Co-Founder Founding Member Association for Music Therapy, Singapore Singapore

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2019 - 2020 Member Scientific Committee 6th International Association for Music and Medicine Conference United States
    2013 - 2014 Member Scientific Committee 3rd IAMM Conference in Toronto Canada
    2009 - 2009 Representative National Advisor Panel Committee Asian Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences Singapore

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2014 - ongoing Member Australian Music Therapy Association Australia
    2013 - ongoing Co-Founder International Association for Music and Medicine United States
    1994 - ongoing Member American Music Therapy Association United States

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2013 - ongoing Editor Music and Medicine International Association for Music and Medicine United States
    2011 - 2012 Editor Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare Singapore General Hospital Singapore

  • Presentation
    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2021 - 2021 Music Therapy Treatments in an Inpatient Setting Music Therapy Forum "Inspirational Steps" Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services and Ewha Women's University United Arab Emirates
    2018 - 2018 Medical Music Therapy: Research and Practice 57th Australian Society for Medical Research University of Adelaide Australia
    2016 - 2016 Difficulties and Challenges in the development of medical music therapy in multicultural Singapore (Invited Speaker) 4th International Association for Music and Medicine, Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing China
    2015 - 2015 Development of Music Therapy Program In Hearing Habilitation and Neuro-Rehabilitation at the Singapore General Hospital. (Keynote Speaker) 12th Chinese Music Therapy Association Research and Academic Conference on “Music in Neurological Rehabilitation” Wuxi, China Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing China
    2014 - 2014 The Effects of Rhythmic Stimulation to Improve Upper Limb Functions and Mood of Stroke Patients in Inpatient Rehabilitation 3rd International Association for Music and Medicine, Toronto Canada University of Toronto Canada
    2014 - 2014 Effects of Music Therapy on Mood, Motivation and Participation Post Stroke-A Non-randomized Pilot Study 3rd International Association for Music and Medicine, Toronto Canada University of Toronto Canada
    2014 - 2014 A study on the Reasons of Music Therapy Referral by Doctors in Neuro-Rehabilitation ward in Two Singapore’s Hospitals: Singapore General Hospital and St. Andrew’s Community Hospital 3rd International Association for Music and Medicine, Toronto Canada University of Toronto Canada
    2014 - 2014 Music Therapy Techniques for Children with Hearing Impairment in Aural/Oral Habilitation in Singapore. (Invited Speaker) Inaugural Cultural Exchange and Symposium on Music Therapy and Education for Children with Hearing Impairment Mukogawa Women’s University, Kobe, Japan Japan
    2013 - 2013 Development of Music Therapy Program in Neuro-rehabilitation Settings in Singapore: Its Current Practices and Research. (Invited Speaker) The 25th International Forum on Music Therapy Based on Neurological Evidence, Seoul, Korea Ewha Women's University Korea, Republic of
    2012 - 2012 Terrorism: Music Therapy and Forms of Rehabilitation for Singapore's context International Association for Music and Medicine, Thailand Chulalongkorn University Thailand
    2012 - 2012 Music therapy as an intervention to improve communication skill for a child with Cochlear Implant International Association for Music and Medicine, Thailand Chulalongkorn University Thailand
    2011 - 2011 Using the MOGCLASS in group Music Therapy with individuals with Muscular Dystrophy: A Pilot study XIII World Congress of Music Therapy, Korea Sookmyung Women's University Korea, Republic of
    2010 - 2010 Understanding Music Therapy Intervention for Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients. (Invited Speaker) Singapore National Caregivers Conference Alzheimer's Disease Association Singapore
    2009 - 2009 Music therapy may benefit autistic children, but larger controlled trials needed 6th Annual Meeting of the Health Technology Assessment International Conference, Singapore Singapore General Hospital Singapore
    2009 - 2009 Music Therapy for Hearing Impaired Children In Aural/Oral Habilitation in Singapore International Association for Music and Medicine Inaugural Meeting, Ireland University of Limerick Ireland
    2009 - 2009 Music Therapy Education, Theory and Practice in Singapore Asian Music Therapy Symposium, Tokyo Miyagi University and Japanese Music Therapy Association Japan
    2005 - 2005 Musical Experience of a Pre-Lingual Teenage Cochlear Implant Recipient in Singapore American Music Therapy Association Annual Conference American Music Therapy Association United States
    2005 - 2005 Speech and Language Development of Hearing Impaired Preschoolers Second International Chinese Early Childhood Education Conference, Singapore KLC International Institute and Beijing Normal University Singapore
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