Bridging Voices: Parent-Infant Vocal Interactions and Music Therapy Vocal-based Interventions for Emotional, Social and Neurodevelopmental Support in Infancy and Childhood

Introduction: Early parent-infant vocal interactions lay the foundation for an infant's cognitive, emotional, and social development. The theoretical underpinnings of Music therapy (MT), such as Malloch and Trevarthen’s theory of communicative musicality, and Sterns’ developmental theory, highlight the significance of voice and attuned vocal exchanges in promoting emotional regulation, communication, and cognitive processes. Compared to musical instruments, the voice is an innate, naturally accessible primary indicator of both the therapist’s and child’s presence and intentions, offering numerous melodic possibilities. Despite its importance, the vocal aspects of MT in infancy and childhood have not received sufficient attention. Methods: Our presentation aims to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on the vocal domain in infancy and childhood MT. By integrating the clinical and scientific insights of the presenters, who are music therapists, developmental psychologists, and researchers, we will explore the emotional, cognitive, and neurological role of vocal work by linking theory, research, and practice. We will examine how advanced research projects—such as LongSTEP, Neuro LongSTEP, Sounding Relations, Time-A, and M4A—could enhance our understanding of singing and vocal work in therapeutic contexts. Discussion: A special discussion will aim to connect our knowledge gained from infancy research with the data obtained from MT research, bridging developmental theories and music therapy perspectives. Conclusion: Through the presentation of research findings, videos, and clinical examples, we will connect research to practice and offer several perspectives and vocal techniques that could be relevant for researchers and music therapists supporting parent-infant dyads at risk and children with neurodevelopmental conditions.