Cacophonies of discord,moments of harmony: Managing multiple needs in short-term music therapy with triplets and their mother

This article explores some of the issues arising from short-term music therapy with a family of triplets, one of whom had special needs. Starved of nutrition in the womb by her two siblings, Emma was born with restricted growth and medical complications. She spent her first year in hospital, while her brother and sister grew up at home. Emma was referred to music therapy at the age of 2; however, it proved difficult to see her without her siblings. It quickly became apparent that there were many needs within the family: those of Emma, the two siblings and of their mother. Emma’s needs could easily be side-lined by her more dominant siblings. Her mother was struggling to cope with all three children together, and concerned that she had not fully bonded with Emma. Various strategies were used in the family music therapy to contain these multiple needs and attempt to meet some of them.