Transformational Design Model (TDM)™

The Transformational Design Model (TDM)™ is the clinical model that guides the selection of NMT™ technique based on client diagnostics, functional assessment, client long-term goals and short-term objectives, and the understanding of overlapping parallel mechanisms between the non-musical behaviour and the musical translation. In addition to the translation of the non-musical task or exercise into a musical exercise, the therapist must carefully consider the transfer of the musical behaviour out of the music and back into the client’s everyday life. This can also be measured through standardized functional assessment.

Transformational Design Model (TDM)™

Step 1: Assessment It is essential for the NMT™ therapist to understand the diagnostics of their clients as well as using specific function based standardized testing to inform treatment and provide benchmarks for measuring goal progress.

Step 2: Goals/Objectives The NMT™ therapist identifies specific goals and objective which will be addressed in their NMT interventions. These should be non-musical in nature and address both the long-term and short-term aims of therapy.

Step 3: Nonmusical exercise/stimulus The therapist identifies a nonmusical exercise, stimulus, or functional behavior that will be translated into a musical exercise rooted in the shared structures and mechanisms of the non-musical and musical behavior.

Step 4: Therapeutic Music Exercise The therapist translates the non-musical exercise identified in step 3 into a musical exercise informed by the diagnostics and functional goal of the client; as well as a logical application of the most relevant perceptual properties of music based on applied music neuroscience research and shared mechanisms.

Step 5: Reassessment In this step of the therapy process, the therapist will reassess the client’s to measure progress and make any necessary changes to the treatment plan. The timeframe for reassessment may vary depending on the population, types of goals, and expected outcomes.

Step 6: Transformation/Transfer Because most goals and objectives that are addressed with clients are not musical, step 6 is an essential part of the TDM process to ensure that the client understands the translation of the musical behavior and progress is transferred into their everyday life outside of the music.