Neurologic Music Therapy Breakdown®: VIT™

Welcome back to our NMT™ breakdown! When you last joined us, we went in-depth regarding Musical Mnemonics Training® or MMT™. We will next be focusing on communication skills. The technique we will be elaborating on is Vocal Intonation Therapy® or VIT™.

Vocal Intonation Therapy VIT™:

What is VIT™?

VIT™ is the use of intoned phrases simulating the prosody, inflection, and pacing of normal speech. This is done through vocal exercises which train all aspects of voice control, including: inflection, pitch, breath control, timbre, and dynamics. An example would be to sing a five-note scale and gradually move the starting pitch up or down by half steps with a child who has a limited pitch range in their normal speaking voice. This exercise could be further expanded by adding a functional sentence, i.e., “Let’s go out and play” (Thaut 2005).

What are some real-life applications?

This technique might come across as teaching someone how to sing—and while singing is the delivery method, it is definitely not the ultimate goal!

Components of speech can be directly targeted through song because speaking and singing share several of the same distinct neural pathways. Real-life applications include:

• Volume control: Learning to speak at an appropriate loudness.

• Intonation: Providing the right vocal inflection to accurately convey meaning.

• Breath support: Developing the physical control needed for clear, sustainable speech quality.

From Choir Warm-Ups to Clinical Therapy

Each of these qualities is crucial in singing. If you have ever been in a choir, you probably remember the silly vocal warm-ups your director made you do. They weren’t just to fill time; they had a specific purpose! While a choir uses them to blend and increase the sound of the ensemble, Music Therapy uses them to improve the quality of an individual's everyday speech. In individuals with speech delays or disorders, multiple parts of the speaking process can be impacted. When vocal intonation is affected, a client might exhibit a few specific patterns:

• Speaking words and phrases on a single, monotonous pitch.

• Using linguistically inappropriate pitch patterns.

• Emphasizing incorrectly stressed syllables.

Try a Quick Experiment

To see how much pitch matters in daily life, speak this sentence aloud:

"I would like to go to the park."

Did the pitch of your voice change from start to finish? Socially and linguistically, your voice likely began at a slightly elevated pitch, moved downward, and ended the sentence lower than it started.

Now, speak this question aloud:

"Can we go to the park?"

How was it different? This time, your voice likely began on a lower pitch, moving upward toward the end of the question. These pitch shifts are natural characteristics of the English language that we use constantly, even when we aren't aware of them.

How Vocal Intonation Therapy® Helps

When utilizing Vocal Intonation Therapy®, Neurologic Music Therapists® use songs that mirror these exact linguistic rules. If a song containing the specific statement or question a client is practicing doesn't already exist, we don't let that stop us; we will custom-write a song tailored specifically to that sentence!

What does this look like in Neurologic Music Therapy®?

In Music Therapy, this technique can take many forms: sitting at a piano, engaging in play-based activities, participating in a group session, and so much more. As Music Therapists, we constantly adapt to fit the unique needs of the individuals we work with. Some clients thrive with a significant amount of structure, while others need a more flexible approach. No two people are the same, and no two therapy sessions are either!

Here are two common scenarios of how Vocal Intonation Therapy (VIT™) is applied in individual sessions:

Scenario 1: Managing Volume Control (“Inside” vs. “Outside” Voices)

Sometimes, the goal of VIT™ is to work on the volume level of a client's speech. For example, an individual might consistently speak in a loud, "outside voice," which can be disruptive or inappropriate in indoor environments.

In Music Therapy, we can address this by targeting a phrase the client uses frequently in daily life. Imagine a child who always yells for help removing their shoes when they get home, even if their parent is standing right next to them.

• The Musical Pivot: We take that exact phrase—"Can you help me with my shoes?"—and turn it into a musical "vocal warm-up."

• The Real-Life Application: By practicing this new musical phrase, we can gradually alter the musical dynamics (volume), practicing loud versus soft. This introduces the individual to what an appropriate volume feels and sounds like for that specific situation.

Scenario 2: Expanding a Monotonous Vocal Range

Another situation where VIT™ is highly effective is for an individual with a limited vocal range who speaks in a flat, monotonous tone.

To address this, a music therapist will first meet the client exactly where they are, using the pitch they are already comfortable speaking at as a baseline.

• The Musical Pivot: From that starting pitch, the therapist will slowly vary the notes in small, incremental steps to gently stretch and broaden the individual’s vocal range.

• The Real-Life Application: This exercise can be practiced using simple vowel sounds or expanded into full, functional phrases, helping the client naturally adopt more expressive inflection in their everyday speech.

Communication, Not Stardom

We’re not looking for the next pop star; our goal is simply to help individuals communicate in meaningful, appropriate, and functional ways.

Stay tuned for more information about the various Neurologic Music Therapy® techniques! We also have example videos on our social media pages to provide a broader understanding of how these techniques look in action—be sure to check them out!

Take the Next Step with Us!

Are you or a loved one looking to improve speech clarity, volume control, or vocal expression? Music therapy could be the key to unlocking more confident, functional communication.

We tailor every session to meet the unique needs and goals of our clients. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an initial consultation. Let’s work together to make communication meaningful!