Intervention
Infants and parents in the NICU MT group received 3 individual MT sessions per week throughout hospitalization, with maximum 27 sessions, lasting approximately 30 minutes each (with time in active music making depending upon infant tolerance). MT consisted of parent-led, infant-directed singing; our use of the concept denoted a reciprocal process wherein infants through their communicative behavior actively direct parents’ use of voice, while parents then direct their singing to infant responses in the moment. Music therapists collaborated with parents to interpret subtle infant communicative cues and supported parents’ attuned vocal responses to such. Cautious use of sung or toned voice was tailored to infant postmenstrual age and readiness to receive stimulation, and matched to infant breathing patterns, facial expressions, and movements to promote quiet alert state or sleep, depending upon the infant’s needs. Parental voice was positioned as a resource,