Which of the following is NOT a NICU music therapy intervention listed?

• A. Improvising with the infant
• B. Entrainment
• C. Lyric analysis
• D. None of the above

Answer: (C)

In NICU music therapy, interventions center on nonverbal, relational musical interactions that help regulate the infant and support development. Improvising with the infant is a direct, dynamic collaboration where the therapist and baby co-create sounds in the moment, adapting to the infant’s state. Entrainment involves guiding and aligning the infant’s rhythms—like breathing and heart rate—through musical cues to promote stabilization and calm. Lyric analysis, however, is a cognitive, language-based activity that focuses on interpreting song lyrics to explore thoughts and feelings, which isn’t suited to the NICU environment or to working with neonates. Because lyric analysis isn’t used as a NICU music therapy intervention, that option is the one that does not fit.