Jodie Bloska

Courses taught:

• Music Therapy (Postgraduate)

Jodie is Music Therapist and Clinical Research Fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research. She is a qualified music therapist, with experience of working with adults with neurodisabilities and dementia. As part of her role at CIMTR, she is engaged in music therapy research, clinical work, teaching and clinical supervision.

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[email protected]

Background

Jodie studied music cognition and psychology at McMaster University in Canada before completing her music therapy training at Anglia Ruskin University in 2015. Her MA research investigated the benefits of utilising music therapy within physical rehabilitation programmes for people recovering from acquired brain injuries. Since qualifying, she has worked as a music therapist and researcher with people living with dementia and with adults in neuro-rehabilitation. Most recently, Jodie has worked on two international randomised controlled trials, HOMESIDE and MIDDEL, exploring the effectiveness of music interventions for people living with dementia in the community and in care homes.

Jodie is currently undertaking her PhD as part of the HOMESIDE study, investigating how using shared music activities at home, with support from a qualified music therapist, might support relationships between people with dementia and their family caregivers. Her PhD research utilises mixed-methods, including quantitative outcomes to determine the effectiveness of the HOMESIDE music intervention for relationship quality, alongside a series of case studies exploring experiences of social connectedness during shared music and reading activities. The case studies also use social neuroscience methods to examine the neural dynamics of emotional processing during moments of social connectedness within shared music activities.

Research interests

• Music therapy
• Dementia
• Neurodisability
• Neurorehabilitation
• Music psychology
• Social neuroscience

Teaching

Jodie currently teaches on the following modules:

• Clinical Placements and Experiential Development (MA Music Therapy)
• MA Therapies Major Project (MA Music Therapy, MA Dramatherapy)

Qualifications

• MA Music Therapy, Anglia Ruskin University
• Honours BMus in Music Cognition, McMaster University

Memberships, editorial boards

• Registered Music Therapist, Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Associate Fellow, The Higher Education Academy
• Neurologic Music Therapist, The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy
• Language Consultant, Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy
• Ad hoc reviewer, Nordic Journal of Music Therapy

Selected recent publications

Schneider, J., Ablewhite, J., Bloska, J., Gold, C., Orrell, M., Dowson, B., McArdle, C., Tooth, H., Trevers, S., Narippatta, S.M., Fan, Y., Wake, J.D., Peach, A., Duckworth, B. and Sveinsdottir, V. (2024) ‘Music in care home settings: Guidelines for implementation and evaluation based on the Music Interventions for depression and dementia in ELderly care (MIDDEL) study in the UK’, The Journal of Long Term Care Administration, pp. 252–262.

Bloska, J., Crabtree, S., Wollersberger, N., Mitchell, O., Coles, J., Halsey, C., Parry, G., Stewart, R., Thacker, S., Thacker, M., Claydon-Mueller, L., Winnard, Y., McMahon, K., Petrowitz, C., Smrokowska-Reichmann, A., van Doorn, B., Baker, F.A., Blauth, L., Bukowska, A.A., Stensæth, K., Tamplin, J., Wosch, T. and Odell-Miller, H. (2024) ‘Experiences of participant and public involvement in an international randomized controlled trial for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers’, Research Involvement and Engagement, 10(1), p. 43.

Baker, F.A., Pac Soo, V., Bloska, J., Blauth, L., Bukowska, A.A., Flynn, L., Hsu, M.H., Janus, E., Johansson, K., Kvamme, T., Lautenschlager, N., Miller, H., Pool, J., Smrokowska-Reichmann, A., Stensæth, K., Teggelove, K., Warnke, S., Wosch, T., Odell-Miller, H., Lamb, K., Braat, S., Sousa, T.V. and Tamplin, J. (2023) 'Home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading interventions for people living with dementia (HOMESIDE trial): an international randomised controlled trial,' EClinicalMedicine, 65(102224), p. 102224.

Maidhof, C., Müller, V., Lartillot, O., Agres, K., Bloska, J., Asano, R., Odell-Miller, H. and Fachner, J. (2023) ‘Intra- and inter-brain coupling and activity dynamics during improvisational music therapy with a person with dementia: an explorative EEG-hyperscanning single case study’, Frontiers in Psychology, 14, p. 1155732.

Bloska, J., Godier-McBard, L., Matthew, M.H.F. and Odell-Miller, H. (2023) Open Arms: Access, barriers and incentive to participation in Military Wives Choirs. Military Wives Choirs.

Smith, L., López Sánchez, G.F., Shin, J.I., Soysal, P., Pizzol, D., Barnett, Y., Kostev, K., Jacob, L., Veronese, N., Butler, L., Odell-Miller, H., Bloska, J., Underwood, B.R. and Koyanagi, A. (2023) ‘Pain and mild cognitive impairment among adults aged 50 years and above residing in low- and middle-income countries’, Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 35(7), pp. 1513–1520.

Baker, F.A., Blauth, L., Bloska, J., Bukowska, A.A., Flynn, L., Hsu, M.-H., Janus, E., Johansson, K., Odell-Miller, H., Miller, H., Petrowitz, C., Pool, J., Stensæth, K., Tamplin, J., Teggelove, K., Wosch, T. and Sousa, T.V. (2023) ‘Recruitment approaches and profiles of consenting family caregivers and people living with dementia: A recruitment study within a trial’, Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 32, p. 101079.

Odell-Miller, H., Blauth, L., Bloska, J., Bukowska, A.A., Clark, I.N., Crabtree, S., Engen, R.B., Knardal, S., Kvamme, T.K., McMahon, K., Petrowitz, C., Smrokowska-Reichmann, A., Stensæth, K., Tamplin, J., Wosch, T., Wollersberger, N. and Baker, F.A. (2022) ‘The HOMESIDE Music Intervention: A Training Protocol for Family Carers of People Living with Dementia’, European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 12(12), pp. 1812–1832.

Thompson, N., Bloska, J., Abington, A., Masterson, A., Whitten, D. and Street, A. (2022) ‘The Feasibility and Acceptability of Neurologic Music Therapy in Subacute Neurorehabilitation and Effects on Patient Mood’, Brain Sciences, 12(4).

Smith, L., Bloska, J., Jacob, L., Barnett, Y., Butler, L., Trott, M., Odell-Miller, H., Veronese, N., Kostev, K., Bettac, E.L., Godier-McBard, L., and Koyanagi, A., 2021. Is loneliness associated with mild cognitive impairment in low- and middle-income countries? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, doi: 10.1002/gps.5524.

Baker, F. A., Bloska, J., Braat, S., Bukowska, A., Clark, I., Hsu, M. H., Kvamme, T., Lautenschlager, N., Lee, Y. C., Smrokowska-Reichmann, A., Sousa, T. V., Stensaeth, K. A., Tamplin, J., Wosch, T. and Odell-Miller, H., 2019. HOMESIDE: Home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading interventions for people living with dementia: protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 9 (11), pp.1-11.

Odell-Miller, H., Bloska, J., Browning, C. and Hannibal, N. (2019). Process and experience of change in the self-perception of women prisoners attending music therapy: the qualitative results of a mixed-methods exploratory study. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy.

Recent presentations and conferences

Odell-Miller, H., Bloska, J. and Stensæth, K. (2024) ‘Home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading interventions for people living with dementia: an international randomised controlled trial (HOMESIDE trial)’, 11th Nordic Music Therapy Conference, Aalborg, Denmark, 26-29 June.

Hsu, M.H., Bloska, J. and Odell-Miller, H. (2024) ‘Home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading interventions for people living with dementia (HOMESIDE): An international randomised controlled trial’, BAMT Conference 2024, Leicester, UK, 17-19 May.

Ablewhite, J., Bloska, J. and Schneider, J. (2023) ‘Implementing an intervention trial in residential care: Lessons for research from the MIDDEL study of music interventions’, 33rd Alzheimer Europe Conference, Helsinki, Finland, 16-18 October.

Bloska, J., Crabtree, S. and Mitchell, O. (2023) ‘Connecting research to lived experiences of dementia: Reflections from an international randomised controlled trial’, 17th World Congress of Music Therapy, Vancouver, Canada, 4-8 July.

Bloska, J. (2023) ‘Measuring connectedness: Investigating experiences of shared music activities between people with dementia and their carers [poster]’, 17th World Congress of Music Therapy, Vancouver, Canada, 4-8 July.

Bloska, J. (2023) ‘Open Arms: Access, barriers and incentives to participation in Military Wives Choirs’, Research Report Launch, Westminster, UK, 5 July.

Bloska, J., Wollersberger, N., Pasqualitto, F., and Hsu, M. (2022) ‘The disturbance of COVID-19: An international survey exploring the impact of the pandemic on the music therapy profession [poster]’, 12th European Music Therapy Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 8-12 June.

Baker et al. (2022) ‘Covid-19: Difficult disturbances or new possibilities? Navigating challenges of implementing an International RCT with people with dementia during a pandemic’, 12th European Music Therapy Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 8-12 June.

Pool et al. (2022) ‘HOMESIDE: The UK experience of recruitment to an online randomised controlled trial for people affected by dementia’, 12th European Music Therapy Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 8-12 June.

Odell-Miller, H., Hsu, M.H., Pool, J., Bloska, J., Crabtree, S. and Wollersberger, N. (2021) ‘Homeside: Partnership in home-based dementia care, and research [roundtable]’, BAMT Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, 9-11 April.

Chadder, N., Bloska, J., Abington, A., Masterson, A., Whitten, D. and Street, A. (2020) ‘The feasibility and acceptability of neurologic music therapy in subacute neurorehabilitation and mood outcomes for patients [poster]’, UK Stroke Forum, Virtual Conference, 7-9 December.

Bolton, L., Festa, L., Bloska, J. and Woodward, T., 2018. Music therapy in dementia care settings: How can familiar songs be used to regulate emotions for people with dementia? Workshop at BAMT Conference 2018, London, UK, 18 February 2018.

Webber, J., Bolton, L., Woodward, T. and Festa, L., 2017. MHA practice model: How can music and familiar songs be used to regulate emotions for people with dementia? Workshop at Creative Dementia Arts Network Expert Seminar, Wellcome Trust, London, UK, 20 November 2017.

Media experience

• Radio Report, HOMESIDE study, Cambridge105 News, January 2022
• Radio report, HOMESIDE study, Heart FM News, December 2021
• Radio report, HOMESIDE study, LBC News, December 2021
• Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure, BBC One, May 2019
• News Report, Music Therapy in Neurorehabilitation, BBC Look East, May 2019