MUSIC THERAPY
Learn About Music Therapy and What It Can Do
MUSIC THERAPY
What is music therapy?
Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. Music therapy treatment is done by credentialed professionals who use evidence-based music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within the context of a therapeutic relationship.
Music therapy is different from music lessons in that the outcomes are not the same. Music therapy focuses on non-musical goals, while music lessons focus only only musical goals. While in a music lesson, an individual will learn to play a specific instrument, music therapy sessions will focus on a much broader range of goals. Music therapy interventions can be designed to promote wellness, alleviate pain, improve communication, express feelings, improve sustained attention and so much more!
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For more information about music therapy, you may visit musictherapy.org.
MUSIC THERAPISTS
Who are music therapists and how are they different from music teachers and musicians?
Music therapists are credentialed professionals who have completed a 4-5 year degree program where they receive training in music, clinical skills, psychology, development and therapeutic approaches. They are required to complete 1200 hours of clinical experience before they are eligible to sit for national certification exam, which provides them the title of a board certified music therapist (MT-BC).
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Music therapists do much more than teach music or perform for an audience. Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses. They then design music sessions for individuals and groups based on client needs using research-based interventions such as music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music. They constantly re-evaluate treatment outcomes as they participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, ongoing evaluation, and follow up. Music therapists adapt to meet each clients' needs as they creatively manipulate the modality of music to provide a safe space for individuals to grow.
POPULATIONS SERVED
Who can benefit from music therapy?
Since music is an important part of the human experience, it can be used to affect change throughout a person's life. There is evidenced-based research on the use of music therapy with infants in the NICU, throughout the lifespan, and all the way to adults in hospice. From the very beginning to the very end of life, music can be used as a tool to achieve a variety of goals when it is implemented by a board-certified music therapist.
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Populations that have proven to be especially impacted through the use of music therapy are individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Demetia/Alzheimer's disease, children and adults with mental health challenges, special education, substance abuse, trauma, pain management, and other developmental delays or genetic disorders.
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Follow the links below to read more information about research on Music Therapy and specific populations.
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