What is Music Therapy?
According to the American Music Therapy Association, “music therapy is an established health care profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.” Music therapy can be designed to: promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication and promote physical rehabilitation. Music therapists use music to facilitate changes that are non-musical in nature.
What do Music Therapist do and where do they do it?Music therapists work to improve client’s physical and mental functioning through carefully structured activities such as singing, receptive music listening, playing instruments, composition, moving to music, and music and imagery exercises. While patients may develop their musical skills through treatment, these skills are not the primary focus of the treatment. Clients do not need to have any particular musical ability to benefit from music therapy.
Treatment goals can include: improving communication skills, decreasing inappropriate behavior, improving motor skills, improving academic skills, increasing attention span, strengthening social skills, pain management and stress relief.
Music therapists work with people with: mental health disorders, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and other age related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities and acute and chronic pain. Music therapists work in hospitals, nursing facilities, educational institutions, treatment centers, hospice programs, group homes, correctional facilities and in private practice.
When did Music Therapy become part of modern medical practice?The idea of music as a healing influence dates back thousands of years. In modern times, health care professionals treating soldiers wounded during World War I and World War II noticed their patients’ positive physical and emotional responses to the music volunteers played for them while they were recuperating in Veteran’s hospitals. Doctors and nurses requested their hospitals hire musicians to assist with patient care and recovery. Music therapy emerged as a profession in the United States in1950 with the establishment of the National Association for Music Therapy (now a part of the American Music Therapy Association).
Interested in a career as a Music Therapist?Interested in pursuing a career as a music therapist?
The American Music Therapy Association is a good place to start your research. Music therapists hold a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. Master’s and doctoral degree programs are also available in the United States.
~ Amanda Miller
