What Is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is the specialized use of music to improve or maintain functioning in the following areas: motor, physiological, social/emotional, sensory, communicative, or cognitive functioning. The purpose of music therapy is to help individuals attain and maintain their maximum levels of functioning. This is achieved by addressing the client’s needs and problems through music.

Although music has been used as a healing agent since the times of Aristotle and Plato, the music therapy profession in the United States was established relatively recently in 1950. The first music therapy degree program was founded at Michigan State University in 1944. Music therapy degrees are offered at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Currently, there are approximately 69 colleges and universities offering degrees in music therapy.

The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) is the national organization for music therapists. As of January 2000, there are over 3,800 individuals world-wide who hold current AMTA membership. The following three professional credentials are recognized by AMTA:

• MT-BC (Music therapist-board certified)
• RMT (Registered music therapist)
• CMT (Certified music therapist)

Who Can Benefit?

Any individual with …

• mental health needs
• Alzheimer’s disease
• other age-related conditions
• physical disabilities
• acute and chronic pain
• developmental disabilities
• learning and behavior disorders
• substance abuse problems
• neurlogical disorders
• rehabilitation/gait training

Where Do Music Therapists Work?

• rehabilitation facilities
• medical hospitals
• psychiatric hospitals
• outpatient clinics
• day programs for persons with developmental disabilities
• community mental health centers
• substance abuse programs
• adolescent treatment programs
• nursing homes
• senior centers
• hospice programs
• correctional facilities
• preschools and early intervention programs
• schools
• private practice

What Do Music Therapists Do?

ASSESS physical , social, emotional, and cognitive abilities, as well as communication skills through musical and non-musical assessments.

DESIGN therapeutic music experiences in order to meet individual client needs.

IMPLEMENT specific music techniques in group and individual sessions.

EVALUATE individuals progress and participate in treatment planning, evaluations, and follow up.

Examples of Music Therapy Interventions

• lyric discussion and analysis
• song writing
• music performance and therapeutic instrumental music playing
• music and expressive art
• music and movement
• rhythmic auditory stimulation
• learning through music
• music improvisation (instrumental and vocal) therapeutic singing
• patterned sensory enhancement
• music and imagery
• receptive music listening
• and others