Music Therapy

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of musical interventions to achieve individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship, conducted by a certified professional who has completed an accredited music therapy program. It is an internationally recognized health profession where music serves as the primary medium for achieving therapeutic objectives. The therapeutic application of music for cognitive, sensory, emotional, and motor difficulties has been shown to positively impact brain development and enhance all areas of human growth across all ages.

What Are the Benefits of Music Therapy?

Music therapy is tailored to individual needs, making it suitable for people of all ages—ranging from very young children to the elderly. It can also benefit individuals with a variety of medical conditions and challenges. Research has demonstrated that music therapy can:

Activate brain areas that influence memory, emotions, movement, and decision-making.
Encourage interaction and socialization.
Reduce heart rate and blood pressure.
Relieve muscle tension.
Alleviate anxiety and promote feelings of calm.
Improve communication skills (both verbal and non-verbal) in children and young adults with developmental and/or learning difficulties.
Enhance language and speech development, speech production, and verbal intelligence.
Improve reading and comprehension abilities, planning skills, and phonological memory through systematic musical application.
Affect mood, which in turn can influence motivation, memory, and emotional well-being.
Facilitate better movement function, such as walking, range of motion, endurance, and strength, as well as enhance motor control through the use of musical patterns.

Music therapy sessions are child-led to support autonomy and a sense of control. The therapy focuses on what children can do, rather than the limitations they may experience. A typical session may include some of the following interventions:

Use of familiar songs

Improvisational music creation

Therapeutic singing

Sensory play

Relaxation with music