Music Therapy | What it Is and How it Helps

Music therapists, as in medical and paramedical professions, have a rich diversity of approaches and methods, often developed with specific relevance to meet the needs of a certain client population. This book reflects the many components of such diversity, and is a thoroughly comprehensive guide.

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, Revised and Expanded Edition, by Oliver Sacks

Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition. In Musicophilia, he shows us a variety of what he calls "musical misalignments." Among them: a man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of forty-two; an entire group of children with Williams syndrome, who are hypermusical from birth; people with "amusia," to whom a symphony sounds like the clattering of pots and pans; and a man whose memory spans only seven seconds-for everything but music. Illuminating, inspiring, and utterly unforgettable, Musicophilia is Oliver Sacks' latest masterpiece. (from the publisher)

Page updated: December 9, 2012

Music Therapy - What Music Therapy Is and How it Helps

Music and psychology: Music can be a positive force for good mental health, self-esteem and a child's and teen's personality development.

Professional Music Therapy and Associations

What is music therapy?
Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. (American Music Therapy Association definition, 2005)

What do music therapists do?
Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses; design music sessions for individuals and groups based on client needs using music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music; participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, ongoing evaluation, and follow up.

All green links on this page are off-site links from sponsors and funds are used to support the non-profit activities of the AYCNP

Who can benefit from music therapy?
Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer's disease and other aging related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, and acute and chronic pain, including mothers in labor.

Where do music therapists work?
Music therapists work in psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitative facilities, medical hospitals, outpatient clinics, day care treatment centers, agencies serving developmentally disabled persons, community mental health centers, drug and alcohol programs, senior centers, nursing homes, hospice programs, correctional facilities, halfway houses, schools, and private practice. The preceding information on music therapy and music therapists is from the American Music Therapy Association, Inc.(off-site link), Silver Spring, Maryland. www.musictherapy.org/faqs.html#WHAT_IS_MUSIC_THERAPY

Like Art Therapists, Music Therapists are board certified and licensed.

References for Music Psychology pages:

1. Catterall, James S., Richard Chapleau, and John Iwanaga. "Involvement in the Arts and Human Development: General Involvement and Intensive Involvement in Music and Theater Arts." Los Angeles, CA: The Imagination Project at UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, 1999. NELS:88, National Education Longitudinal Survey)

2. Connors, Abigail, (August 2009). Listen! music matters - Seven surprising benefits of music education. NJ Family.

3. Hamman, D. L., Walker, L., (1993). Music Teachers as Role Models for African American Students.Journal of Research in Music Education, Vol. 41, No. 4, 303-314, (1993). DOI: 10.2307/3345506. http://jrm.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/41/4/303

4. Music Education Online. Children's Music Workshop. (Retrieved August 4, 2009). http://www.schoolmusictoday.com/advocacy/benefits.html

5. Ratliff, B., (June 3, 2008). Bo Diddley, Who Gave Rock and Roll His Beat, Dies at 79. New York Times.

6. Robertson, J., (1998). Natural Prozac. San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco.

Music to listen to: (Off-site links)

Pachelbel Canon
Simple Pachelbel Canon Sheet music

Johann Strauss - Emporer's Waltz - Youth Orchestra

Emporer's Waltz Andre Rieu - and ballet.

Mozart - Air on G-String

Air on G-String - Single Acoustic Classical Guitar

Air on G-String Sheet Music

Beautiful CD Music Store for Youth, Children, Expectant Mothers

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