What is music therapy?

The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) definition states: 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 (AMTA, 2005).

From a music therapist’s perspective: “We use music to help clients reach non-musical goals. Through the use of instruments, active music making, movement, relaxation, and preferred music, music therapists address cognitive, social-emotional, and physical goals while clients are enjoying musical interventions and therapeutically progressing.”

What goals do you work on in sessions?

Music therapists address a wide array of goals in the communicative, social-emotional, physical, educational, and cognitive domains. Music therapists may have goals addressing skills related to: self-advocacy, self-expression, verbalizations, purposeful communication, initiation, greetings/interactions, self-regulation, de-escalation, behaviors, aggression, group engagement, peer-interaction, self-esteem, social language, mobility, deep breathing, stamina, fine motor movements, gross motor movements, pain management, reading comprehension, sight words, math concepts, early learning, attention to task, memory, focus, turn taking, impulse control, and flexible thinking.

Why does music work?

Music is naturally therapeutic, engaging, and motivating, and using music to help an individual reach goals is not only assisting their therapeutic progress on individual goals, it is also simultaneously providing a deeper connection to the client’s world. Music is often a modality that certain clients will respond to more than others, and sometimes, music is the only modality clients will respond to. Music has a deeply calming, bonding, and physiological effect, improving not only progress on goals, but the client’s quality of life, self-esteem, and self-expression.

Who does music therapy benefit?

Music therapy benefits a large array of individuals including, (but not limited to), individuals within Special Education (including multiple disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and Down syndrome), individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), individuals in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), individuals in Mental/Behavioral health settings, and individuals with Alzheimer’s.

Is music therapy considered a “related Service” in special education?

Yes, music therapy is considered a related service in majority of special education settings, and many music therapists are employed by public school districts to provide services to work on educational, cognitive, physical, or social-emotional goals. Often music therapists who work in these settings work closely with an Individual Education Program (IEP) team.

What does it mean to be “board-certified”?

Music therapists must complete the necessary steps to become a board-certified music therapist (this is one of the main compenents that sets us apart from a volunteer musician, and ensures best practices in the field). Students who complete one of the approved college music therapy curricula (including a 6-9 month internship) are then eligible to sit for the national examination offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Music therapists who successfully complete the independently administered examination hold the music therapist-board certified credential (MT-BC).

Information found at: musictherapy.org (AMTA Website)