What is (and isn't) Music Therapy

How is music therapy different from music lessons? It’s one of the questions I get asked a lot.

Music lessons teach someone how to play a musical instrument, read music, become a better vocalists or musician. While these are wonderful skills to learn, they are not the skills that music therapy addresses.

The American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as:

“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.”

Senator Harry Reid, who was instrumental in helping music therapy get covered by Medicare under some settings, puts it this way:

"Music therapy is much more complicated than playing records in nursing homes. Therapists are trained in psychology, group interaction, and the special needs of the elderly."

Let’s unpack that a little.

Music therapy can address many client needs, including physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Just like an occupational or physical therapist, the music therapist assesses the strengths and needs of each client to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Treatment activities may include creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. These can be done in a group or individual session, or in co-treatment with other therapies.

Through music therapy, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. For example, music therapy was an integral part of Congresswoman Gabby Gifford’s rehabilitation to regain her speech after surviving a bullet wound to her brain. It can help children with autism improve their communication abilities. Music therapists work with adults with Parkinson’s disease to improve motor function and older adults to lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s. Music therapy can reduce physical pain and provide emotional support for clients and their families.

The idea of music as therapy has been around for centuries, and the first academic program for music therapists was begun in 1944. All music therapists hold at least a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and are certified through the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

"Music therapy, to me, is music performance without the ego. It’s not about entertainment as much as its about empathizing. If you can use music to slip past the pain and gather insight into the workings of someone else’s mind, you can begin to fix a problem. " – Jodi Picoult, bestselling author

"Simply put, music can heal people." – Sen. Harry Reid

In upcoming blogs, I will talk more about the specific benefits of music therapy and the research behind it, what a typical Maine Music & Health session may look like, our intake process, when and how insurance may cover therapy, and more.

Have specific questions you’d like answered?

Send me an email at kate@mainemusicandhealth.com.

Does music therapy sound like it’s a fit for you or someone you care for?

Sign up to schedule an intake or consultation call here.