Music Therapy
Music therapy is the evidence-based practice of using music to help people improve communication, social, physical, cognitive and emotional skills by a trained professional.
Music Therapist, Kimberly Sena Moore, explains:
Music therapy first began when musicians were hired to work with the veterans of Would War I and II to help improve their physical and emotional health. Using music to achieve these goals was very successful and led to the establishment of music therapy degree programs throughout the world to properly train students in the areas of music performance, psychology, research and physical well-being.
How does Music Therapy work?
Music is used to help people achieve non-musical goals such as improving communication, social, physical, cognitive and emotional skills. Specific goals are established for each client. Then, a variety of music therapy techniques are utilized to actively engage the client to achieve the goals.
These music therapy techniques may include: instrument playing, singing, movement to music, social instrumental activities, lyric analysis and song writing. All music is tailored toward completing their goal.
Why does Music Therapy work?
Music has been found to affect people in a multitude of ways. It is successful in capturing attention, acting as a cue to begin a movement, engaging the person in speech, releasing an emotional response and motivating others to be an active participant. Music is used to provoke these responses from a client to teach needed personal skills.
