To read Part I of this series of blog posts were we looked into how sound and music work, click here: Music Art Entertainment and Medicine Part I Sound and Music.
To read Part II of this series, where we looked into how music affects us physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, click here: Music Art Entertainment and Medicine Part II Music and Health.
Music has the ability to transcend cultural barriers, reach people of all ages and abilities, and influence the way we think, feel, and move. Because of music’s unique ways to affect us and the significant role it plays in our lives, it has been used as a form of therapy known as music therapy.
Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to accomplish individualized goals and address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of the individual. It can be used in institutional, community, and private settings, including psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitative facilities, medical hospitals, outpatient clinics, day care treatment centres, community mental health centres, drug and alcohol programs, senior centres, nursing homes, hospice programs, correctional facilities, halfway houses, and more, for individuals of various ages and abilities.
The exact qualifications of a music therapist may vary depending on the country, but generally a person must be a graduate of an approved music therapy degree program and complete a supervised internship of 1000 hours or more. A music therapist requires knowledge in psychology, medicine and music. In music therapy, the therapist assesses the emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication and cognitive abilities, preferences and circumstances of the patient, and then designs a treatment plan to meet the client’s needs. Music therapy can be categorized as two different types: active or receptive. Active music therapy can involve singing, playing an instrument or composing music, while receptive music therapy can involve listening to or responding to music with movement such as dance or through analyzing and discussing the music and/or lyrics. Effective therapy sessions usually combine both of the categories.
These approaches help facilitate contact, interaction, self-awareness, learning, self expression, communication, personal development, and physical rehabilitation in the client, and has been proven helpful for acquired brain injury, AIDS, autism and other pervasive development disabilities, critical care, developmental disabilities, emotional traumas, geriatric care, hearing impairments, mental health, neonatal care, obstetrics, oncology, pain control, palliative care, personal growth, physical disabilities, speech and language impairments, substance abuse, teens at risk, victims of abuse, and visual impairment. Sessions can be conducted with a group or individually, and any type of music such as pop, rock, jazz, folk, country, Celtic, and classical can provide potential benefits. You do not require any prior musical ability or knowledge to benefit from music therapy.
Music can provide numerous benefits to anyone when listened to for recreational purposes, but it isn’t considered music therapy unless it enlists the aid of an accredited music therapist and involves treatment planning, goal setting, on-going evaluation, and follow up. For instance, a person with Alzheimer’s who listens to an iPod of his favourite songs may feel some of the therapeutic benefits of music, but it is not considered clinical music therapy. An example of music therapy would be a professional working with a patient with Alzheimer’s for the purpose of helping to restore normal communication among brain regions and improving their overall quality of life. Due to music’s ability to influence both positive and negative behaviour, the guidance and professional assistance of a music therapist can help delve into the full effects of music in order to achieve the desired results and healing. Music therapy is considered a low-risk treatment that can provide a greater sense of enjoyment and motivation than other therapies.
Music has been enjoyed by people of every age, of every ability, and in every culture throughout the years. It’s ability to resonate with us and have a profound impact on us mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially makes it a powerful tool in healing. It can offer us a form of communication and expression at times when it might be difficult, help us deal with stress and pain in a positive way, and help us tap into our memories and emotions in order to change our thinking processes so that we can progress forward and improve our life.
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