Frequently Asked Questions
Music therapy is defined by the American Music Therapy Association as "the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship" by a board-certified music therapist. In other words, music therapy is the therapeutic use of music to achieve non-music goals like communication, physical movement, and quality of life.
Music therapy can help with social skills, memory and cognitive function, communication, physical movement, rehabilitation, pain and stress management, mental wellness, and many other areas of life. Music therapy is a non-invasive and holistic treatment modality, and it has very low risk of negative results.
People of all ages and all conditions can benefit from music therapy! Music therapists work with individuals from birth to the end of life. Some generalized populations include those with intellectual and developmental conditions, individuals with mental health needs, people with genetic/degenerative/rare diseases, those with acquired injuries, and individuals at the end of life.
Each client’s goals are crafted specifically for their needs, abilities, and hopes for achievement. Some general goal areas include cognitive function, communication, social interaction, emotional expression and regulation, physical motion, and quality of life.
To know if music therapy will be a good fit, first talk to a music therapist. We are happy to answer your questions and discuss your concerns. From there, we might recommend scheduling an assessment, during which the music therapist will make an official recommendation.
For individuals, our sessions usually last about 45 minutes. We sometimes make the clinical decision to end sessions early if we determine in the moment that doing so would be best for the client. We can also extend sessions to 60 minutes if it would benefit the client and if the music therapist's schedule allows for extra time.
For groups/facilities, our sessions usually last about 45 minutes. We are open to negotiating shorter or longer session lengths to meet the group's needs as long as the music therapist's schedule will accommodate the new timeframe.
We schedule sessions weekly, biweekly (every other week), or monthly. For younger clients, weekly sessions usually produce the most improvement. For all other clients, we recommend weekly or biweekly sessions for the best results.
Anywhere you can find a nurse, you can find a music therapist. Some locations for music therapy include schools, client homes, private offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, correctional facilities, veteran/military facilities, retirement communities, and memory care facilities.
Music therapy interventions are tailored to the clients, and music therapists always strive to use interventions that will result in client success. Some examples of music therapy interventions include singing, songwriting, playing instruments, playing music games, analyzing lyrics, moving to music, reminiscing, and meditating/relaxing.
All kinds! Music therapy is client-centered, and the music therapist will often use music that the client prefers. Every individual experiences music differently, and the music therapist responds to the client's reaction to music in the moment. All forms of music are welcome in music therapy.
Nope! The music therapist provides instruments for each session. With that said, if you have instruments that you'd like to use for music therapy sessions, you're welcome to use them!
Nope! Every person has music in them: heart beats, movements, and breaths are all rhythmic in nature. People also pick up on music structures that convey feelings or provide closure. Music therapists use the unique relationship that the client has with music to elicit certain responses and ultimately work toward achieving their goals.
For comparison, speech therapy is not specifically for language majors and public speakers, but it's for those who could benefit from speech interventions. Music therapy is not specifically for musicians, but it's for anyone who could benefit from music interventions.
In order to become a music therapist, you must first earn a degree in music therapy from an accredited higher education program. The most common programs are Bachelor's Degree programs (four years) and Equivalency Bachelor's Degree programs (two or three years). From there, you must complete a music therapy internship and then pass the music therapy board exam. Depending on your state, you might also need to apply for a music therapy license before providing services.
Music education focuses on music academics, like learning how to play an instrument or understanding music theory. Music therapy focuses on non-music goals such as communication, physical movement, and emotional expression. Additionally, music therapy occurs within a therapeutic relationship rather than an educational environment.
Usually, recorded or live music serves as entertainment and doesn’t take into account the listener’s reactions. Music therapy is clinical and evidence based, and it’s entirely focused on the client’s interaction with the music within the therapeutic relationship. Music therapists are trained musicians who adapt the music in the moment so that the client is set up for success. While listening to music has its benefits, music therapy involves the intentional use of music - and often active participation in music - to help the client achieve their goals.