“So, what is music therapy? What does a music therapist do?” is a question every music therapist can relate to hearing. As a lesser known profession, many people haven’t heard of music therapy, let alone learned about what music therapy is. I welcome any opportunity to teach someone about music therapy and about the work that music therapists do. However, I still hesitate before answering because though it’s a common question it’s not an easy one to answer. I usually begin with a straightforward response, one that is similar to the one you would find on the website for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists: Music Therapy is a discipline in which accredited music therapists use music and musical elements to facilitate a therapeutic relationship and initiate a positive change. Music therapists help individuals meet social, cognitive, physical, and emotional goals. Essentially, music is a therapeutic tool. However, this definition fails to illustrate what music therapy looks like in practice. It answers the “what is music therapy?” question but not exactly “what does a music therapist do?”. The answer to that questions is difficult to sum up in a couple lines. Music therapists work with so many different populations and in so many different circumstances that there is not really one clear answer. Below I have summarized what I believe are some of the key factors of music therapy and some examples from my own practice. Hopefully this will give a sense of what a music therapist can do:
Firstly, music therapists can work with almost any population. Many music therapists work privately and see clients 1:1, other music therapists may work in hospitals, schools, long-term care centres, group homes, addiction centres, rehabilitation clinics, mental health clinics, and other facilities, seeing clients 1:1 or in groups. Music therapy can be beneficial to such diverse populations because the therapy is informed by the client. Our work is dynamic and client-centred. The first step in the music therapy process is to complete an assessment to determine what the needs of each individual are. We then create goals and interventions which use music to help reach the goals. Music therapy sessions can look and sound extraordinarily different not only when comparing populations, but also from session to session with the same client. I want to look at a couple specific music therapy scenarios. I will only look at a few because I want to be as in-depth as possible, as to help demonstrate music as the therapeutic medium to help reach goals, but it is important to keep in mind that there are countless other ways that music therapy can be used. If you’re curious about other examples or more in-depth information, I would recommend looking at a case studies book such as Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives edited by Anthony Meadows
One on one music therapy with a hospitalized patient who has been in a motor vehicle accident and has lost their ability to speak. In completing an assessment the music therapist determines that the client may benefit from music therapy in order to fulfill emotional needs of meaningful self-expression, as well as to increase self-esteem. The music therapist works with patient on songwriting in order to help the patient express themselves in a meaningful way; thus reaching goals of self-expression and increased self-esteem.
A bell choir in a hospital or long-term care centre in which the members of the bell choir are working on goals of physical rehabilitation or cognitive stimulation. An individual who is part of the bell choir is able to exercise particular motor functions through the act of playing the bells, develop increased attention through following the music therapist’s directions, and participate in a meaningful social context through performing in a group. Participation in a music therapy group such as a bell choir can help individuals with a variety of needs meet goals suited to them.
One on one music therapy for an individual who has suffered a stroke, resulting in aphasia. The goal for the individual is to rehabilitate their ability to speak. The music therapist can use an intervention such as melodic intonation therapy (a neurologic music therapy technique) to help rehabilitate an individual’s ability to speak through their unimpaired ability to sing.
These examples are only the tip of the iceberg, but I hope that they begin to shed some light on the types of experiences music therapists encounter everyday and the number of ways that music can heal.
At Lighthouse Music Therapy we believe that music therapy is a door to brighter healthcare and wellbeing. We strive to provide safe, creative, and dynamic music therapy sessions for every population and need.
Have more questions about music therapy and how music therapy can be used in a specific population? Leave us a comment or send us a message! Always happy to connect!
Sources
The Canadian Association of Music Therapists, https://www.musictherapy.ca/
Thaut, M. H. (2005). Rhythm, Music and the Brain. New York and London: Taylor and Francis Group