What is Music Therapy?

“Music therapy is the prescribed use of music by a qualified person to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social function of individuals with health or educational problems.” American Music Therapy Association (www.musictherapy.org)

Have you ever found yourself bobbing to the beat of the music on the radio as you are driving down the highway? How long did it take the tune “It’s a Small World” to stop playing in your mind after visiting Disney World? Have you ever heard a song on the oldie station that immediately brought back an experience you had years ago? How many of us learned the alphabet by singing the ABC song? Many of us know little about music theory nor do we have the ability to compose music, yet just about everyone responds to music of one kind or another. We do not need to understand music to know what we like. You may find that a certain kind of music helps you relax, another makes you feel happy and yet another may overwhelm you with emotion or even bring you to tears. Music does not need to be studied or understood on an intellectual level to have an effect on us. Music can please our senses, teach us things, help us remember and have an amazing emotional affect.

Music therapy is the application of music and musical intervention to enhance personal lives by creating positive changes in the individual. The music therapist’s tools are the six elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, dynamics and form (Berger 2002).

Rhythm involves what we think of as the beat of the music. It’s what we find ourselves clapping our hands, tapping our foot and moving our bodies to. Rhythm is the element of music we dance to, it let’s us know if the piece is a waltz, polka or rap.

Melody is the combination of notes that, when played, help us recognize a familiar tune. The melody triggers emotion, which is closely tied to memory.

Harmony supports and amplifies the melody. Harmony brings depth and feeling to a piece of music.

Timbre is the quality of sound emitted from an instrument or voice. The timbre is what makes a sound pleasing or irritating to us.

Dynamics relates to the energy level of the music. It is what makes us want to get up and dance or lay back and relax.

Form is the story the piece of music tells. Like a story, music has a beginning, middle and end.

This is a very simple explanation of the elements of music. Each element, alone is complex and all six elements combine together in an infinite variety of ways to make music. The music therapist uses these elements, continually adjusting according to observed responses from the client to maintain interaction with the individual and guide them towards meeting their goals. Music therapy is child centered. The therapist supports and guides rather than directing the child’s behavior.

Music Therapy can address goals in the areas of social/emotional, sensory, communication, cognitive/academic and perceptual/motor. Unlike typical music lessons such as piano or voice lessons, where the goal is to increase the individual’s skill in playing piano or singing, Music therapists use the six elements of music as their tools to increase skills in other areas of development. While the individual may improve their skills in the area of music, this is not the primary concern of the intervention.

Key components in music therapy include:

• The needs and goals for the individual are determined by the team
• A qualified Music Therapist assesses the individual’s preferences and responses to a variety of musical interventions
• The Music Therapist develops and implements an intervention plan based on their knowledge of music’s effects on behavior, the individuals strengths and weaknesses and the goals identified by the team.
• While Music Therapy has been used to address needs of diverse populations, intervention plans are individualized.
• Music Therapy is a dynamic process involving ongoing evaluation and adaptation to the skills and needs of the individual.
• Music Therapy may be a part of a clinical or educational team or private practice.

See American Music Therapy Association, 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. www.musictherapy.org