Music is a powerful mode of communication, expression, and a way to connect with others. Our first exposure to music is nursery rhythms and lullabies. As we grow, we begin to discover which music expresses our inner thoughts, experiences, and overall enjoyment to listen to. But what does that have to do with music therapy? Music therapy is the use of music interventions to reach a person’s goals set by a board-certified music therapist (American Music Therapy Association, 2023). The concept of music being used to help people achieve their goals has been around since the time of Aristotle and Plato (American Music Therapy Association, 2023). Music therapists today use different techniques to address a person’s needs and reach their goals.
Before beginning treatment, a music therapist will assess a person’s strengths and areas of need. Once the music therapist has gathered this information, the music therapist will create goals and objectives and music-based interventions to address them (American Music Therapy Association, 2023). These goals and objectives transfer to everyday life skills and tasks. The music therapist continues to evaluate the person’s progress throughout the treatment. Music therapy interventions include improvisation, re-creative, receptive, and compositional. Each technique addresses a verity of needs. For instance, reducing stress, fine motor skills, cognitive skills, etc. Music therapists work in different places and with people from different backgrounds.
Music therapists work in hospitals, schools, private practice, hospices, and many more locations. A study with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease patients goal was to improve cognitive skills and motor planning (Kim et. al., 2022). Researchers used a re-creative intervention called dual-task based music therapy. Dual – task based music therapy uses rhythmic cueing simultaneously with a task (Kim et. al., 2022). The results showed improvements in their cognitive skills and motor planning (Kim et. al., 2022).
Another group music therapists work with is veterans. At the Veterans Health Administration, music therapists use an improvisation model called the group music pain model handbook to address needs such as managing pain without medication, depression, and PTSD (Veterans Health Administration, 2018). The group music pain model handbook uses rhythmic vibrations and rhythmic engagement to address these needs (Veterans Health Administration, 2018). Results of using this model in a 3-month pilot study reported a decrease in pain levels by 75% and 95% improvement in their mood and quality of life (Veterans Health Administration, 2018).
Music therapy can address all kinds of needs and improve the overall quality of life. The studies above are just a few examples of how music can be a powerful tool.
-Teresa Dominguez, Music Therapy Intern
References
American Music Therapy Association. What is AMTA? American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). https://www.musictherapy.org/about/whatis/
Kim, S. J., Park, J.-K., & Yeo, M. S. (2022). Dual-task-based music therapy to improve executive functioning of elderly patients with early stage Alzheimer’s disease: A multiple case study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11940. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911940
Veterans Health Administration. (2018). Music Therapy: Group Music Pain Model. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzb-UxNdVpk