Music Therapy Defined
"Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program."
"Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings."
"Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings."
Quoted form the American Music Therapy Association
Music Therapist: What Does It Take?
Clinical Music Therapy is the only professional, research-based discipline that actively applies supportive science to the creative, emotional, and energizing experiences of music for health treatment and educational goals.
- MT's must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in Music Therapy from one of AMTA’s 72 approved colleges and universities
- MT's must have at least 1200 hours of clinical training
- MT's must hold the MT-BC credential, issued through the Certification Board for Music Therapists
- This credential protects the public by ensuring competent practice and requiring continuing education by the MT
- Some states also require licensure for Board-Certified Music Therapists; Georgia is one of these states
NOT Clinical Based Music Therapy
AMTA supports music for all and applauds the efforts of individuals who share their music-making and time with those in need.
The following are examples of therapeutic music but are NOT clinical Music Therapy:
The following are examples of therapeutic music but are NOT clinical Music Therapy:
- A person with Alzheimer’s listening to an iPod with headphones of his/her favorite songs
- Groups such as Bedside Musicians, Musicians on Call, Music Practitioners, Sound Healers, and Music Thanatologists
- Celebrities performing at hospitals and/or schools
- A piano player in the lobby of a hospital
- Nurses playing background music for patients
- Artists in residence
- Arts educators
- A high school student playing guitar in a nursing home
- A choir singing on the pediatric floor of a hospital
Clinical Based Music Therapy
The following are examples of clinical Music Therapy:
-Work with people who have Parkinson’s disease to improve motor function
---- to view cited proof of clinical Music Therapy, click the highlighted blue words ----
- -Work with Congresswoman Giffords to regain her speech after surviving a bullet wound to her brain
- -Work with older adults to lessen the effects of dementia
- -Work with children to reduce asthma episodes
- -Work with hospitalized patients with cancer to reduce pain
- -Work with children who have autism to improve communication capabilities
-Work with people who have Parkinson’s disease to improve motor function
---- to view cited proof of clinical Music Therapy, click the highlighted blue words ----
How Does it all Differ?
