Stephanie G. Mathis Music therapy is an evidence-based profession and practice that uses music to support individuals in their efforts to improve health, function, and well-being.
Music therapy is the deliberate use of music by a professional with university training who is registered at the AMTA.
Registered music therapists are guided by an extensive body of research and a code of ethics that informs their practices. They use a variety of music-making techniques within a therapeutic relationship and work in many sectors, including health, community care, aged care and disability, early childhood, and private practice.
Music therapy differs from music education or entertainment in that it focuses on health and functioning. Music therapists can work with anyone, regardless of age, ability, culture, or background.
History
Music therapy is a new profession that was developed in the USA in the 1950s. Its purpose was to treat war veterans with physical and mental problems. As hospital musicians began to need training, the demand for university curricula grew.
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The American Association for Music Therapy and the Australian Association were founded in 1971 by pioneers in music therapy, Dr Ruth Bright and Emeritus Prof Denise Grocke.
Anyone who sings, plays an instrument, or listens to music will tell you that making music is good for your mind, body, and soul. No matter if you’re a professional musician or a passionate amateur, the benefits are there.
Music therapists use the power of music to promote and maintain health and well-being in people of all ages. They can be found in many places, including schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and community centers, where they deliver tailored programs that meet individual needs.
Triggers of dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphin
Music therapists use a variety of techniques, including writing songs with or for clients, free or structured movement to music, singing, vocal activities, improvisation, and playing traditional instruments and digital music equipment. They can also listen to recorded music and engage in social interaction within a group.
Music’s ability to alter our mood is believed to be linked to different brain chemicals. Music-induced endorphins provide natural pain relief. Dopamine, on the other hand, leads to feelings such as optimism, power, and energy.
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This could explain why “flow” or “peak” experiences are often described by music listeners and those who actively participate in musical activities.
Group music has a greater impact because positive experiences shared by all participants release oxytocin. This is a brain chemical that helps build trust. This encourages non-verbal expression emotional expression and builds self-esteem and confidence.
Music Therapy in Neurorehabilitation
Music has a wide range of effects on the brain, including memories, emotions, and communication. The latest developments in brain-scanning technologies show that music creates new pathways between the two hemispheres.
Music therapy is especially useful in neurorehabilitation, where the rhythmic function of music can be utilized to help rehabilitate speech and movement following a stroke or brain injury.
The small black arrow indicates the part of our brain that is dedicated to music appreciation and musical creation. Mikey G Ottawa
Music therapy for dementia
Music and memory are closely linked, as evidenced by the emotional response you get when listening to a song or annoying advertising jingles.
Music therapists use this feature to help people who have memory problems access information from songs that are specifically composed.
The brain processes emotions as well as music. Song lyrics are often remembered by people with dementia long after their verbal and other memory abilities have declined.
Music therapy can awaken something in people with late-stage dementia. It can also stimulate moments of clarity, giving family members a glimpse of their loved ones.
Music Therapy in Children’s Hospitals
In children’s hospitals, music therapy is often used to manage pain and anxiety during procedures. It also engages children in an activity that normalizes them and is not related to their illness. It gives children a sense of control and choice in a world where they are not allowed to make many decisions.
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Music therapists in special education work with children who have intellectual or physical disabilities. They help them achieve their educational and developmental goals. Music can be used to stimulate the brain and senses and help with motor skills and orientation.
Music therapy allows children to express their emotions, increases awareness of the environment and people around them, and boosts confidence through active music-making. It can improve a child’s communication and social skills.
Music and teenagers
Music is a major part of the lives of young people, and vulnerable teenagers spend more time with it. Music therapists who specialize in adolescent health can use the strong connection teens have to music as a tool for addressing their mental health issues.
Recently, the Australian Research Council funded a project led by Assoc. Professor Katrina McFerran will investigate the music use of young people who have and do not have mental illness with a view to identifying and intervening early in adolescence.
