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Music Therapy

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is the skilful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, and spiritual health. Music has non-verbal, creative, structural, and emotional qualities. These are used in the therapeutic relationship to facilitate contact, interaction, self-awareness, learning, self-expression, communication, and personal development.

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Visual Impairments

Music therapy can be a valuable tool for persons with visual impairments. Since music relies on hearing, it can be used to complement the intact abilities of a visually impaired client. The sense of vibration in music can help create an awareness of the student's physical relationship to the environment, which is important in the development of spatial concepts. A music therapist also uses music to enhance social interaction, concentration, self-expression and self-esteem, and encourage a life-long appreciation of music.

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Hearing Impairments

Music therapy can be used to enhance the physical, social and emotional needs of persons with hearing impairments. Although music may at first seem an impractical form of intervention, the perception of music is usually easier than the perception of speech for hearing impaired students. Because of this music therapy, it can serve as an important vehicle for improving communication skills. Music therapy can also enhance social interaction, self-expression, and self-esteem in hearing impaired students.

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How does Music Therapy Work?

An assessment is initially completed to determine the client's interests, strengths, needs and treatment goals. Music therapy experiences may include playing instruments, improvisation, directed music listening tasks, rhythmic and expressive movement, composing, and singing.

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