Table of Contents
What is meant by music therapy?
A type of therapy that uses music to help improve a person’s overall health and well-being. It may include creating, singing, moving, listening, and/or relaxing to music. The earliest known reference to music therapy appeared in 1789 in an unsigned article in Columbian Magazine titled “Music Physically Considered.” In the early 1800s, writings on the therapeutic value of music appeared in two medical dissertations proposing music as an intervention to treat medical diseases. Cognitive behavioral music therapy (CBMT): This approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with music. In CBMT, music is used to reinforce some behaviors and modify others. This approach is structured, not improvisational, and may include listening to music, dancing, singing, or playing an instrument. Music therapists work in psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitative facilities, medical hospitals, outpatient clinics, day care treatment centers, agencies serving persons with developmental disabilities, community mental health centers, drug and alcohol programs, senior centers, nursing homes, hospice programs, … It was originally created by American composer and music therapist Paul Nordoff and British music therapist Clive Robbins as a therapeutic approach for children and adults with significant developmental disabilities (e.g., intellectual, sensory, or motor disability).
What is the objective of music therapy?
The overarching goal of music therapy is to achieve the objectives that meet the needs of the individual (Therapedia, n.d.). This may include, for example, improving motor function, social skills, emotions, coordination, self-expression and personal growth (Therapedia, n.d.). To accomplish specified goals in a music therapy session, music therapists will prepare interventions within one of four broad intervention categories, which include receptive, re-creation, improvisation, and composition/songwriting. Music therapy does not simply mean ‘listening to music. ‘ Music therapy involves writing music, playing music, and listening to a mixture of live or recorded music. This is a much more comprehensive method of utilizing music in the treatment of patients and helps them in expressing their emotions. Music therapy may be beneficial to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words, including children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Treatment may help those with: Mental health needs. Developmental and learning disabilities. To become a Music Therapist the least desired qualification for the 12th class is music as the main subject and then some certificate or diploma course in Music Therapy. They should have studied music, biology, psychology, physiology, and social and behavioural sciences. They must have at least a B.A. in their field. Engaging in music has been shown to facilitate neuroplasticity, therefore positively influencing quality of life and overall functioning. Research has shown that music activates cognitive, motor, and speech centers in the brain through accessing shared neural systems.
What are the principles of music therapy?
The term “iso principle” is unique to the field of music therapy. It was first introduced in the late 1940’s by Altshuler as a method of mood management in which the music therapist provides music that matches their client’s mood, then gradually changes the music to help the client shift to a different mood. Music therapy is used to aid in physical discomfort by improving respiration, lowering blood pressure, improved cardiac output, reduced heart rate and relaxed muscle tension. For mental health, this form of therapy is great for reducing stress’ common negative side effects, such as emotional and behavioral problems. Music therapy is an evidenced-based, safe and effective form of treatment provided by trained professionals and can be a part of a successful treatment program for people with mental health needs. In conclusion, music therapy has brought a tremendous impact on people’s psychological health, enabled patients to suffer less pain, anxiety, and feeling stressful and thus improves our emotional states, bringing psychological health to the patients. Research shows the benefits of music therapy for various mental health conditions, including depression, trauma, and schizophrenia (to name a few). Music acts as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief—but music can also be utilized as a regulating or calming agent for anxiety or for dysregulation. Though music therapy practice employs a large number of intervention techniques, some of the most commonly used interventions include improvisation, therapeutic singing, therapeutic instrumental music playing, music-facilitated reminiscence and life review, songwriting, music-facilitated relaxation, and lyric analysis.
What is the first step of music therapy?
Assessment. The first step in the treatment process is a functional assessment of the individual’s strengths and needs through musical responses in the areas of motor, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, behavioral, sensory and musical abilities. To accomplish specified goals in a music therapy session, music therapists will prepare interventions within one of four broad intervention categories, which include receptive, re-creation, improvisation, and composition/songwriting. The overarching goal of music therapy is to achieve the objectives that meet the needs of the individual (Therapedia, n.d.). This may include, for example, improving motor function, social skills, emotions, coordination, self-expression and personal growth (Therapedia, n.d.). While the needs of our clients’ vary, the goals that music therapists work on are generally broken down into five domains: social, emotional, cognitive, communication, and physical. Research shows that music can promote physical rehabilitation, manage stress, improve communication, enhance memory, alleviate pain, and help to express feelings. Many people are not informed about what music therapy is and do not understand that it is research based and has measurable results. Cognitive behavioral music therapy (CBMT): This approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with music. In CBMT, music is used to reinforce some behaviors and modify others. This approach is structured, not improvisational, and may include listening to music, dancing, singing, or playing an instrument.
What are the 4 approaches in music therapy?
Many music therapists draw from the following music education approaches in their practices as they have been used to teach music to children of varying abilities: Orff-Schukwerk, Dalcroze Approach, Kodály Approach, and Music Learning Theory. Science has proven that music releases mood enhancing chemicals into our body which music therapists can capitalize on to aid in the medical treatment of patients. The Indian Institute of Medical Music Therapy (IIMMT) a unit of Apollo hospital, Chennai offers courses both online and offline for aspiring music therapists. Other famous institutes are Music Therapy Academy, New Delhi; Chennai School of Music Therapy, Chennai; Indian Association of Music Therapy, Delhi. You’ll work with people of all ages and use music to help clients through emotional or mental problems, learning and/or physical disabilities, developmental disorders, life-limiting conditions, neurological conditions or physical illnesses. Some doctors (GPs and specialists) recommend music therapy to treat ailments, like heart diseases, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorders), Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, brain dysfunction, and depression. Oxford University holds that classical music can help improve heart conditions and maintain blood pressure. Thayer Gaston, known as the “father of music therapy,” was instrumental in moving the profession forward in terms of an organizational and educational point of view.