Musicotherapy

Music Therapy is a field of health care and rehabilitation that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. It is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.

Definition

Music Therapy is an evidence-based clinical use of musical interventions to improve clients' quality of life. Music therapists use music and its many facets— physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual— to help clients improve their health in cognitive, motor, emotional, communicative, social, sensory, and educational domains by using both active and receptive music experiences.

History

The idea of music as a healing influence which could affect health and behavior is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. The 20th century discipline began after World War I and World War II when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars.

Techniques

Music therapists use different types of interventions, often based on client needs and goals. Interventions can be classified into four categories: receptive, creative, re-creative and combined.

Applications

Music therapy can be used to address patient needs related to respiration, chronic pain, physical rehabilitation, diabetes, headaches, cardiac conditions, surgery, and obstetrics, among others.

Research

Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in a wide variety of healthcare and educational settings.

See also

• Art therapy
• Drama therapy
• Dance therapy

References

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