| Shakespeare once said, "If music be the food of | | | | practice. |
| love, play on". The power of music over the | | | | Some people mistakenly believe that a patient |
| human mind is enormous, and that's putting it | | | | needs to have some particular musical ability to |
| lightly. Music therapy is the use of music for | | | | benefit from therapy. There is no one particular |
| therapeutic purposes by a trained professional. | | | | style of music that is more therapeutic than the |
| The idea of using music as a healing influence | | | | rest. Any style of music can be equally effective. |
| dates back to the time of Plato and Aristotle. In | | | | Any person can be a patient. The patient's |
| the modern world, music for therapy came to | | | | background, needs and history help determine the |
| the fore when musicians played for war veterans | | | | type of music used. |
| to cure them of physical and emotional trauma. | | | | Even healthy people can make use of the healing |
| Since many of the patients responded well, | | | | powers of music. Listening to or making music, |
| nurses and doctors began requesting the services | | | | playing or drumming can greatly reduce stress |
| of musicians for therapy. | | | | and improve productivity. Research shows that |
| Soon, music therapy became recognized as an | | | | music is a vital support for physical exercise. Music |
| effective and scientifically-backed mode of | | | | therapy is even said to assist labor and delivery. |
| treatment. The first music therapy degree | | | | In hospitals, music therapy is used to alleviate pain |
| program ever was established in 1944 in the | | | | and is often used in conjunction with anesthesia or |
| State of Michigan, U.S. | | | | pain medication. A question that is often raised is |
| A trained music therapist gauges the emotional | | | | why use music if anesthesia does the same thing? |
| well-being, physical health, social functioning and | | | | Music helps because it dissolves emotional barriers |
| cognitive skills through the patient's responses to | | | | and elevates the patient's mood. Music also |
| music. Once the assessment is complete, the | | | | counteracts depression, calms and even sedates |
| practitioner designs music session for individuals or | | | | patients. In a nutshell, music helps reduce muscle |
| groups. The therapeutic music is prepared based | | | | tension and brings on a deep and satisfying |
| on client needs and uses music improvisation, song | | | | relaxation. |
| writing, lyric discussion, imagery and musical | | | | Since 1994 music therapy has been identified as a |
| performances. | | | | reimbursable service in the U.S. Music therapy is |
| Using music for therapy can be a very powerful | | | | considered 'active treatment' when it meets the |
| way to reach children and adolescents. Elderly | | | | following criteria: |
| people and people with developmental and learning | | | | - Is prescribed by a physician |
| disabilities, people suffering from Alzheimer's | | | | - Is reasonably necessary for the treatment of |
| disease and age related problems and people in | | | | the injury or condition |
| acute pain also benefit from music therapy. Music | | | | - Is based on a documented treatment plan |
| therapy is a powerful way to help people express | | | | - Is showing some sort of result in the patient |
| their feelings. | | | | The future of music therapy is indeed very |
| Professional music therapists are usually found in | | | | promising as more and more research supports |
| rehabilitative facilities, psychiatric hospitals, medical | | | | the effectiveness of music against diseases like |
| hospitals, drug and alcohol programs, nursing | | | | Alzheimer's and chronic pain. |
| homes, correctional facilities, schools and private | | | | |