Music Therapy

My "assignment" on Music Therapy :)

Therapeutic healing through music has been used for centuries to help those struggling with their health. Whether it's physical, mental, emotional, social, aesthetic or spiritual, music therapy has shown it can benefit anyone.

Music therapy is performed in many different places and in different ways. But what is it? Ronna Kaplan, President of the American Music Therapy Association, describes music therapy as such:

"What is music therapy? George, a young boy with autism, lumbered down the hall, whining and crying as he approached the music therapy studio. He entered the room, removed his jacket, shoes and socks and threw them on the floor. From past experience I knew that it was pointless to try to immediately engage him in a structured interactive instrument-playing or turn-taking music experience. If I got too close, he attempted to pinch and scratch me. I succeeded in encouraging him to sit down on the floor, and then I moved toward the piano.

George continued crying and hitting his head with the palm of his hand. I listened carefully and realized that he was crying in the key of C minor. I began to improvise on the piano slowly and quietly, matching the pitches and tempo of his crying. When he stopped vocalizing, I stopped playing. When he resumed vocalizing, I resumed playing. I used the "iso-principle" to "entrain" to his responses and meet him where he was.

After several minutes George gradually quieted down and stopped crying. I moved to a chair and invited him to sit across from me. Then, and only then, was he able to interact more actively with me and the music. We continued the session taking turns passing a mallet to play the drum; striking pitched plastic tubes called "boomwhackers" on our shoulders, hands and knees; hiding a beanbag up our sleeves, retrieving it and tossing it into a tambourine; and strumming the autoharp. All the while I sang short, repetitive melodies with lyrics describing our actions. A change had occurred: George's aggression and frustration had yielded to participation and socialization. That is music therapy."

Music therapy is not limited to disabilities. It can also be used to relieve stress and pain, enhance memory, express feelings and improve communication. In my opinion, music therapy can benefit anyone.

How? As you read in the story, George was able to turn away from his anger and participate in the music being played. No words were said, only music was shared.

Studies have shown that music affects your brain waves, heart beat, breathing, and state of mind. Music affects us more than we realize. Depending on the music you listen to, you can become more positive or completely depressed. That is why the music we listen to is so important to our well-being. It can rise us up to be better and do better. To be happier! Or it can take us down.

We can see how Music Therapy benefits the recipient, but what about the therapist? I'll answer that question with why I want to become a music therapist.

The minute I first felt the spirit through music, I knew I wanted to write music that did the same for others. I have never been good expressing myself with words. Music is my escape. It's how I can express myself. And when bearing my testimony, I would much rather do it through music. It has been said that what words can't say, music can. When words can't explain any further or deeper, music can. I feel that music is more powerful than words. And what better way to reach out to others with music than music therapy? To help those struggling and in need of relief to improve and progress through music and through the spirit would be an amazing experience. It would help both the recipient and I grow and progress together. And what better way to grow then through the spirit? Through music.

Music Therapy is more than a science. It's an art. I only hope to be able to reach out to others through music therapy some day.