What Is Music Therapy?

"Music Therapy is an established psychological clinical intervention, which is delivered by HCPC registered music therapists to help people whose lives have been affected by injury, illness or disability through supporting their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical, communicative and social needs." (British Association For Music Therapy, BAMT)

As a form of expression and communication, music is an essential element in every culture, and it plays an important role in our everyday lives. We listen to music, sing, and dance to tunes on the radio. We all use music to connect to others and express our emotions. Music can also help us relax, make us feel safe, and enhance our wellbeing.

Music therapy is centred on a therapeutic relationship, which is established and developed between a therapist and a client. Through engagement in live musical interaction and play between the therapist and client, the therapist uses music interventions to support the client's needs and helps them to accomplish individualised goals.

In music therapy, music improvisation is the main tool for communication but precomposed music and other forms of communication may also be used.

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Music therapists are trained to work with people of all ages.

Conditions that can be addressed through music therapy include, but are not limited to:

Alzheimer’s Disease
Autistic spectrum disorder
Brain injuries
Dementia
Depression and/or anxiety disorder
Eating disorder
Emotional and behavioural needs/difficulties
Learning disabilities
Mental health problems
Neuro disabilities
Parkinson's disease
Physical disabilities
Terminal illness
Trauma

Previous musical experience or training is not necessary to take part in music therapy.

More information and resources about music therapy can be found on the British Association For Music Therapy website (https://www.bamt.org/)

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What Is Neurologic Music Therapy?

Neurologic music therapy (NMT) features a different approach from standard music therapy.

When we engage in music, whether it is listening, singing, or playing an instrument, all areas of our brains are activated (see picture above).

The core theory, treatment, and clinical techniques of NMT are based on the neuroscience model of music perception and production; as well as how music influences the functional changes in non-musical brain and behaviours.

In NMT work, therapeutic goals and interventions often address rehabilitation, development, and maintenance of functional behaviours. Music is used not only to help in training functional skills, but also with building pathways in the brain for better communication, coordinated motor movements and cognitive skills.

There are 20 standardised clinical techniques established in the current NMT field.

The three main domains in NMT are:

1. Speech & language 2. Sensorimotor 3. Cognition

Conditions that can be addressed through NMT include, but are not limited to:

Alzheimer’s disease
Autistic spectrum disorder
Cerebral palsy
Huntington’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Stroke
Traumatic brain injuries
Other neurological diseases affecting

cognition, movement, and communication

(e.g. Muscular dystrophy)

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More information and resources on neurologic music therapy can be found on:

https://nmtacademy.co/ (The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy)

https://youtu.be/pzenDIwFllw (MedRhythms, YouTube Channel; NMT Clinical Examples)

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