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The Healing Power of Music

Music therapy is increasingly used to help patients cope with stress and promote healing.

By Richard Schiffman

“Focus on the sound of the instrument,” Andrew Rossetti, a licensed music therapist and researcher said as he strummed hypnotic chords on a Spanish-style classical guitar. “Close your eyes. Think of a place where you feel safe and comfortable.”

Music therapy was the last thing that Julia Justo, a graphic artist who immigrated to New York from Argentina, expected when she went to Mount Sinai Beth Israel Union Square Clinic for treatment for cancer in 2016. But it quickly calmed her fears about the radiation therapy she needed to go through, which was causing her severe anxiety.

“I felt the difference right away, I was much more relaxed,” she said.

Ms. Justo, who has been free of cancer for over four years, continued to visit the hospital every week before the onset of the pandemic to work with Mr. Rossetti, whose gentle guitar riffs and visualization exercises helped her deal with ongoing challenges, like getting a good night’s sleep. Nowadays they keep in touch mostly by email.

The healing power of music — lauded by philosophers from Aristotle and Pythagoras to Pete Seeger — is now being validated by medical research. It is used in targeted treatments for asthma, autism, depression and more, including brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and stroke.

Live music has made its way into some surprising venues, including oncology waiting rooms to calm patients as they wait for radiation and chemotherapy. It also greets newborns in some neonatal intensive care units and comforts the dying in hospice.

While musical therapies are rarely stand-alone treatments, they are increasingly used as adjuncts to other forms of medical treatment. They help people cope with their stress and mobilize their body’s own capacity to heal.

“Patients in hospitals are always having things done to them,” Mr. Rossetti explained. “With music therapy, we are giving them resources that they can use to self-regulate, to feel grounded and calmer. We are enabling them to actively participate in their own care.”

Even in the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Rossetti has continued to perform live music for patients. He says that he’s seen increases in acute anxiety since the onset of the pandemic, making musical interventions, if anything, even more impactful than they were before the crisis.

Mount Sinai has also recently expanded its music therapy program to include work with the medical staff, many of whom are suffering from post-traumatic stress from months of dealing with Covid, with live performances offered during their lunch hour.

It’s not just a mood booster. A growing body of research suggests that music played in a therapeutic setting has measurable medical benefits.

“Those who undergo the therapy seem to need less anxiety medicine, and sometimes surprisingly get along without it,” said Dr. Jerry T. Liu, assistant professor of radiation oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

A review of 400 research papers conducted by Daniel J. Levitin at McGill University in 2013 concluded that “listening to music was more effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety prior to surgery.”

“Music takes patients to a familiar home base within themselves. It relaxes them without side effects,” said Dr. Manjeet Chadha, the director of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Downtown in New York.

It can also help people deal with longstanding phobias. Mr. Rossetti remembers one patient who had been pinned under concrete rubble at Ground Zero on 9/11. The woman, who years later was being treated for breast cancer, was terrified by the thermoplastic restraining device placed over her chest during radiation and which reawakened her feelings of being entrapped.

“Daily music therapy helped her to process the trauma and her huge fear of claustrophobia and successfully complete the treatment,” Mr. Rossetti recalled.

Some hospitals have introduced prerecorded programs that patients can listen to with headphones. At Mount Sinai Beth Israel, the music is generally performed live using a wide array of instruments including drums, pianos and flutes, with the performers being careful to maintain appropriate social distance.

“We modify what we play according to the patient’s breath and heart rate,” said Joanne Loewy, the founding director of the hospital’s Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine. “Our goal is to anchor the person, to keep their mind connected to the body as they go through these challenging treatments.”

Dr. Loewy has pioneered techniques that use several unusual instruments like a Gato Box, which simulates the rhythms of the mother’s heartbeat, and an Ocean Disc, which mimics the whooshing sounds in the womb to help premature babies and their parents relax during their stay in noisy neonatal intensive care units.

Dr. Dave Bosanquet, a vascular surgeon at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Wales, says that music has become much more common in operating rooms in England in recent years with the spread of bluetooth speakers. Prerecorded music not only helps surgical patients relax, he says, it also helps surgeons focus on their task. He recommends classical music, which “evokes mental vigilance” and lacks distracting lyrics, but cautions that it “should only be played during low or average stress procedures” and not during complex operations, which demand a sharper focus.

Music has also been used successfully to support recovery after surgery. A study published in The Lancet in 2015 reported that music reduced postoperative pain and anxiety and lessened the need for anti-anxiety drugs. Curiously, they also found that music was effective even when patients were under general anesthesia.

None of this surprises Edie Elkan, a 75-year-old harpist who argues there are few places in the health care system that would not benefit from the addition of music. The first time she played her instrument in a hospital was for her husband when he was on life support after undergoing emergency surgery.

“The hospital said that I couldn’t go into the room with my harp, but I insisted,” she said. As she played the harp for him, his vital signs, which had been dangerously low, returned to normal. “The hospital staff swung the door open and said, ‘You need to play for everyone.’”

Ms. Elkan took these instructions to heart. After she searched for two years for a hospital that would pay for the program, the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton, N.J., signed on, allowing her to set up a music school on their premises and play for patients at all stages in their hospitalization.

Ms. Elkan and her students have played for over a hundred thousand patients in 11 hospitals that have hosted them since her organization, Bedside Harp, was started in 2002.

In the months since the pandemic began, the harp players have been serenading patients at the entrance to the hospital, as well as holding special therapeutic sessions for the staff outdoors. They hope to resume playing indoors later this spring.

For some patients being greeted at the hospital door by ethereal harp music can be a shocking experience.

Recently, one woman in her mid-70s turned back questioningly to the driver when she stepped out of the van to a medley of familiar tunes like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Over the Rainbow” being played by a harpist, Susan Rosenstein. “That’s her job,” the driver responded, “to put a smile on your face.”

While Ms. Elkan says that it is hard to scientifically assess the impact — “How do you put a number on the value of someone smiling who has not smiled in six months?”— studies suggest that harp therapy helps calm stress and put both patients and hospital staff members at ease.

Ms. Elkan is quick to point out that she is not doing music therapy, whose practitioners need to complete a five-year course of study during which they are trained in psychology and aspects of medicine.

“Music therapists have specific clinical objectives,” she said. “We work intuitively — there’s no goal but to calm, soothe and give people hope.”

“When we come onto a unit, we remind people to exhale,” Ms. Elkan said. “Everyone is kind of holding their breath, especially in the E.R. and the I.C.U. When we come in, we dial down the stress level several decibels.”

Ms. Elkan’s harp can do more than just soothe emotions, says Ted Taylor, who directs pastoral care at the hospital. It can offer spiritual comfort to people who are at a uniquely vulnerable moment in their lives.

“There is something mysterious that we can’t quantify,” Mr. Taylor, a Quaker, said. “I call it soul medicine. Her harp can touch that deep place that connects all of us as human beings.”

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What is Music Therapy and How Does It Work?

Perhaps the music leaves you feeling calmer. Or happy. Or, let’s face it, downright sad. I am sure all of us can attest to the power of music.

Did you know, however, that music therapy is in itself an evidence-based therapy? Keep reading to learn more about the profession of music therapy.

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This Article Contains:

A look at the psychology, a brief history of music therapy, research and studies, the different types and methods of music therapy, a list of music therapy techniques, what does a music therapist do, the best instruments to use in music therapy, available music therapy apps, voices: a world forum for music therapy, what is music therapy perspectives.

The 5 Best Books on the Topic

Modulation of Attention

The first aspect is the modulation of attention. Music grabs our attention and distracts us from stimuli that may lead to negative experiences (such as worry, pain, anxiety and so on). This may also explain the anxiety and pain-reducing effects of listening to music during medical procedures (Koelsch, 2009).

Modulation of Emotion

The second way music therapy work is through modulation of emotion . Studies have shown that music can regulate the activity of brain regions that are involved in the initiation, generation, maintenance, termination, and modulation of emotions (Koelsch, 2009).

Modulation of Cognition

Music also modulates cognition. Music is related to memory processes (including the encoding, storage, and decoding of musical information and events related to musical experiences) (Koelsch, 2009). It is also involved in the analysis of musical syntax and musical meaning (Koelsch, 2009).

Modulation of Behavior

Music therapy also works through modulating behavior. Music evokes and conditions behaviors such as the movement patterns involved in walking, speaking and grasping (Koelsch, 2009).

Modulation of Communication

Music also affects communication. In fact, music is a means of communication. Therefore, music can play a significant role in relationships, as alluded to in the definition of music therapy (Koelsch, 2009).

Musical interaction in music therapy, especially musical improvisation, serves as a non-verbal and pre-verbal language (Geretsegger et al., 2014).
It allows people who are verbal to gain access to pre-verbal experiences (Geretsegger et al., 2014).
It also gives non-verbal people the chance to communicate with others without words (Geretsegger et al., 2014).
It allows all people to interact on a more emotional, relationship-oriented way than may be possible relying on verbal language (Geretsegger et al., 2014).

Interaction also takes place with listening to music by a process that generally includes choosing music that has meaning for the person, such as the music reflecting an issue that the person is currently occupied with (Geretsegger et al., 2014).

Wherever possible, individuals are encouraged to reflect on personal issues that relate to the music, or, associations that the music brings up. For individuals who have verbal abilities, another important part of music therapy is to reflect verbally on the musical processes (Geretsegger et al., 2014).

Looking at a psychological theory of music therapy is extremely challenging, given the fact that there are multiple ideas regarding the mechanisms of music used as a therapeutic means (Hillecke, Nickel & Volker Bolay, 2005).

The psychology of music is a relatively new area of study (Wigram, Pedersen & Bonde, 2002). Music therapy is a multi-disciplinary field, and the area of music psychology is an innovative interdisciplinary science drawing from the fields of musicology, psychology, acoustics, sociology, anthropology, and neurology (Hillecke et al., 2005; Wigram et al., 2002).

Psychologists use experiments and diagnostics such as questionnaires, and the paradigm of cognition, to analyze what happens in music therapy (Hillecke et al., 2005).

Important topics in the psychology of music are:

The function of music in the life and history of mankind
The function of music in the life and identity of a person
Auditory perception and musical memory
Auditory imagery
The brain’s processing of musical inputs
The origin of musical abilities and the development of musical skills
The meaning of music and musical preferences for the forming of identity
The psychology of music performance and composition (Wigram et al., pp 45 – 46).

In understanding how people hear and perceive musical sounds, a part of music psychology is psychoacoustics – one’s perception of music. Another important facet of the psychology of music is an understanding of the human ear, and also the way the brain is involved in the appreciation and performance of music (Wigram et al., 2002).

Lifespan music psychology refers to an individual’s relationship to music as a lifelong developmental process (Wigram et al., 2002).

The earliest reference to music therapy was a paper called “Musically Physically Considered”, that was published in a Columbian magazine (Greenberg, 2017).

Even long before that, Pythagoras (c.570 – c. 495 BC), the Greek philosopher and mathematician prescribed a variety of musical scales and modes in order to cure an array of physical and psychological conditions (Greenberg, 2017).

However, perhaps the earliest account of the healing properties of music appear in the Jewish bible. In it, the story was that David, a skilled musician, could cure King Saul’s depression through music (Greenberg, 2017).

This was told in Chapter 16 in Prophets:

“And it happened that whenever the spirit of melancholy from God was upon Saul, David would take the lyre (harp) and play it. Saul would then feel relieved and the spirit of melancholy would depart from him”

(1 Samuel, 16:23).

There may even be earlier accounts of music therapy. Whether such religious texts are historically accurate or not, music was conceived as a therapeutic modality when such texts were written (Greenberg, 2017).

Music therapy emerged as a profession in the 20th century after World War I and World War II. Both amateur and professional musicians attended veterans’ hospitals to play for the veterans who had suffered physical and emotional trauma (The American Music Therapy Association, n.d.).

The impact of the music on the patients’ physical and emotional responses saw the doctors and nurses requesting to hire the musicians. It became apparent that the hospital musicians required training before starting, and thus ensued the beginning of music therapy education (The American Music Therapy Association, n.d.).

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To begin this discussion into musical therapy research, I will share a couple of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Reviews are systematic reviews that are internationally recognized as the highest standard in evidence-based health care.

A Cochrane Review of 5 studies examining music used in different ways as a part of the psychological treatment of people with depression found that reporting of the studies was poor. It did, however, find that most of the studies that made up the review did show positive effects in reducing depressive symptoms (Maratos et al., 2008). Therefore, the authors suggested that further research in this area is necessary.

Another Cochrane Review looked at 10 studies (a total of 165 participants) that assessed the effect of music therapy interventions that were conducted with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over periods ranging from one week to seven months (Geretsegger et al., 2014).

Individuals with ASD experience impairments in social interaction and communication. Music therapy provides a means of communication and expression through musical experiences and the relationships that develop through them (Geretsegger et al., 2014).

Geretsegger and colleagues (2014) found that in terms of social interaction within the context of therapy, music therapy was associated with improvements in the non-verbal communicative skills, verbal communication skills, initiating behavior and social emotional reciprocity of individuals with ASD. However, there was no statistically significant difference in non-verbal communication skills outside the context of the therapy (Geretsegger et al., 2014).

In terms of secondary outcomes, music therapy was found to be superior to ‘placebo’ therapy or standard care in promoting social adaptation and quality of the parent-child relationships (Geretsegger et al., 2014).

In a Cochrane Review, authors found that a limited range of studies suggest that music therapy may be beneficial on improving quality of life in end-of-life care (Bradt & Dileo, 2010). However, the results are derived from studies that have a high risk of bias. Bradt and Dileo (2010) therefore concluded that more research into this particular area is needed.

In other studies, Klassen and colleagues (2008) looked at 19 randomized controlled trials and found that music therapy significantly reduced anxiety and pain in children undergoing medical and dental procedures.

The study also showed that rather than the use of music alone, use of music as a part of a multifaceted intervention may be more effective (Klassen, Liang, Tjosfold, Klassen & Hartling, 2008). The music is used to distract the patient from painful or anxiety-provoking stimuli, and this can also reduce the amount of medication required (Klassen et al., 2008).

Gerdner and Swanson (1993) examined the effects of individualized music in five elderly patients diagnosed with Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type. The patients resided in a long-term care facility and were confused and agitated.

Results from the study, both the immediate effects and the residual effects one hour after the intervention, suggest that individualized music is an alternate approach to management of agitation in confused elderly patients (Gerdner & Swanson, 1993).

Forsblom and colleagues (2009) conducted two parallel interview studies of stroke patients and professional nurses to ascertain the therapeutic role of listening to music in stroke rehabilitation.

They found music listening could be used to help patients relax , improve their mood and afford both mental and physical activation during the early stages of stroke recovery. Music listening was described as a ‘participative rehabilitation tool’ (Forsblom, et al. 2009).

The final study I will review, by Blood and Zatorre (2001) showed that music modulated amygdala activity. Using brain imaging techniques, the researchers played participants a piece of their own favorite music to induce an extremely pleasurable experience – described as “chills”.

In the control condition, participants listened to another participant’s favorite music. The intensity of the ‘chills’ experienced by participants correlated with increases in regional cerebral blood flow in brain areas believe to be involved in reward and emotion. This study supports the argument that music can induce ‘real’ emotions, as the brain regions for emotional processing were modulated by music (Blood & Zatorre, 2001).

Music-based therapy is based on two fundamental methods – the ‘receptive’ listening based method, and the ‘active’ method based on playing musical instruments (Guetin et al., 2009).

There are two receptive methods. The first of these, receptive ‘relaxation’ music therapy is often used in the treatment of anxiety, depression and cognitive disorders . Receptive ‘analytical’ music therapy is used as the medium for ‘analytic’ psychotherapy (Guetin et al., 2009). ‘Music medicine’ generally involves passive listening to pre-recorded music provided by medical personnel (Bradt & Dileo, 2010).

In terms of other types of music therapy, there is the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music . This was developed by Helen Lindquist Bonny (Smith, 2018). The approach involves guided imagery with music.

With music added, the patient focuses on an image which is used as a starting point to think about and discuss any related problems. Music plays an integral role in the therapy and may be called a ‘co-therapist’. Individual patient needs and goals influence the music that is selected for the session (Smith, 2018).

The Dalcroze Eurythmics is a method used to teach music to students, which can also be used as a form of therapy. Developed by Èmile Jaques-Dalcroze, this method focuses on rhythm, structure, and expression of movement in the learning process. Because this method is apt for improving physical awareness, it helps those patients who have motor difficulties immensely (Smith, 2018).

The therapist may also ‘prescribe’ music medicine or guided imagery recordings containing music for the client to listen to outside the therapy room by making use of a digital psychotherapy platform such as Quenza (pictured here).

Therapists can use modern platforms such as these to send pre-recorded audio clips directly to the client’s smartphone or tablet according to a predetermined schedule.

Likewise, the therapist can track clients’ progress through these audio activities via their own computer or handheld device.

It is thought that Zoltàn Kodàly was the inspiration for the development of the Kodaly philosophy of music therapy (Smith, 2018). It involves using rhythm, notation, sequence, and movement to help the patient learn and heal.

This method has been found to improve intonation, rhythm and music literacy. It also has a positive impact on perceptual function, concept formation, motor skills and learning performance in a therapeutic setting (Smith, 2018).

Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is based on neuroscience. It was developed considering the perception and production of music and its influence on the function of the brain and behaviors (Smith, 2018).

NMT uses the variation within the brain both with and without music and manipulates this in order to evoke brain changes which affect the patient. It has been claimed that this type of music therapy changes and develops the brain by engaging with music. This has implications for training motor responses, such as tapping the foot to music. NMT can be used to develop motor skills (Smith, 2018).

Orff-Schulwerk is a music therapy approach developed by Gertrude Orff. When she realized that medicine alone was not sufficient for children with developmental delays and disabilities, Orff formed this model (Smith, 2018).

“Schulwerk”, or ‘school work’ in German, reflects this approach’s emphasis on education. It uses music to help children improve their learning ability. This method also highlights the importance of humanistic psychology and uses music as a way to improve the interaction between the patient and other people (Smith, 2018).

Listening to live or recorded music
Learning music-assisted relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation or deep breathing
Singing of familiar songs with live or recorded accompaniment
Playing instruments, such as hand percussion
Improvising music on instruments of voice
Writing song lyrics
Writing the music for new songs
Learning to play an instrument, such as piano or guitar
Creating art with music
Dancing or moving to live or recorded music
Writing choreography for music
Discussing one’s emotional reaction or meaning attached to a particular song or improvisation

This information about what music therapists do was found on the ‘Your Free Career Test’ (n.d.) website.

Music therapists work in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, mental health service locations, and nursing homes. They help a variety of different patients/clients.

A music therapist evaluates each clients’ unique needs. They ascertain a client’s musical preferences and devises a treatment plan that is customized for the individual.

Music therapists are part of a multi-disciplinary team, working with other professionals to ensure treatment also works for the client to achieve their goals. For example, if a person is working on strengthening and movement in order to address physical limitations, a music therapist could introduce dance into their treatment plan.

Therapists are advised to follow their own preferences, and as explained by Rachel Rambach (2016) a board-certified music therapist – instruments are the tools of a music therapist and should be specifically chosen based on the needs and goals of clients.

Some instruments are, however, more popular.

Muzique (a company promoting creative art experiences) has listed three instruments that have been proven most effective.

The first of these is the Djembe , or hand drum. Given that this single drum does not have a central melodic component, the client is free to express and connect with the musical rhythms without fear of playing a ‘wrong note’. The use of a small drum also facilitates a connection between the therapist and client by allowing them to be in close proximity.

They can play together at the same time, which may not be possible with a piano or guitar.

The guitar , according to Muzique (n.d.) is generally the top instrument used by music therapists. Again, a guitar can be used in close proximity to a client. The music therapist can also maintain melodic or harmonic control whilst allowing the client to play. The guitar can help maintain control in a group setting, but it can also be soothing and relaxing.

Muzique (n.d.) suggests that the piano is probably the instrument of choice when working with large groups. As the sound of a guitar can be drowned out by other instruments being played by clients, the piano can be more steady and holding background.

The music therapist should be mindful, however, of the apparent physical barrier between themselves and the client, and if possible, have the client sit next to the piano.

When Working With Children

Rachel Rambach (2016) concedes that there are certain instruments that she tends to utilize more often than others in her work with children. These include the 8 note hand bell set , which consists of a group of bells that each have their own color, number and letter of the medical alphabet (which can be ordered by pitch) and the mini guitar (which is very child-friendly and portable).

Another instrument Rambach (2016) likes is the frog guiro , which can be used in various ways – such as a guiro making a croaking sound, like a frog, or as a wood block. Castanets make a fun sound, and also help children acquire a pincer grip.

Rambach (2016) favors fruit shakers , which although they don’t make a unique sound, have a very realistic appearance and thus appeal to children. The cabasa does, on the other hand, make a unique sound and also brings in a tactile element to music therapy.

The cabasa is good for targeting fine and gross motor skills. The ‘lollipop’ drum is light, and not too loud so these are often preferred by Rambach (2016) over bigger paddle drums.

Rambach (2016) thinks every music therapist should have a ukulele . Their sound is sweet and inviting, and the ukulele makes the perfect alternative to a guitar.

They can be used as an accompanying instrument, but also for adapted lessons. Finally, the gathering drum encourages group cohesion in group settings or classes. They encourage children, or adult clients, to work together – sharing, and interacting with others (Rambach, 2016).

Anytune – slow down music BPM

Get it from the App Store .

Get it from Google Play .

Garage Band

This app provides a great tool for song-writing or improvisation. The individual can create literally hundreds of realistic, high-quality sounds (Fandom, n.d.).

Guitarist’s Reference

The app provides guitar triads, arpeggios, a reverse chord finder tool, alternate guitar tunings, chords scale relationships and a guitar chord quiz (Fandom, n.d.).

Magic Piano

The app can also be switched to where you have to hit the right spot (or the note will sound out of tune if not) or just tap the screen with the rhythm. It has 4 different difficulty settings: easy, medium, hard and auto mode that senses the person’s ability after a few songs (Fandom, n.d.).

Real Guitar Free

It has a vast range of options and is perfect for both beginners and experienced guitarists (Sena, 2012).

The following information was found on the ‘ Voices ’ website.

This is an open-access peer-reviewed journal. It welcomes dialogue and discussion across disciplines about music, health, and social change. The journal promotes inclusiveness and socio-cultural awareness. It features a focus on cultural issues and social justice.

‘Voices’ is published by the University of Bergen and NORCE Norwegian Research Centre through GAMUT – The Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre. The vision statement of ‘Voices’ is:

“ Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy seeks to nurture the profile of music therapy as a global enterprise that is inclusive and has a broad range of influences in the International arena. The forum is particularly interested in encouraging the growth of music therapy in developing countries and intends to foster an exchange between Western and Eastern as well as Northern and Southern approaches to the art and science of music therapy ”.

An official publication of the American Music Therapy Association aim, is to inform readers from both within and outside the music therapy profession.

By disseminating scholarly work, this journal sets out to promote the development of music therapy clinical practice, with a particular focus on clinical benefits.

Music Therapy Perspective seeks to be a resource and forum for music therapists, music therapy students, and educators as well as others from related professions.

The Journal of Music Therapy

The Journal of Music Therapy disseminates research (edited by A. Blythe LaGasse) that advances the science and practice of music therapy. It also provides a forum for current music therapy research and theory, including music therapy tools , book reviews, and guest editorials.

“ Its mission is to promote scholarly activity in music therapy and to foster the development and understanding of music therapy and music-based interventions…The journal strives to present a variety of research approaches and topics, to promote clinical inquiry, and to serve as a resource and forum for researchers, educators, and clinicians in music therapy and related professions ”.

The 5 Best Books on the Topic (Incl. The Music Therapy Handbook)

There is such a lovely selection of books on music therapy, but to be concise, we only reflect on five.

1. Music Therapy Handbook – Barbara Wheeler

This book is a key resource for music therapists and also demonstrates how music therapy can be used by other mental health and medical professionals.

It provides case material and an extensive look at music therapy, including both the basic concepts as well as the emerging clinical approaches. It contains a comprehensive section on clinical applications.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. The New Music Therapist’s Handbook – Suzanne Hanser

This is a revised, updated version of Hanser’s 1987 book. It reflects recent developments in the field of music therapy.

This book serves as a ‘go-to’ resource for both students and professionals. It contains an introduction to music therapy as a profession, provides guidelines for setting up a practice, and describes new clinical applications as well as relevant case studies.

3. Case Studies in Music Therapy – Kenneth Bruscia

This book is suitable as a reference, a textbook for students, or simply to provide an introduction to the field of music therapy.

It is made up of 42 case-histories of children, adolescents and adults receiving group and individual therapy in a range of different settings, in order to demonstrate the process of music therapy from beginning to end.

The book describes various approaches and techniques in music therapy, and captures moving stories of people worldwide who have benefitted from music therapy and the relationships developed with music therapists.

4. Defining Music Therapy – Kenneth Bruscia

Bruscia’s book examines the unique difficulties of defining music within a therapeutic context and, conversely, defining therapy within a music context. It compares and examines more than 40 definitions of music therapy and provides a new definition.

Bruscia discusses each component of this new definition and by doing so suggests boundaries for what music therapy IS versus what it IS NOT.

5. Musicophilia: Tales of Music and The Brain – Oliver Sacks

This book is slightly different to the others. It examines the place music occupies in the brain, and how music affects the human condition.

Sacks explores cases of what he terms “musical malalignment”.

He explains why music is irresistible and can be both healing and unforgettable.

Bunt, L., & Pavlicevic, M. (2001). Music and emotion: Perspectives from music therapy. In P.N. Justin & J.A. Sloboda (Eds), series in affective science. Music and emotion: Theory and Research (pp. 181 – 201). New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press

Stultz, D. L., Lineweaver, T. T., Brimmer, T., Cairns, A.C., Halcomb, D. J., Juett, J. et al. (2018). “Music first”: An alternative or adjunct to psychotropic medications for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. GeroPsych: The Journal of Gerontopsychology & Geriatric Psychiatry, 31, 17 – 30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000180

Landis-Shack, N., Heinz, A. J., & Bonn-Miller, M. O. (2017). Music therapy for posttraumatic stress in adults: A theoretical review. Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, 27, 334 – 342. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pmu0000192

Bell, T. P., McIntyre, K. A., & Hadley, R. (2016). Listening to classical music results in a positive correlation between spatial reasoning and mindfulness. Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, 26, 226 – 235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pmu0000139

Barrett, F. J., Grimm, K. J., Robins, R. W., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., & Janata, P. (2010). Music-evoked nostalgia: Affect, memory, and personality. Emotion, 10, 390-403. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0019006

Ladviig, O., & Schellenberg, E. G. (2012). Liking unfamiliar music: Effects of felt emotion and individual differences. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and The Arts, 6, 146 – 154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0024671

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Some of these heart-warming videos are perfect to illustrate the benefits of Music Therapy.

What is Music Therapy?

This video features a board-certified musical therapist, Ryan Judd. He answers the questions “What is music therapy?” and “how do I find a music therapist?”

Music Therapy: Healing Music Sound Therapy for Relax, Chakra Balancing, and Well-being.

From the Meditation Relax Club .

Suitable for use in relaxation exercises or meditation, this video features peaceful, calming music set against a tranquil video.

My Job: Music Therapist

Trish, a music therapist, explains her role. She also explains how music therapy can help clients to meet both medical and emotional needs.

What a Music Therapy Session Looks Like

By sharing a description of working with a child with autism spectrum disorder, this board-certified music therapist explains what happens in a music therapy session. This video gives a brief snapshot of what music therapy looks like.

Music Therapy

This video shows the music therapy department at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. It explains how board-certified music therapists assist patients to cope with procedures, pain and anxiety.

The power of music has been evident since the earliest days of humankind. However, after the world wars of the 20th century, music therapy heralded the beginning of a powerful new profession.

Since then, various types and methods of music therapy have been developed, and music therapy has been practiced in a variety of settings with far-reaching benefits.

Hopefully, this article has provided you with a helpful overview of the music therapy profession. What are your experiences with music therapy? What do you think it offers clients in conjunction with traditional therapies? Or, have you had experience of music therapy as a stand-alone intervention? Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. For more information, don’t forget to download our three Positive CBT Exercises for free .

Blodgett, Ashley (2015). These 12 facts about music, and how they affect your brain, will astound you! Retrieved from https://www.unbelievable-facts.com/2015/04/facts-about-music.html/2
Blood, A., & Zatorre, R. J. (2001). Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. National Academy of Sciences, 98 , 11818 – 11823.
Bradt, J., & Dileo, C. (2010). Music therapy for end-of-life care. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, Art. No: CD007169.
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (n.d.). Music Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/fact-sheet-music-therapy/
Everyday Harmony (n.d.). What is Music Therapy? Retrieved from www.everydayharmony.org/what-is-music-therapy/
Fandom (n.d.). Music therapy activities wiki. Retrieved from https://musictherapyactivities.fandom.com/wiki/Music_Therapy_Activities_Wiki
Forsblom, A., Lantinen, S., Särkämö, T., & Tervaniemi, M. (2009). Therapeutic role of music listening in stroke rehabilitation. The Neurosciences and Music III-Disorders & Plasticity: Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1169 , 426 – 430.
Gerdner, L. A., & Swanson, E. A. (1993). Effects of individualized music on confused and agitated elderly patients. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 7 , 284 – 291.
Geretsegger, M., Elefant, C., Mössler, K. A., & Gold, C. (2014). Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Review of Systematic Reviews, 6, Art. No: CD004381.
Gold, C., Voracek, M., & Wigram, T. (2004). Effects of music therapy for children and adolescents with psychopathology: A meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45 , 1054 – 1063.
Greenberg, D. M. (2017). The World’s First Music Therapist. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-power-music/201704/the-world-s-first-music-therapist
Guetin, S., Portet, F., Picot, M. C., Pommie, C., Messgoudi, M., Djabelkir, L. et al. (2009). Effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia: Randomised, controlled study. Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 28 , 36 – 46.
Hillecke, T., Nickel, A., & Volker Bolay, H. (2005). Scientific perspectives on music therapy. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1060 , 1 – 12.
Jacobson, V., & Artman, J. (2013). Music therapy in a school setting. Retrieved from https://williams-syndrome.org/sites/williams-syndrome.org/files/MusicTherapyTearSheet2013.pdf
Klassen, J. A., Liang, Y., Tjosvold, L., Klassen, T. P., & Hartling, L. (2008). Music for pain and anxiety in children undergoing medical procedures: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ambulatory Pediatrics, 8 , 117 – 128.
Koelsch, S. (2009). A Neuroscientific perspective on music therapy. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1169 , 374 – 384.
Levy, Jillian (2017). Music therapy: Benefits and uses for anxiety, depression and more. Retrieved from https://draxe.com/music-therapy-benefits
Maratos, A., Gold, C., Wang, X., & Crawford, M. (2008). Music therapy for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1, Art. No: CD004517.
Muzique (n.d.). Top 3 instruments to use in a music therapy session. Retrieved from https://www.muzique.org/muziqueblog/top-3-instruments-to-use-in-a-music-therapy-session
Nordoff Robbins (n.d.). What is music therapy? Retrieved from https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/what-is-music-therapy
Rambach, Rachel (2011). 12 songs every music therapist should know. Retrieved from https://listenlearnmusic.com/2011/03/12-songs-every-music-therapist-should-know.html
Rambach, Rachel (2016). My top 10 music therapy instruments. Retrieved from https://listenlearnmusic.com/2016/02/my-top-10-music-therapy-instruments.html
Scott, Elizabeth (2018). Music relaxation: A healthy stress management tool. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/music-as-a-health-and-relaxation-aid-3145191
Seibert, Erin (n.d.). Mental health session ideas. Retrieved from https://musictherapytime.com/2015/12/24/mental-health-session-ideas/
Sena, Kimberley (2012). Guest Post: Essential iPad apps for music therapists. Retrieved from www.musictherapymaven.com/guest-post-essential-ipad-apps-for-music-therapists/
Smith, Yolanda (2018). Types of Music Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Types-of-Music-Therapy.aspx
Soundscape Music Therapy (n.d.). Music Therapy Methods. Retrieved from https://soundscapemusictherapy.com/music-therapy-methods/
The American Music Therapy Association (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.musictherapy.org/
Therapedia (n.d.). Music Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.theravive/therapedia/music-therapy
Wigram, T., Pedersen, I. N., & Bonde, L. O. (2002). A Comprehensive Guide to Music Therapy: Theory, Clinical Practice, Research and Training . London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Wong, H. L., C., Lopez-Nahas, V., & Molassiotis, A. (2001). Effects of music therapy on anxiety in ventilator-dependent patients. Heart and Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 30 , 376 – 387.
Your Free Career Test (n.d.). What does a music therapist do? Retrieved from https://www.yourfreecareertest.com/what-does-a-music-therapist-do/

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That was a great article .Thank you

So informative

Wonderful Post, simple, clear, direct, Very Informative…..Great Job Heather!!!…BRAVO,….Am musician, composer & arranger and I’m actually working on a Research Proposal for an MPhil by Research will be exploring in the field of Music Therapy. All the Best to You Heather

Thanks for sharing, great article.

This was very helpful. It helped in my understanding of the connection between music and wellness.

This article is so good. I got all the information I need. Thanks for sharing.

That’s really nice post. I appreciate, Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Heather. I am researching music and the therapeutic effects it has on those of us with brain injuries, to put together a small book on How To Recover From. A Brain Injury. Interestingly enough, my sister played music for me, while I was in a coma. I then went through a post injury (10 years later) phase of recovery where I loved live music. I would like to contribute this idea, although I am sure you are aware of it yourself, and that is the ability of music to bring you into the moment so fully, that all the deficits and disabilities fall away. I found my whole being enveloped in the music being performed, and forgot all about who I was. It was fabulously wonderful to feel so lifted up from a world of always working on improving yourself.

Great book Heather with so much information, I am researching for a uni essay and this has been most helpful,

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How Music Can Be Therapeutic

Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.

Listening to music is widely considered to be a quick way to improve your mood, but it's becoming increasingly clear that there are many more benefits to listening to music than just a quick mood boost. Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of healthcare known as music therapy, which uses music to heal.

People who practice music therapy are finding it can help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others. Hospitals are beginning to use music therapy to help ease pain and tension, to ward off depression, to promote movement, and to calm patients, among other benefits. Keep reading to learn more about the powerful ways music can affect the body and mind.

Therapeutic Effects of Music

The following are some of the physical effects of music that explain why music therapy can be so effective:

Brain Waves

Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and slower tempos promoting a calm, meditative state.

Research has also found that music can change brainwave activity levels to enable the brain to shift speeds more easily as needed. This means music can have lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.

Breathing and Heart Rate

With alterations in brainwaves come changes in other bodily functions, specifically those controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This means things like breathing and heart rate can be affected by the changes music can bring. Slower breathing and a slower heart rate can help activate a relaxation response , among other things.

State of Mind

Music can also be used to bring a more p ositive state of mind , helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. The uplifting sound of music and the positive or cathartic messages conveyed in lyrics can improve mental state as well.

Having a more positive state of mind as a baseline can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body and can help keep creativity and optimism levels higher, which in turn bring many of their own benefits.

Other Benefits

Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure (which can also reduce the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), boosting immunity, easing muscle tension , and more.

With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body stay (or become) healthy.

Music Therapy

With increasing research demonstrating the benefits of music, it's no surprise music therapy is growing in popularity. Music therapists help with several other issues as well, including stress. For more information on music therapy , visit the American Music Therapy Association's website .

Using Music on Your Own to Improve Health

While music therapy is an important discipline, you can also achieve many benefits from listening to music on your own. It is likely you have been doing this since you were a teenager, but it is important to continue incorporating music into your daily life as you age. Whether it's throwing music on to dissolve the stress of a long drive or using it to keep motivated while exercising, listening to music daily can be used for relaxation, energy, and catharsis.

Mofredj A, Alaya S, Tassaioust K, Bahloul H, Mrabet A. Music therapy, a review of the potential therapeutic benefits for the critically ill . J Crit Care . 2016;35:195-199. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2016.05.021

Kordovan S, Preissler P, Kamphausen A, Bokemeyer C, Oechsle K. Prospective study on music therapy in terminally ill cancer patients during specialized inpatient palliative care . J Palliat Med . 2016;19(4):394-399. doi:10.1089/jpm.2015.0384

Wang W-C. A study of the type and characteristics of relaxing music for college students . Proc Mtgs Acoust . 2014;21:035001. doi:10.1121/1.4902001.

Ellis RJ, Thayer JF. Music and autonomic nervous system (dys)function . Music Percept . 2010;27(4):317–326. doi:10.1525/mp.2010.27.4.317

De Witte M, Spruit A, Van Hooren S, Moonen X, Stams GJ. Effects of music interventions on stress-related outcomes: a systematic review and two meta-analyses . Health Psychol Rev . 2019;:1-31. doi:10.1080/17437199.2019.1627897

Aalbers S, Fusar-Poli L, Freeman RE, et al. Music therapy for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2017;11(11):CD004517. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004517.pub3

Lee KS, Jeong HC, Yim JE, Jeon MY. Effects of music therapy on the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system in stress-induced university students: a randomized controlled trial . J Altern Complement Med . 2016;22(1):59-65. doi:10.1089/acm.2015.0079

By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Music Therapy

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Music therapy is a form of treatment that uses music within the therapeutic relationship to help accomplish the patient’s individualized goals . This evidence-based approach involves techniques such as listening to, reflecting on, and creating music under the guidance of a trained music therapist.

It’s not necessary to have a musical background to benefit from music therapy. People of all ages, from children to adults, may find it is a good fit for their therapeutic needs.

When It's Used
How It Works
What to Expect
What to Look for in a Music Therapist

Music therapy is often practiced one-on-one, but it can also be used in group settings, such as a hospital, correctional facility, or nursing home. It is generally most effective when used in combination with other therapies and or medications.

Music therapy can help people manage physical pain and has proven effective in treating a variety of health conditions, including cardiac complications, cancer, diabetes, and dementia . It can help:

Lower heart rate and blood pressure
Reduce stress
Improve sleep
Boost memory and cognitive function

Music can also have powerful effects on a person’s psychological health. It can influence anyone’s mood, causing a range of effects from providing comfort to soothing physical pain to boosting energy. Studies have shown that music therapy can be particularly helpful for people who have an autism spectrum disorder or depression .

Other psychological benefits of music therapy include:

Lifting one’s mood
Increasing joy and awe
Reducing anxiety
Alleviating depression
Regulating emotions, particularly difficult ones
Facilitating self-reflection
Assisting in the processing of trauma

Humans have long appreciated the healing and cathartic power of music. Music taps into a primal sense of rhythm that we all possess. But modern music therapy began after World War II, according to the American Music Therapy Association. When community musicians visited hospitals to perform for veterans, the soldiers seemed to improve both physically and emotionally, eventually prompting the institutions to hire professionals for the job.

Music therapy continues to be practiced in hospitals, adding a therapeutic layer for patients hospitalized by illness or injury. It can help patients cope with emotional trauma and physical pain or feel more confident, joyful, and connected. Outside of a clinical setting, people can still enjoy these benefits, as music can stir emotion , prompt discussion, facilitate expression, and lower stress .

That power still holds when dementia or brain damage strikes. Music is processed and produced through a different pathway than verbal speech; bypassing that pathway allows patients to express themselves, communicate with loved ones, and experience the world more vibrantly.

After an initial assessment, a therapist will tailor techniques to fit a client's musical ability, interests, and specific needs. One approach is to create music—humming a nostalgic tune from one’s childhood , singing as part of a choir, or improvising on instruments such as the drums, piano, guitar, or chimes.

If the client is able to discuss the experience, a therapist might ask what memories the sounds provoke or what they’re feeling. The pair might listen to a song together and discuss the emotions and memories the song elicits. Or the client might write a song, which can illuminate a character or conflict in their lives or provide a cathartic release. The therapist could engage the client in breathing exercises, with or without music, to release tension and calm anxiety.

All of these exercises allow the therapist and client to explore the psychological, familial, social, cultural, and spiritual components of the person’s inner world. And clients don’t need to have any musical training or talent; the practice doesn’t focus on technical skills but employs music as a tool for reflection and communication.

While music therapy may not be a helpful approach for everyone, many people have found it beneficial. Start by looking for a board-certified music therapist. In the U.S., the certification process requires therapists to complete an undergraduate or master’s degree in music therapy at an approved institution, along with clinical training and a supervised internship. Therapists then must complete a board certification test. The Certification Board for Music Therapists grants practitioners the credential MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified).

Seeking out a therapist with whom the client feels a connection is also valuable. Creating a strong foundation of trust and appreciation can help an individual embrace the process and find success in therapy.

You may want to ask the music therapist a few questions before getting started:

How would they help with your particular concerns?
Have they dealt with this type of problem before?
What is their process?
What is their timeline for treatment?
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Speech on Music for Students and Children

Speech on music.

Good morning to one and all present here! We all know about music. I am going to deliver my speech on Music. Music is a pleasing arrangement and flow of sounds in air and of course, it varies in rhythm and systematic method. It is also art or skill that musicians possess and hence they are capable to give a musical performance for the audience.

Source: pixabay.com

Music is one of the most important boons of God for all living beings. Music is the subject that classifies all the rhythmic sounds into a system and anyone may learn and practice it. Not only that but also the plants, animals can enjoy the harmony, pleasant rhythm of the musical sounds.

Different Styles of the Music

The style of music has changed dramatically throughout the various ages of the time period. Mainly there are six eras in music history. These are the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century. Music has been and always will be a popular form of entertainment for many of us.

The dictionary defines the music as an art of sound in time which expresses ideas and emotions both significantly through the elements of rhythm, melody, and harmony.

Get the Huge list of 100+ Speech Topics here

Music has the Power to Heal

Music is a form of a melody that soothes into our body and helping us to feel refreshed and relaxed. It helps us to get rid of the anxiety and stress of our everyday life. Music is undoubtedly a great way of healing the pain. It makes us forget about unpleasant and disturbing thoughts by taking us in the world of melody.

Music can bring the back old memories in our present time. Music therapy restores us from several problems and emotions in our daily life. When we attend music therapy it helps our brain functioning quicker and helps us keep calm.

The Medicinal Effect of Music

Whatever problems we may have, that will flow out of our brain. Even it also helps the doctor and psychologist to identify the state of our brain and behaviors. Well, according to researchers and practitioners of music therapy is a big tool for all of us.

Indeed, music can heal people in many difficult situations. Music can make a big difference to people with brain injuries and it can activate the brain in alternative ways. It helps often bypassing the damaged areas, allowing people to regain movement as well as speech.

Therefore, music actually changes the structure of the brain, giving people new chances to move and speak. Also, various studies have shown that music therapy can regularize the heart and breathing rates. Even it can help cancer patients. In the field of psychology, music is very useful to help people suffering from depression and sadness. Also, children with developmental disabilities may get support from music in many ways.

In the end, I will say that being skilled in any component of music is a gift of God. I salute the great musicians who pacify me during my low times and let me celebrate my good times. Music as a hobby is the best alternative indeed.

Music is an effective way of healing the stress of anyone of any age. It is highly effective and supportive to relieve the person from any kind of mental or physical problem. So, we all be always live with music.

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11 Quotes That Get At The Heart Of Music Therapy

Words From Those Who Heal and Have Healed

We’ve all experienced that indescribable sensation when listening to music. We listen to a sad tune when we need to let it out, an uplifting beat when we feel joyful, and ambient sounds when we need to soothe ourselves. If it’s possible to feel so much through music on our own, imagine what can happen when adding therapy to the mix. ‍

Music therapy is an up and coming sect of mental health work that’s becoming increasingly popular. Using music, therapists offer a free flowing experience to help soothe their patients. This might mean playing music for a patient, teaching them to play, or simply experimenting with sounds that evoke feelings. Of course, there are also specific goals one might have when seeking out music therapy.

Some of these might include increasing one’s ability to express themselves, relax, acquire new coping skills, etc.

Music therapy has also shown to be effective physically as well as psychologically. It can aid in pain reduction, stress reduction, and increasing brain activity in people who live with neurological disorders.

Music therapy is special because it meets these goals by connecting us to the part of ourselves that takes in feeling.

children playing instruments with music therapist

Here are ten quotes that capture music's healing power:

“Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears- it’s a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear. But for many of my neurological patients, music is even more--it can provide access, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life. For them, music is not a luxury, but a necessity.”

--Oliver Sacks, neurology professor, best-selling author, and physician

“Imagination is tapping into the subconscious in a form of open play. That is why art or music therapy, which encourages a person to take up brushes and paint or an instrument, and just express themselves, is so powerful.”

--Phil ‘Philosofree’ Cheney, author of multiple books including Energizing Your Life and Brion and Freya

“Music should be a part of every analysis”

--C.G. Jung, world renowned psychoanalyst

“Listening to music has a positive impact on our health, by helping us recover faster when we experience stress, and through the reduction of the stress hormone cortisol, to help us achieve a calm state or homeostasis.”

--Alex Doman, Music Producer and author of Healing at the Speed of Sound

“Music can heal the wounds that medicine cannot touch.”

--Debasish Mrihda

Teacher instructing student on music technology

“When words fail, music speaks.”

--Hans Christian Anderson, prominent fairy-tale author

This couldn’t be more true. Music therapy provides a medium for those who have trouble expressing their emotions through words. In certain terms, music therapy allows an alternative ‘language’ for those seeking it out.

“As a music therapist, having produced an album about the human condition--about anxiety, ADD, and the whole spectrum of what we’re doing, it’s...it’s just such an honor to create art that does more than entertain.”

--Jon Samson, Music Therapist accepting a Grammy for his work on the album, Ageless: Songs for the Child Archetype. ‍

This is an important moment for both Samson and the music therapy field, to say the least. Getting recognized by the highest music award organization provides an opportunity for visibility. People who may never have heard of music therapy may now open themselves up to the concept, bringing it further into the mainstream.

“Music is the only thing we can engage with that activates every part of our brain.”

--Dr. Annie Heiderscheit, Music therapist

Since music lights up both sides of the brain , one can imagine music therapy to be healing in a way that is unique to the treatment modality.

“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel.”

--Hunter S. Thompson, american Journalist and author.

This point emphasizes the point of music being a driving force for growth. Music can be used as medicine for things as common as everyday stress, to our deepest pain.

“In a world full of separation, anger, prejudice, fear, judgement and pain, perhaps by expanding our familiar musical tastes we could slowly develop a listening ear for others who may not fit into our comfortable genres.”

--Amy Camie, breast cancer survivor and classically-trained harpist

“Music can be a profound step in the exploration of self, in the conscious act of honest reflection that goes by many names--mindfulness, meditation, self-discovery, self-empowerment, and enlightenment.”

--Amy Camie, cont’d ‍

As an entity, music has the power to heal us daily. Whether listening after a long day of work or in a hospital setting, it has therapeutic value that differs from so many treatment options available. Music therapy is still largely considered niche, but it’s slowly taking its rightful place on the psychological stage. If you’re looking for ways to soothe everyday stress or activate joy, check out Incadence for more information!

Edited by Cara Jernigan on January 19, 2021

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The Role of Music in Speech Therapy

For more than 50 years, music has been an integral element of routine care for children with speech impediments and hearing impairments. A great deal of research has been done that examines the role of music in an individual’s general health, as well as how music can be an effective intervention when it comes to speech and language challenges. So, it would only make sense that for both children and adults who struggle with communication issues, music should be considered an important part of their intervention and therapy plan.

Speech therapists use a wide variety of approaches, methods, and activities in their sessions, and each treatment plan is unique and focuses on the specific goals, needs, and strengths of each individual. If you think your child might benefit from speech therapy, you can learn more by scheduling your free introductory call today!

The Connection Between Music and Communication

Language and music are very closely connected at a fundamental level, as both require greater brain function and also involve cognitive skills, including attention, memory, and categorization. Music and grammar also use structures that must follow a particular order to make sense and appreciate it.

In addition, music and speech require a similar pitch. Musical sequences typically follow specific intervals, and speech also requires various frequencies when it comes to intonation, such as when a question is asked or a statement or exclamation is made. This element of speech is often referred to as ‘contour,’ and it is one that even young babies can detect.

How Does Music Therapy Help Communication Skills?

Music can have many benefits when it comes to improving communication skills. Both speech and singing require the coordination of the same mechanisms within the body. In order to speak or sing effectively, the following processes must function:

Respiration – Breathing Resonance – How airflow is shaped through the nasal and oral cavities Phonation – Initiating sound Articulation – Using the teeth and tongue to produce specific speech sounds Fluency – The ability to produce speech sounds easily and smoothly

By using a variety of interventions that involve singing as well as instrument play, music therapy can help to strengthen these processes to improve overall communication skills. If you want to learn more about the role of music in speech therapy, schedule your free introductory call today!

Can Music Facilitate Speech Recovery and Ease Pain?

The use of music in therapy is an evidence-based practice that uses music to address the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social needs of individuals of all ages. It is beneficial in various settings, such as hospitals and hospices. Music therapy has been proven to be helpful in reducing pain levels, promoting relaxation, improving communication skills, and providing comfort during challenging times.

One way music in therapy can be effective at reducing pain is through the use of rhythmical breathing exercises. These exercises involve focusing on a rhythm while taking slow, deep breaths, promoting relaxation of the body and mind. This type of approach has been shown to lower the heart rate and blood pressure, as well as decrease anxiety levels, all of which can lead to a reduction in overall pain levels.

An additional benefit of music in therapeutic settings is its ability to promote relaxation by providing a pleasant distraction from stressful feelings or thoughts.

Listening to relaxing music and creating a sense of peace and tranquility allows for more effective coping methods when dealing with challenging emotions or situations. In addition, some studies have suggested that specific types of musical interventions can have an analgesic effect because of their ability to activate the release of endorphins in the brain, which function as natural pain relievers.

How Does Music Help with Speech Therapy?

There are so many ways that music can be a beneficial part of speech therapy. The simplest way is through basic auditory stimulation. Music can expand the ability of the brain to process information. This can be beneficial in areas including behavior, skill development, sensory integration, and general coordination. Therefore, individuals who routinely listen to music can improve their speaking abilities as well as their capacity for focus. Auditory stimulation can work just as well during virtual speech therapy sessions as in-person ones.

Adults with speech problems caused by stroke or other forms of traumatic brain injury may benefit from Melodic Intonation Therapy. This is a form of therapy that is often used in situations in which the brain is damaged. This practice is rooted in the theory that using the unaffected hemisphere of the brain will help to gradually recover speech skills that have been lost in the damaged part of the brain. For instance, if an individual loses their ability to speak due to damage to the left side of the brain, MIT can be used to establish new ways to communicate. This type of therapy uses words and phrases that are supplemented by melodies, making the process of speaking closely resemble that of singing. MIT also takes advantage of the individual’s ability to sing, which in turn helps them improve their ability to speak.

For children, there are many different ways that speech therapists use music in their treatment sessions. The goal of using music in speech therapy is to help promote their language development, improve and ease their speech production, and support their overall communication skills. A recent study showed that children displayed significant improvement in their problem-solving skills, social skills, and how they interacted with others when music was a part of their speech therapy treatment plans.

Speech therapy can benefit individuals of all ages with a wide range of skills and challenges. If you would like to learn more about virtual speech therapy, get started by scheduling your free introductory call today!

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A Music Therapy Moment

Every music therapist has a wealth of stories about that exquisite musical/clinical moment when art and science come together to create an awareness, an accomplishment, a breakthrough. These stories – poignant, insightful, or humorous – show the power and effect of music therapy, and can help to build understanding of the benefits and applications of music therapy. These stories – along with the latest news and research in music therapy – bring the power of music therapy to people around the world, helping to educate and inspire and ensure access to quality music therapy services for every child, teen, and adult.

Experience the Power of Music Therapy in "A Music Therapy Moment"

Jimmy's story.

Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at the age of 4 months old, 11-year-old Jimmy has received care at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh throughout his entire life. Jimmy is full of light, energy, and a love for music runs deep in his bones. He can constantly be found tapping out an innate rhythm, singing the latest Maroon 5 jam in the hospital elevator, and strumming a guitar like the rockstar he always has, and always will be! Anytime Jimmy has to come to the hospital, his first request is to visit with the music therapists. Music therapy has provided Jimmy an outlet of expression, normalization of the hospital environment, and coping skills for procedures, tests, and other various treatments. After breaking his femur, music therapy collaborated with the physical therapy department to provide Jimmy the motivation to get out of bed and begin gait training with his walker in rhythm to “Can’t stop the feeling” by Justin Timberlake. He took his first steps in healing his leg that day, in conjunction with music therapy and physical therapy collaborating. When UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh opened their state-of-the-art Nora Grace Kaufman Center for Creative Arts Therapy in September 2019, Jimmy was there to break in the new sound system! The video below is Jimmy receiving pre-procedural support from music therapy, prior to a routine MRI.

Jimmy’s mother states: "Thank you for making Jimmy so happy with a gift of music that we all know runs very deep in him! Music Therapy is such an important part of Jimmy’s life."

Curated and submitted by AMTA's Interprofessional Collaborative Resources Committee

All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

Submitted by Edo Banach, JD, President and CEO, NHPCO

Music Therapy Featured at Kennedy Center Event, "Sound Health: Music and the Mind"

“Sound Health: Music and the Mind” began in 2017 as a major national event, honoring the power of music and music therapy, made possible by a partnership between the Kennedy Center; Renée Fleming, Artist Ambassador for the Kennedy Center; and the National Institutes of Health.

A concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Edwin Outwater, alongside renowned neuroscientists Dr. Daniel Levitin, Dr. Nina Kraus, Dr. Charles Limb, as well as musician Ben Folds, singer/actor Jussie Smollett, and of course, the incomparable Renée Fleming, kicked off the weekend on June 2, 2017. June 3, 2017 featured a full day of sessions with interactive presentations and shows, including one curated by Dr. Sheri Robb, “Breakthroughs with Music Therapy: Recovery, Resilience, Quality of Life.” Additional sessions featured music and child development (Dr. Nina Kraus), creative aging (Dr. Ani Patel), and jazz, creativity and the brain (Dr. Charles Limb).

Watch a recording of Dr. Robb’s excellent session, “Breakthroughs with Music Therapy: Recovery, Resilience, Quality of Life,” with the help of musician Ben Folds, other music therapists, researchers, and clients, below:

Music Therapy & Medicine: A Dynamic Partnership

Music Therapists are "Persons of the Week"

On the March 6, 2015 airing of ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir applauded "all the music therapists" for the wonderful work they do. Highlighting Congresswoman Gabby Giffords ' rehabilitation with Maegan Morrow and a number of other music therapists around the country, David named music therapists as their "Persons of the Week." Click here to watch.

Music Therapy in Larry's Life

In her daily work, board certified music therapist Moreen Bosch sees the impact of music and therapy on the lives of many individuals as well as on their families and other caregivers. Photojournalist Benjamin Hager captured some of Moreen's work on film, including her interaction with Larry and an interview with his wife. Take a few minutes to hear about music therapy from the perspective of a family member, and to see Larry's contentment and engagement when making music with Moreen in music therapy.

Music Therapy & Medicine: Partnerships in Care

Wondering what music therapy looks like? Watch this video to learn more about one of its applications.

The Transformative Power of Working with People Who Are Facing Death

Our work as music therapists never stops giving us powerful experiences and lessons. This seems to be magnified when spending one’s days with people who are facing death. With this experience, music therapists are sensitized to the extreme emotions surrounding death, and can empathize with these patients and their families.

I had the privilege of working with an older man, who I’ll refer to as Mr. Smith, and who dearly touched my heart. Countless patients of mine have touched me, but Mr. Smith will remain in my memory as vividly as I saw him in the very hours we spent together.

At the end of life, there is a certain amount of one’s will that determines when one dies. I have seen people hold on to their lives with extreme pain and labored breathing, for weeks, just to reconcile a broken relationship with a loved one. That being said, there is simply no substitute for the beautiful and seamless opportunity that music therapy provides for people to complete their lives with dignity.

Music allowed Mr. Smith to die peacefully. The two songs that he specifically requested conveyed the messages he needed to share before departing from this world. Music therapy provided him the crucial opportunity or medium to express what he felt.

Since Mr. Smith was in a great deal of pain at the end of his life, we never engaged in very formal lyric analysis; however, Mr. Smith naturally expressed his analysis of these songs in small, intermittent statements during our sessions.

The first song he requested was Send In The Clowns , by Stephen Sondheim. This song, to Mr. Smith, highlighted the gross irony that, in stark contrast to the beauty and potential happiness in this world, there is often great emotional and physical pain in our final hours. The grand exit and culmination of our lives is often marked "not with a bang, but a whimper," as T.S. Elliot so poignantly writes. It is a cold reality; a cruel joke that often leaves us bitter. Send in the Clowns validated and beautifully conveyed feelings for Mr. Smith when he could not. He said "I used to be able to sing and dance, and now-" he paused and closed his eyes, wincing from a shooting pain- "well, I’m here in this place." "This place" was where people came to die. Mr. Smith knew that, because, in addition to being fully alert and oriented, he had a sister who had passed away there just two years before.

The second song he requested was "Try to Remember," from the Broadway musical The Fantastiks . This is a beautiful song that he particularly wanted his family to hear. There are several lines in this song that Mr. Smith highlighted by mouthing the words to his wife:

"Deep in December it’s nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow."

I’ve wondered what Mr. Smith’s room would’ve been like without music therapy. Mr. & Mrs. Smith had four children- one who’d been estranged- all of whom were quite anxious. No one’s anxiety exceeded that of his wife, however. I was able to witness the facilitation of tears, hugs, and precious family interactions by our music therapy sessions together.

I’ve also wondered how my life would be without the experience and privilege of working with Mr. Smith. It is impossible to know for sure, but I can say that I am better able to keep an eye on the big picture of my life after working with him.

My time with Mr. Smith instilled in me a powerfully transformative thought. The music of our lives remains long after our bodies pass away; the love contained therein is eternal and will last beyond our pain.

Music Hath Charms

Music has the power to charm the savage beast. It also has the power to enrich the mind of a child with autism. Many people with autism have limited verbal expression. They live a life of involuntary silence. "After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." (Aldous Huxley) That is the reason why "music (became) the shorthand of (William's) emotions." (Leo Tolstoy) It gave him opportunities for speech, emotional contact and mental focus.

From the age of four through his current age of 16, William has taken a music bath once or twice a week at The Music Settlement. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "...a music bath... is to the soul what the water bath is to the body." Music has flown out, immersing restless feelings, calming William, minimizing his hesitation. Then it ebbed and he met the eyes of the therapist. With the guidance of Ronna Kaplan and other music therapists, William has developed, encouraged to tune his fine and gross motor skills. The therapy program made use of live and recorded music, pre-planned dialogues for the clients and sound effects. While learning to play instruments, William also learned life skills. "Music (became the soundtrack of (his) life." (Dick Clark)

Being born with autism makes it difficult to interact with others or communicate verbally. It causes the affected person to be unaware of reacting in ways that others do not commonly react in society. Music therapy provided William a non-threatening environment in which to build relationships with peers, express himself verbally and nonverbally and learn to participate in socially acceptable ways. This was achieved through group therapy, as well as individualized sessions. Both forms were ideal for William, because individual lessons allowed him to learn at his own pace. These lessons were tailored to meet his needs. They helped him to learn to read music, follow a rhythm, and to respect the need to display the proper behavior in the proper situation. Small group therapy required him to learn to take turns and to be a focused member of a team. He had to use proper questions and verbal responses. He had to learn to be both leader and supportive member. This even carried over to life outside of The Music Settlement, as William auditioned for and earned a position on a regular team of drummers for his school. He was able to perform at the House of Blues in front of a large, noisy audience, with no problem. This was not something that he would have been able to withstand before his experiences in music therapy.

We are very pleased and thankful for the progress that William has made over the years and we foresee him continuing to flourish with additional music therapy. The combination of an excellent music therapy curriculum and an enthusiastic, care-giving staff, has enabled William not to just, "...go where a path might lead, but instead to go where there is no path and leave (his) trail." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

I am closing with a short poem, expressing my feelings about The Music Settlement and its staff. It is simply entitled, Thank You .

Thank You Music therapy teaches Social skills. It's about communication. It's about what William's taught, In nurturing situations. He's learned patience And tolerance, Growing in many ways. His social skills developed, Made him what he is today. So, thank you for your guidance, As only music can touch. Thank you for reaching our William, Because it means so much.

The Gift of Music Therapy During My Daughter's Battle with Cancer

"When Allison would peek through the window of our hospital room door, guitar in hand, we would heave a sigh of relief and wave her in... Music has the power to transport the listener." Listen to this 3-minute testimonial from Jefri Franks , the mom of a child who received music therapy services throughout her fight with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Jefri shares highlights of music therapy helped her family find outlets and insights through their "harrowing journey."

The Knot at the End of the Rope

My father lived life with strength and determination. As complications associated with diabetes diminished his physical capabilities, his indomitable will to combat the disease fervently hammered away. A WW II Navy Seal, Joe Altman lived by a simple rule; when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

When dementia struck hard and violently broke through Dad’s spirit, music therapist Alessandro Ricciarelli entered his life. Armed with six strings attached to a wooden guitar, Alessandro surpassed the capabilities of the most sophisticated medical technology.

Each time Alessandro walked through the door, an invisible wall formed around them, creating a comfortable space in which a trusting bond of friendship would quickly form. Alessandro brought with him happiness, encouragement, added a sense of meaning and purpose to Dad’s life, and, in doing so, resuscitated his spirit. In a most gentle way, Alessandro treated Joe with the utmost dignity and respect.

Alessandro’s dedication was not limited to actual hospital visits; he took personal time to learn songs that were relevant to Dad and made recordings of their sessions together to be enjoyed at any given time. Alessandro appreciated the power of positive thoughts, and with his kind words, a smile, compassion, and a true desire to make Dad happy, he encouraged Dad’s participation, leaving us with cherished memories of my father having one last chance to express himself through music, smiling and enjoying life.

In a very real sense, Alessandro was that knot at the end of the rope on to which Dad grabbed. I am forever grateful to the Music Therapy Program at NYU Medical Center, more specifically, to Mr. Alessandro Ricciarelli.

Submitted by Florence Cohen

Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Helps Moms (and Coaches) Through Labor

Everyone knows that labor and delivery can be a painful and sometimes anxiety producing experience for the mother, the coach, and even the hospital staff. Music therapists can help reduce these negative aspects of childbirth by providing music therapy before, during, and even sometimes, after the birth of a child. The following summary is evidence of the positive effects of Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth.

In 1983, Hanser, Larson, and O’Connell studied the use of music to enhance relaxation and decrease pain responses in mothers during childbirth. The music therapists used music to cue rhythmic breathing, assist the mothers in relaxation, prompt positive associations, and help focus attention on the music as a diversion from pain and hospital sounds. A small sample of seven Lamaze-trained mothers was used and subjects served as their own controls. Two individual music therapy sessions were conducted with the subjects prior to the birth experiences. In the first session the music therapist established rapport and determined the musical preferences of the mother. Prior to the second session the music therapist developed an individualized music program for each mom. During the second session the mothers were familiarized with their music programs and instructed in relaxation and breathing techniques.

The music therapists attended the births and monitored music during the experience. During labor each mother experienced periods of music and non-music and were observed under both conditions. Observations of tension and relaxation in various parts of the body were made and recorded. Two other relaxation behaviors, breathing and verbalization were observed and recorded as positive, negative, or neutral. During the delivery phase the music therapists played music that was specially selected by each mother and her coach.

One week after the delivery each mother was given a post-delivery questionnaire and was asked how the music helped her concentrate, relax, and whether it helped with rhythmic breathing. Results indicated that all of the mothers had fewer pain responses in the music vs. no-music condition, and that music aided concentration, relaxation, cued breathing, and diverted attention from pain.

Coaches and hospital staff also responded well to the music, indicating that the music made a positive contribution to the labor and delivery experience.

Submitted by Mary DiCamillo, EdD, MT-BC. B ased on the following article: Hanser, S., Larson, S.C. & O’Connell, A.S. (1983). The effect of music on relaxation of expectant mothers during labor. Journal of Music Therapy, 20 (2), 50-58.

Research Findings Show Effectiveness of Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth

The field of Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth has been growing and developing during the last twenty years. A landmark study by Clark, McCorkle, and Williams (1981) was the first published treatment protocol for music therapists for working with labor and delivery patients. Their investigation was a preliminary study of the effectiveness of music for pain relief during labor and delivery. They found that music serves several functions in the natural childbirth process including attention focusing, distraction from pain, stimulating pleasure responses, focusing breathing, and as a conditioned stimulus for relaxation.

There were 20 subjects in this study. Thirteen experimental subjects received 6 pre-natal music training sessions with a music therapist. Seven control group subjects did not receive the music treatment. The treatment sessions were focused on selecting appropriate music and learning/practicing music-assisted relaxation techniques. The experimental group patients each received a stereo cassette tape for home practice in order to become familiar with the relaxation techniques. The Music Therapist was notified when each subject went to the hospital and assisted the patients in labor and delivery. The therapist played the music continually and relied on it more than verbal contact when the woman was in labor. During the pushing phase, the tempo, intensity, and energy of the music were increased to give the mothers energy to push. Special music, which was chosen by the parents, was played at the time of the delivery and the music concluded when the patient left the delivery room. After the birth, the music therapist administered a childbirth experience questionnaire to each subject.

Results indicated that the music group had higher success scores on 5 out of 7 indices of the childbirth process. A moderate correlation between home practice with the music and successful outcome was also found. The authors also noted the possibility that perhaps support from a music therapist during labor and delivery contributed to successful outcome. Overall, findings suggested that music therapy may successfully contribute to reducing anxiety during childbirth, as well as augment positive feelings of support throughout the childbirth experience.

Submitted by Mary DiCamillo, EdD, MT-BC. B ased on the following article: Clark, M.E. McCorkle, R. R. & Williams, S. B. (1981). Music therapy assisted labor and delivery. Journal of Music Therapy, 28 (2), 88-100.

Music Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease

Rose is in her eighties and lives in a nursing home due to her diagnosis of Probable SDAT - Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type. She speaks in one-word syllables, appears unaware of her surroundings and cannot take care of her bodily needs. However, when she is visited by the music therapist and sings "You are my Sunshine," her words are clearly understood. Her singing has recognizable pitch and melody, and she sings with emotional expression. Her face brightens, and she makes eye contact with the therapist. Rose also enjoys participating in group music therapy. The members of her drum circle group have learned how to start and stop together, to change their playing from loud to soft and to play a variety of rhythmic patterns. They stay seated and pay attention to the therapist’s directions for the entire thirty-minute session. The nursing staff on the unit has noticed that for several hours following the group, those who have participated seem to have a better mood, are less agitated and more relaxed.

A diagnosis of "Alzheimer’s Disease" strikes fear and sadness into a family’s heart. There is no cure, and the care of a person with Alzheimer’s Disease can mean heavy financial and psychological burdens for family members. It is important that families facing this situation be aware that there are many sources of help and support. One important source of help can be music therapy. Research studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s Disease respond to music at all stages of the disease. For example, in the early stages of the disease, the music therapist can help the person use existing music skills to constructively fill his or her leisure time. Music also can be paired with relaxation techniques to relieve symptoms of depression. During the middle stages of the disease, listening to and talking about familiar music can provide a source of comfort and reassurance. Theme-based music therapy groups can challenge cognitive skills, encourage social interaction and improve mood. Even people in the later stages of dementia can benefit from involvement with music. At this stage, music can encourage communication through eye contact, touch and changes in facial expression. Favorite recorded music also can be helpful in decreasing problem behaviors associated with agitation or aggression, and singing with or to a person can provide meaningful human contact.

Why a music therapist? Won’t the radio, TV or CD player accomplish the same goals? The music therapist’s specialized training enables him or her to choose and adapt music experiences that match the individual’s interests, needs and abilities. At every stage of Alzheimer’s Disease, there is a greater chance of success when a music therapist is present to structure the experience and to offer encouragement. Carefully chosen music experiences plus the nurturing contact with the therapist can draw the person with dementia out of a world of isolation into a world of comfort and connection. For the individual with Alzheimer’s Disease, music therapy can be a gift that helps to reveal hidden sources of creativity, and to restore a sense of their personhood.

Submitted by Anne Lipe, PhD, MT-BC

Music Cognition in People with Alzheimer's Disease

What can singing a familiar song or playing different rhythms on a hand drum tell us about thinking abilities in someone with Alzheimer’s Disease?

When someone is suspected of having Alzheimer’s Disease or a related dementia, several evaluations are conducted by a medical team. These evaluations may include physical and psychological examinations, and tests of the person’s memory and thinking ability. These mental status tests provide information about awareness of person, place and time; the ability to identify and recall objects, to perform simple calculations and spelling tasks, and to follow written instructions. Older people who are having difficulty with their memory and thinking skills may feel anxious in testing situations. Their concern about coming up with the right answers may even get in the way of their ability to do well on the test. Can music help us to get this information in a way that makes things easier on the person being tested?

In a recent study, thirty-two older adults performed a variety of singing and rhythm playing tasks under the direction of a music therapist. Both new and familiar songs were sung, and questions were asked about the songs. Study participants were introduced to a hand drum, and were asked to imitate rhythms played by the therapist, to chant and play rhythms at the same time, and to make up their own rhythm patterns. Participants also received three mental status tests typically used to evaluate people who have symptoms of a dementia-related illness.

Results of this study found that the ability to do the tasks on the music evaluation was not influenced by prior music training. Results also found strong relationships between participants’ scores on the standard mental status tests and the music evaluation. This shows that the two types of tests are likely to be measuring similar kinds of thinking ability. Specific music skills were associated with each stage of dementia. For example, people in later stages of dementia could not sing, but could imitate rhythm patterns on the hand drum.

Several practical implications can be drawn from this study. All of the participants in the study were able to complete all of the tasks. Even those with severe dementia paid attention to the therapist during the entire evaluation, and responded in some way to the tasks. Many of the tasks on the music evaluation did not require a spoken response. This is important, because as a dementia progresses, people lose the ability to communicate verbally. Music offers a way to communicate that doesn’t depend on spoken language.

Did the music-making experience make the testing situation more enjoyable for the people in this study? Perhaps. What this study does show is that music can help to reveal cognitive and creative abilities that lie hidden beneath the cloud of a dementia-related illness.

This summary is submitted by and based on the following article by Anne Lipe, PhD, MT-BC: Lipe, A. (1995). The use of music performance tasks in the assessment of cognitive functioning among older adults with dementia. Journal of Music Therapy, 32(3), 137-151.

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How To: Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) for Severe Aphasia & Apraxia

8 min read

Have you ever encountered a person with aphasia who struggles to say their name, but can sing Happy Birthday at a family party without a problem? It’s been found that melody and rhythm can be used in a systematic way to improve verbal fluency and speech output. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a singer to use music in speech therapy.

Melodic Intonation Therapy makes use of the singing ability of aphasia often seen when singing Happy Birthday

The Problem: Aphasia & Apraxia

Aphasia is a language disorder commonly caused by a stroke or other brain injury which impacts a person’s ability to communicate. The type and severity of aphasia are different for every person. Those with Broca’s aphasia – or non-fluent aphasia – typically have restricted verbal output, relatively good auditory comprehension, and speech that is often slow & halting.

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder that results in difficulty coordinating the muscles used to form speech. Both are commonly seen after damage to the left hemisphere of the brain.

The Treatment: Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT)

Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) is an evidence-based treatment method that uses intoning (singing) to improve expressive language in people with aphasia. The approach takes advantage of the undamaged right hemisphere by engaging areas that are capable of language. It is thought that the melodic & rhythmic prosody, slower rate of articulation, and continuous voicing that result from MIT may reduce the dependence on the left hemisphere.

Who Melodic Intonation Therapy Helps

People with severe Broca’s aphasia have been found to be the best candidates for MIT. To use MIT successfully, the person must:

Have damage to only the left hemisphere of the brain
Demonstrate moderately good auditory comprehension
Have non-fluent speech with effortful speech production of only a few words or only nonsense syllables
Have poor ability to repeat even single words
Show some ability to produce words while singing familiar songs
Be alert, motivated, emotionally stable, and have a good attention span

Since Broca’s aphasia and apraxia are so commonly found together, it is unknown if MIT addresses aphasia, apraxia, or both.

What You’ll Need to Do Melodic Intonation Therapy

Phrases for Stimuli: Since the goal of MIT is to learn a new way to speak (not just learn & recall a set of sentences), stimuli must be abundant and varied. During the first stages, stimuli should be no longer than 4 syllables and gradually work to more complex statements made of 5+ syllables.

Put time and thought into the phrases you choose by working with your client and their caregivers to determine ones that are personally relevant. Stimuli should have a high probability of being stated in everyday conversation (e.g., if the client dislikes coffee, you would not choose the phrase “cup of coffee” to practice).

Melodic Patterns: Only 2 – 4 musical notes are to be used and should resemble natural prosody patterns. Therefore, emphasized syllables will be produced on higher notes. To make it easier, write down all the chosen phrases and sentences in order of syllable length, then underline the naturally emphasized words or syllables to determine your melody for intonation.

Underline the stressed syllables when creating stimuli for MIT

Key Components of Melodic Intonation Therapy

Intonation and left-hand tapping.

These elements are integral to the success of MIT. Studies that compared MIT to a control therapy without intoning and tapping indicated better results for MIT, as well as more global activation on fMRI studies than the control.

Inner Rehearsal

This component can be particularly beneficial for individuals with AOS. By silently intoning the target phrase, it is thought to activate a higher-level cognitive-linguistic representation, which gives the speaker an additional attempt to correctly sequence motor commands.

Auditory-Motor Feedback Training

It is vital for clients to be able to distinguish the difference between the target phrase and their own speech production. However, it is difficult for individuals with aphasia and/or AOS to self-correct in real-time. The added benefit to intoning allows for more isolated phonemes that are heard distinctly and sustained phonemes that provide time to think ahead to the next sound. Auditory-motor feedback training may begin with listening back to a recording of the target and end with self-evaluation during speech.

Controversy around MIT

Though Melodic Intonation Therapy has been studied over the past several decades, its effects and mechanisms continue to be questioned in reviews. Some of the challenges & controversies are as follows:

Frequent deviations from the original MIT protocol make research studies hard to compare: Some utilize MIT as a protocol, others reduce it down to a facilitation technique with intoned speech. Other variations include mouthing of words as cues and elimination of hand-tapping all together.
The role of the right hemisphere: Studies have shown inconsistent findings of right hemisphere activation. However, there are several factors that can explain these differing results including different imaging techniques, failure to use the correct protocol, no pre- and post-treatment comparisons, and individual differences.
Aphasia v. Apraxia: Although originally thought to treat Broca’s aphasia, new research poses the hypothesis that MIT treats AOS rather than aphasia. Clinical markers of Broca’s aphasia and AOS are similar apart from agrammatism, and MIT has shown little effect on agrammatism. Could MIT actually be more of a motor speech treatment than strictly a language treatment?

There are other music-based therapies offered to stroke survivors that are not MIT, but are often grouped with it. This article explains the protocol most speech-language pathologists use to provide Melodic Intonation Therapy.

How To Do Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT)

Step 1: humming.

Visually signal the client to listen. Hum the target phrase alone one time then intone (sing) the phrase two times with hand-tapping, ask the client to rehearse in their head while listening.

Step 2: Unison Intoning

Signal for the client to join in unison repetition of the target phrase with hand-tapping.

What's for dinner? is a good stimulus phrase for melodic intonation therapy

Step 3: Unison Intoning with Fading

Begin with unison intoning of the target phrase with hand-tapping. Fade your vocal participation but continue hand-tapping.

Step 4: Immediate Repetition

Signal the client to listen. Intone the target phrase alone with hand-tapping. Signal the client to repeat the target alone with the assistance of hand-tapping. A phonemic cue can be provided if the client has difficulty initiating the target.

Repetition is important for melodic intonation therapy

Step 5: Response to a Question

Following the client’s successful repetition of the target phrase from step 4, intone a probe question such as, “What did you say?” The client answers by intoning the target phrase alone. If the client needs assistance, you may tap out the syllables of the target response.

Ask a question to hear the response again in melodic intonation therapy

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MIT Using the Apraxia Therapy App

Tactus Therapy’s Apraxia Therapy app incorporates several of the key principles of MIT including slow & prosodic speech, hand-tapping, and changes in length and complexity of stimuli using functional phrases. Using this app at home can give people with aphasia a chance to practice speaking using highly-intoned speech in unison with a model that fades out, just like MIT performed by a clinician.

Adjust the Settings

Touch the Settings button in the top right corner of the home screen. Here you can adjust the steps, speed, and cues to meet your client’s needs. To most-closely resemble MIT, make sure the Tap Cues are activated.

Choose Your Stimuli

Select the Phrases activity. It contains hundreds of phrases and sentences that people need to say every day. Then select the phrases you wish to practice. They are sorted by syllable length into 7 levels. When starting with MIT it is recommended to choose phrases from levels 1 – 4.

Begin Treatment

Apraxia Therapy contains 6 steps, including listening, tapping, unison intoning, faded intoning, and independent intoning. Encourage the user to continue to tap during all steps of the protocol.

Self-Evaluate

The Apraxia Therapy app will automatically record the user’s independent production and prompt them to indicate how well they did. Auditory-motor feedback training is a fundamental part of the self-monitoring process for both aphasia and apraxia that promotes insight and awareness in real-time.

Bonus features of using the Apraxia Therapy app:

Keep the text visible: While the MIT protocol doesn’t include the client reading the text at all, the app has the option to keep the text cues constantly on the screen if needed, and then switch to fading them out in the final steps. If you don’t want to see the text at all, position a thick piece of paper or sticky-notes over the top portion of the screen to block the text from view.
Adjust rate : You can make the video go a bit faster or slower as needed in the settings.
Try it for free : Download the Apraxia Therapy Lite app to get 1 phrase in each level. That’s 3 phrases to get you started with MIT right away!

Apraxia Therapy

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Resources for Melodic Intonation Therapy

Melodic Intonation Therapy has been used by speech-language pathologists since the 1970s when Nancy Helm-Estabrooks, Martin Albert, and Robert Sparks developed the protocol. MIT is one of the most well-researched treatments for severely impaired verbal expression related to aphasia. Nancy Helm-Estabrooks offers a Melodic Intonation Therapy Kit including examples of MIT at each level and other benefits. Her book Manual of Aphasia and Aphasia Therapy (3rd Edition) has a complete chapter dedicated to MIT with scoring and goal examples. A detailed overview with sample stimuli and data trackers is also available from Neuro Speech Solutions .

Selected research articles on MIT:

Norton, A., Zipse, L., Marchina, S., & Schlaug, G. (2009). Melodic intonation therapy: Shared insights on how it is done and why it might help. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169 , 431–436.
Schlaug, G., Marchina, S., & Norton, A. (2008). From Singing to Speaking: Why Singing May Lead to Recovery of Expressive Language Function in Patients with Broca’s Aphasia. Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 25(4) , 315–323.
Sparks, R. W. “Melodic Intonation Therapy.” Language Intervention Strategies in Aphasia and Related Neurogenic Communication Disorders , edited by Roberta Chapey, 5th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008, pp. 837–851.
Sparks, R. W., & Holland, A. L. (1976). Method: Melodic intonation therapy for aphasia. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 41 (3), 287–297.
Van der Meulen, I., van de Sandt-Koenderman, M. E., & Ribbers, G. M. (2012). Melodic Intonation Therapy: Present Controversies and Future Opportunities. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 93 , 46–52.
Zumbansen, A., Peretz, I., & Hébert, S. (2014). Melodic Intonation Therapy: Back to Basics for Future Research . Frontiers in Neurology, 5.

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Katie Brown , MA, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist in Buffalo, NY. She is the owner of Neuro Speech Solutions , a private practice that specializes in treatment for adult speech, cognitive, & swallowing disorders. Katie is passionate about providing person-centered & functional therapy to help her patients meet their life goals.

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BMC Complement Altern Med

Effects of music therapy in the treatment of children with delayed speech development - results of a pilot study

Wibke groß.

1 Nordoff Robbins Centre of Music Therapy, Ruhrstrasse 70, 58452 Witten, Germany

2 Department of Music Therapy, Community Hospital Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany

Ulrike Linden

Thomas ostermann.

3 Center of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany

Language development is one of the most significant processes of early childhood development. Children with delayed speech development are more at risk of acquiring other cognitive, social-emotional, and school-related problems. Music therapy appears to facilitate speech development in children, even within a short period of time. The aim of this pilot study is to explore the effects of music therapy in children with delayed speech development.

A total of 18 children aged 3.5 to 6 years with delayed speech development took part in this observational study in which music therapy and no treatment were compared to demonstrate effectiveness. Individual music therapy was provided on an outpatient basis. An ABAB reversal design with alternations between music therapy and no treatment with an interval of approximately eight weeks between the blocks was chosen. Before and after each study period, a speech development test, a non-verbal intelligence test for children, and music therapy assessment scales were used to evaluate the speech development of the children.

Compared to the baseline, we found a positive development in the study group after receiving music therapy. Both phonological capacity and the children's understanding of speech increased under treatment, as well as their cognitive structures, action patterns, and level of intelligence. Throughout the study period, developmental age converged with their biological age. Ratings according to the Nordoff-Robbins scales showed clinically significant changes in the children, namely in the areas of client-therapist relationship and communication.

Conclusions

This study suggests that music therapy may have a measurable effect on the speech development of children through the treatment's interactions with fundamental aspects of speech development, including the ability to form and maintain relationships and prosodic abilities. Thus, music therapy may provide a basic and supportive therapy for children with delayed speech development. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the mechanisms of these interactions in greater depth.

Trial registration

The trial is registered in the German clinical trials register; Trial-No.: DRKS00000343

Music therapy is an established form of creative art therapy. By using music as a specific medium of communication and expression and adapting it to the individual resources and abilities of the patient, music therapy can be beneficial in activating and supporting mental and psycho-physical recovery. Several systematic reviews have shown the effects of music therapy in different clinical and therapeutic settings, such as for the treatment of psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like illnesses [ 1 ], psychosis [ 2 ], neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis [ 3 ], dementia [ 4 ], or for the treatment of anxiety and pain [ 5 ].

In addition to these therapeutic fields, music therapy can also be applied in the treatment of developmentally delayed children. Already in 1995, Aldridge et al. illustrated the use of music therapy in children with developmental delay [ 6 ]. In another study, Duffy and Fuller (2001) found that an 8-week music therapy intervention in social skills development in moderately disabled children resulted in an increment in terms of turn-taking, imitation, and vocalization [ 7 ]. Perry (2003) found direct relationships between the level of communication skills and elements of musical interaction in children with severe and multiple disabilities [ 8 ]. Finally, Kim et al. (2008) demonstrated the effects of music therapy on joint attention behaviours in preschool children with autism in a randomized controlled study [ 9 ].

Developmental delay often accompanies delayed speech development. Speech development is an important predictor for later problems, such issues with reading and spelling, among other learning difficulties. Gallagher [ 10 ] found that "studies of children with language impairment have reported emotional and behavioural problems in 50-75% of that population". According to Sallat [ 11 ], different authors describe children with delayed speech development as being highly at risk of other cognitive, social-emotional, and school-related problems.

However, definitions of speech development disorders still differ greatly and data on the prevalence of delayed speech development actually range from 4 to 40% [ 12 ]. Grimm et al. [ 13 ] detected substantial speech development disorders in 10% of children between the ages of 4 and 5 in Bielefeld, Germany, and suspected speech development disorders in 20%. General textbooks quote the epidemiology of specific speech development disorders as being between 3 and 5%; however, this is without a traceable background [ 14 ]. According to a study in Bavaria, 22.5% of tested children showed at least one problem in various tested areas that required speech therapy [ 15 ].

Although there are considerable epidemiological variations due to the definition of developmental speech delay, its prevention is a challenging social issue. In this respect, it is of vital importance to apply therapies that are able to support the salutogenetic capacities of the child with the aim of enhancing his or her speech development as early as possible.

According to findings of Aldridge [ 6 ] and Schumacher [ 16 ], music therapy is an approach that may facilitate significant advances in speech development and communication skills, particularly in children with autism. Additionally, Lathan-Radocy [ 17 ] described different ways and methods of working with speech and language impaired children by engaging them in music therapy. Finally, several case studies found positive effects of music therapy on speech development in children [ 18 - 20 ].

Based on these findings, this study aims at examining the effectiveness of music therapy on a child's verbal reasoning abilities. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate whether experiencing musical structures, such as rhythm or strophic forms, and improvising with a music therapist could stimulate a child's ability to understand sentences, as well as encourage his or her interest in communicating with others.

Study design

This observational pilot study was conducted in the Department of Music Therapy at Herdecke Community Hospital between 2006 and 2008. We chose an ABAB reversal design with alternations between music therapy and no treatment with an interval of approximately eight weeks between the blocks. Before and after the music therapy blocks, a speech therapist and a psychologist, who were both blinded to the conditions and timing, tested the children using validated speech and nonverbal developmental tests. The study was approved and accepted by the ethics commission at the University Witten/Herdecke (application number: 115/2006) and is registered in the German clinical trials register (Trial-No.: DRKS00000343; http://www.drks.de ).

Participants and inclusion criteria

All children were recruited via announcements in integrative and regular nursery schools. Parents contacted the music therapy department at the hospital by phone and after the first selection, 39 children aged 3.5 to 6 years, all with German as their native language, were eligible to participate in the study. Participants had to pass a medical examination and take a speech test to check whether they had a specific developmental speech disorder (ICD-10-Codes: F80.1, F80.2, F83). They also had to score below 50 out of 100 points in the phonological short-term memory test for non-words (German: PGN) and in one other subscale of the applied speech test SETK 3-5 (see "Test instruments" section for a detailed description). Children diagnosed with autism or muteness and/or a speech development disorder due to any organic causes (e.g. deafness) were excluded, as well as those children who had previous experience with music therapy.

As a result, a total of 18 children (6 girls; mean age: 4.3 ± 0.5 years) were selected to participate in the study (see Figure Figure1 1 for the consort diagram of the study). None of the participants were physically disabled and all were able to move and act independently.

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Consort diagram of the selection process

Parents or guardians provided written informed consent for their child's participation in the study before enrolment of the study. This included a discussion of the music therapist on the nature and purpose of the proposed music therapy treatment and its potential risks and benefits. Parents were also given the opportunity to ask questions to elicit a better understanding of the music therapy treatment. Accompanying therapies, like speech therapy and early intervention programs, continued uninterrupted due to ethical considerations.

Children received music therapy on an out-patient basis at the Department of Music Therapy at Herdecke Community Hospital. The participants were brought to music therapy sessions by their parents, but entered the music therapy room alone when possible. Single therapy sessions had a mean duration of 25 minutes and were provided by a therapist and co-therapist together. To meet the quality criteria of the hospital, the two music therapists had to have a master's degree in music therapy and sufficient clinical experience (a minimum of two years) in their field.

Music therapy

This study applied the concept of creative music therapy based on the Nordoff-Robbins approach [ 18 ]. Both patient and therapist were active in singing and making music with percussion instruments (i.e. bells, drums, pentatonic tone bars, shakers, reed horns, and lyres) and a piano. Songs specifically composed for playtime and that dealt with the child's interests, such as hide-and-seek songs or songs about animals, completed the therapeutic spectrum. Individual themes and musical developments thus emerged for each individual child; some wanted to sing and dance, others wanted to be sung to, and some wanted to play an instrument on their own. According to this individualized approach, the improvised music was oriented at the musical and vocal expressions of the child and therefore played the central role of the therapy.

Test instruments

The speech development test for children aged three to five years (SETK 3-5) is the first standardized German language test to examine speech abilities in children of this age group with an immediate correlation between linguistic and auditory memory performance. With Cronbach's alpha values between 0.62 and 0.89 and an inter-rater reliability of 90.1%, the test yields a "reliable and valid description of receptive and productive speech abilities in children" [ 21 ] and covers three areas of speech development, divided into three categories with five subtests:

1. Children's understanding of speech (subtest "understanding sentences"; abbrev.: VS)

2. Speech production (subtest "generation of morphological rules"; abbrev.: MR )

3. Memory of speech, with a focus on abilities of speech processing, not on qualities of pronunciation (subtest "phonological memory for non-words"; abbrev.: PGN ; subtest "memory for sentences"; abbrev.: SG , and subtest "memory for word sequences"; abbrev.: GW )

The SON-R 2 1/2 - 7 is an individual intelligence test which does not require the use of spoken or written language [ 22 ]. It is especially suited for children with problems in the area of language and verbal communication and is comprised of six subtests of about 15 items that address the dimensions activity patterns and cognitive structures.

Activity patterns include the scales "categories (abstract thinking, organizing principles)", "analogies (abstract thinking)" and "situations (concrete thinking)". The scales "mosaics (spatial comprehension)", "puzzles (concrete thinking)", and "drawing structures (spatial comprehension)" represent the dimensions of the child's mental structure. Norm tables for monthly age groups enable the transformation of raw subtest scores into normalized standard scores. The total test results are represented as IQ scores and reference ages. IQ scores between 89 and 110 are average, 79 to 88 are below average, 68 to 78 are borderline, and IQ values below 67 indicate an intellectual deficit.

With a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.90 and a test-retest reliability of r = 0.79 for the overall IQ score, the reliability of the test is sufficient.

All psychometric tests were conducted by speech therapists and a psychologist blinded to the conditions and timing.

Music therapy assessment scales

All sessions were videotaped for analysis and consecutively assessed in detail after each session independently by the therapist and co-therapist. Nordoff-Robbins assessment scales were used to evaluate developments in music therapy for the first and last session of each music therapy block respectively. Scale I assessed the "child-therapist relationship in musical activity" (CTR) and Scale II assessed "musical communicative ability" (MCA); both were measured on a 10-point scale where 0 denotes lowest values and 10 denotes highest values in the respective categories. Inter-rater reliability values showed high agreement rates within the range of one point of 82% in Nordoff-Robbins therapists ratings [ 18 ].

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat analysis (ITT). Missing values were imputed using the method of last observation carried forward with the following rules: a missing value before a block of music therapy or no treatment was replaced with the corresponding pre-session value. A missing value after a session was replaced with the according pre-session value.

The Friedman test was used to analyze the effect of music therapy over the course of time and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for baseline comparisons (T 0 ) and final measurements after the last therapeutic session (T 4 ). We judged p £ 0.05 as significant and p between 0.05 and 0.1 as a trend. To quantify the outcome we also calculated effect sizes for all scales between T 0 and T 4 . According to Cohen [ 23 ], effect size values between 0.2 and 0.5 are indicative of a small effect; values between 0.5 and 0.8 denote a medium effect and values greater than 0.8 indicate a large effect size.

Mean SETK scores yielded the following results: "phonological memory for non-words" (PGN) and "understanding sentences" (VS) revealed distinct upward trends, whereby increases were more pronounced during periods with music therapy. These two parameters showed mostly parallel development. These two subtests PGN and VS showed a particularly steeper increase after music therapy blocks (T0-T1/T2-T3) compared to waiting periods (T1-T2/T3-T4). "Memory for sentences" (SG) also improved distinctively, starting from a very low level. A second boost was registered after the second waiting period (see Table Table1 1 ).

Changes in the course of time and overall effect sizes in SETK subscales and SON-R outcome measures

"Generation of morphological rules" (MR) also increased after music therapy blocks while decreasing during waiting periods. "Memory for word sequences" (GW) was the hardest factor to assess. It was measured in different units compared to the rest of the parameters and in addition it is only measured in children aged four and older, so that the number of test results gained in this instance is far smaller. All general developments (T0-T4) for the five subtests of the speech test SETK revealed a definite increase. Over the entire study period (T0-T4), parameters PGN and VS showed statistically significant results (p < 0.001), which suggest that music therapy may have an effect on the development of phonological memory and understanding sentences. Phonological memory (PGN) indicated statistically significant results during the first waiting period (T1-T2 p = 0,008) and also after the second block of music therapy (T2-T3 p = 0,001; see Table Table1 1 ).

The three parameters of SON-R (cognitive structures (DS), action patterns (HS), and IQ increased significantly in the study course (DS p = 0,001; HS p < 0,001; IQ p < 0,001). The parameter of cognitive structures (DS) showed higher mean scores compared to activity patterns (HS) at time T0. It is interesting to note that DS and HS differed by several points at first (T0, T1) but later converged after the first interval (T2) to almost identical levels. The scores diverged again after the second music therapy intervention (T3), although this time on a higher level. The scores finally converged after the second interval (T4) (see Table Table1 1 ).

Difference between age and biological age

Analysis of reference age revealed that the developmental age of the children in the course of music therapy interventions converged more and more towards their biological age. The difference was reduced from approximately one year at baseline to seven months at the end of therapy. Moreover, the variance in their developmental age increased meaning that some of the children corresponded with their biological age at the end of the study, while other children demonstrated a development approaching their biological age. The complete development over the course of time is shown in Figure Figure2 2 .

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Difference of developmental age (age IQ) to biological age over the study period . Error bars denote the 95% confidence interval

Nordoff-Robbins Scales

Ratings according to the Nordoff-Robbins scales showed distinctly significant changes. Both parameters CTR for child-therapist relation and MCA for musical communicative ability increased after the first music therapy block (T2), then subsequently decreased (T3), and then finally reached the previously achieved higher level after the second music therapy block (T4). MCA showed a slightly higher increase (Figure (Figure3 3 ).

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Development of Nordoff-Robbins rating over the study period

The compliance of the children was a major problem in the developmental tests, particularly in completing the SETK-questionnaire. While the SON-R was well accepted by the children and Nordoff-Robbins items were scored by the therapist, completing the SETK with the children was difficult, yielding to incomplete items in the SETK subscales (between 14% (VS-Scale) and 36% (GW-Scale) of the items). However, the imputation of missing values reduced these rates to a mean level of 10% remaining incomplete items.

This study is the first to provide valid information about the effects of music therapy in children with developmental speech delay. It was found that music therapy had an effect on fundamental qualities of speech development and resulted in significant improvements in phonological memory and the children's understanding of sentences. Furthermore, a positive shift in the memory of sentences and generation of morphological rules was observed. In particular, the difference between the developmental age and biological age of the children decreased significantly. These results were accompanied by a clinically significant effect of music therapy on the child-therapist relationship and musical communicative ability, as measured by the Nordoff-Robbins scales.

Initial effect

Empirical observations frequently described the phenomena of an "initial effect" of music therapy on speech development (i.e. that music therapy seemed to stimulate the speech development of developmentally delayed children even after a few music therapy sessions). In accordance with these findings, results from this pilot study illustrate which aspects of speech development are influenced specifically by music therapy and show to what extent an initial effect may be detected. Results show improvements in the development of speech and cognitive abilities even after the first block of music therapy treatment. Children may benefit specifically in the areas of relationship and communication as shown by the rating according to the Nordoff-Robbins scales.

It is assumed that a newly acquired ability, such as a basal social experience, has an initial effect on the further development of the sense of self-perception and the perception of others. Furthermore, it influences self-awareness and emotional mood. This 'snow ball effect' could possibly explain the relatively fast positive development of the participants. Since communication is a basic human need, it can be further assumed that the provided individual communication model 'music therapy' was simply claimed by the participants after a successful introduction and was also maintained.

Speech Development

The changes in phonological memory (PGN) and the understanding of sentences (VS) increased significantly with a parallel slope. Test results suggest that music therapy interventions may initially provide a boost in the development of these skills. Abilities covered by the subscale PGN are obviously related to prosodic abilities [ 24 ]. We believe that the improvements occur because music therapy addresses listening, perception, processing, and the memorizing of sounds and musical structures. This corresponds to a study by Jungblut et al. [ 25 ], who reported positive improvements in speech development in patients with aphasia due to music therapy. Here, prosody was one of the parameters showing substantial progress. This corresponds with the theoretical considerations of Grimm [ 24 ], who regards prosody as a defining aspect of speech processing and language acquisition.

The improvement in the VS subscale is underlined by the empirical observations we made in the study. In the beginning, most of the children we worked with had difficulty focusing their attention with hand-eye-coordination and the concentration on a joint activity with the therapist. During music therapy sessions, most of the children enhanced their concentration and were increasingly able to direct their eyes and concentration to a joint activity with the therapist and to playing an instrument. The improvement in the Nordoff-Robbins scales especially underlines these observations. Children benefit specifically in the areas of forming relationships and enhancing their communication skills. Parents, speech therapists, and teachers reported that the children started to communicate more frequently and started to have more social contacts. According to a deeper single case analysis of two children in our study, we found that one important element in achieving linguistic understanding is the ability to relate to another person [ 26 ]. Moreover, Grimm [ 24 ] describes three areas of so-called anticipatory abilities that are essential even in infants for acquiring speech: social cognition, perception, and cognition. These include the abilities to direct attention to objects and events, to differentiate between them, and to remember the differences. In addition, he determined that constructing a common point of focus has proved to be especially important in acquiring language skills.

The scores measured for SG also show a distinct increase over the study period. This may be explained through the inherent experience of structure and perspective in the process of active music making with the therapist. Studies of infants' abilities to perceive speech found that infants prefer well-structured speech patterns to less well-structured ones [ 24 ]. Perception and grasp of structures seem to be important skills for acquiring speech. Form and general structure of a sentence must be understood in order to grasp the entire meaning. These qualities are exercised and targeted all the time when making music. They may be shortened or expanded step by step and thus be adapted to the individual making the music and his or her abilities.

It is interesting to note that the parameter "generation of morphological rules" shows improvements after music therapy blocks. This parameter, quite unrelated to music at first sight, seems to address recognition and understanding of structures, which is continuously practised in active music-making. Deficits in generation of morphological rules are considered as particularly distinct and obstinate. Music therapy may give support to the development of this ability.

Rhythmic-prosodic abilities seem to be central for acquiring language. Again, Grimm describes that children with developmental speech delay frequently display considerable difficulties in the rhythmic-prosodic area. An impaired ability to grasp the totality of prosodic structures means that larger parts of the working memory must be relied upon, thus limiting the amount of working memory available for the understanding and processing of language. Training a child's reproduction capabilities of phonologic (and therefore also of prosodic) structures could provide significant support in the child's development of language abilities [ 24 ].

Aldridge [ 27 ] emphasized the importance of rhythmic structures and abilities for infantile development: "rhythm plays a central co-ordinating role in the organization of human perception and action, and for the developmentally delayed child, a controlled - yet flexible - rhythmic structure found in musical playing seems to be an island of stability from which new initiatives can take place." According to Trevarthen & Aiken [ 28 ], music therapy from a neuropsychological point of view may support human communication skills that are organized rhythmically in accordance with neurological processes. Thus, active, creative music therapy works immediately with the contact and communication between the improvising participants. In such a setting, the integration of several senses, like hearing or seeing, motor abilities, and emotion, is of vital importance [ 29 ] because both verbal communication and joint musical improvisation require a meaningful integration of these senses. Thus, music therapy may offer a specific space to test and develop various senses on a level appropriate to the child's individual abilities and speed.

From a music therapy perspective, Neugebauer [ 20 ] relates the steps of language development to musical qualities and concludes that music therapy works on those musical qualities and speech development can thus be enhanced. These findings are underlined by Papousek's research on infants [ 30 ]. She analyzed mother-infant interaction and its relation to musical parameters, even if the use of the musical metaphors has to be taken into account critically [ 29 ]. This might be an explanation of why music therapy can be effective in children with communication disorders. The therapeutic processes that took place in our study have been described comprehensively in the case report of two patients [ 26 ].

Cognitive Development

The non-verbal development test SON-R produced encouraging results. The SON-IQ of the entire group rose significantly and the difference between developmental age and biological age of the children decreased significantly. Even here our study showed an initial effect. For a majority of children it may be assumed that their intelligence potential had not been fully exploited prior to the study. In music therapy we see many children who seem to have no experience whatsoever with symbolism, imagining fantasy stories, or playing with sounds. At first these children seem to soak up our imaginative-musical proposals before they start to develop and share their own creative potential. Music therapy thus seems to evoke and reveal unused potential. During music therapy, children seemed to access their potential and were even able to adapt it to another setting such as in the test situation. This corresponded to a detailed analysis by Rittelmeyer [ 31 ], who emphasized the impact of creative abilities in the neurological, cognitive, and emotional development of children.

An analysis of the two subtests for cognitive structures and action patterns is also of interest. At first, the two scales diverge, converge closely after the first waiting period in order to diverge again, and approach each other on a significantly higher level at the end of the study (see Figure Figure2). 2 ). Cognitive structures are the first subtests to advance. Action patterns keep up with the development during the waiting period. Again an initial effect of music therapy can be assumed in this case. It is remarkable that action patterns converge to the similar level with cognitive structures. Cognitive structures and action patterns are nearly integrated at that point. A child cannot do much with certain cognitive abilities without knowing how to use them actively. An integration of thinking and doing appears to be indispensable for the meaningful use of cognitive abilities. Music therapy may therefore provide an important contribution to the promotion of integrated thinking and doing and may reveal a child's hidden potentials.

Limitations

Although the large effect sizes in the present study point to a potential impact of music therapy, the small number of participants in the study should be mentioned as an important limiting factor. The discussion of whether observational studies tend to overestimate the effects of a therapy compared to the results of controlled clinical trials is still vital [ 32 ] and the call for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has already reached the borders of music therapy [ 33 ]. Due to organizational and structural aspects we abstained from carrying out a RCT in this case. However, other researchers recommend more naturalistic, observational studies of patients in psychotherapy [ 34 ] and, with regards to external evidence, our findings give an impression of the real world effectiveness of music therapy. In order to verify the test results, further studies with a higher number of participants should be conducted to underline and specify the effects found in this setting [ 35 , 36 ].

As there is no control group or a specific control condition we are of course aware that the changes observed here might not be attributed to the music therapy applied. It could, for instance, simply be the intervention itself associated with a high amount of care giving or the attention given to the kids. A further point is that the children might have improved their behaviour simply in response to the fact that they were being studied. This is also known as the Hawthorne effect [ 37 ]. In his study on the effects of background music on quality of sleep in elementary school children, Tan also suggested, that children might be responding to music therapy treatment due to their awareness of participation [ 38 ].

Also, unblinding might be a potential source of bias. According to a study of Noseworthy et al., blinded outcome evaluators do assess outcomes less optimistically than unblinded evaluators [ 39 ]. Thus, we tried to avoid unblinding of the external evaluators in our study. Consequently, they were not introduced in the therapeutic strategy at any time of the study to rule out that they would for example focus on a special subcategory of the psychological tests like phonologic memory. However as the evaluators in the case of the speech and intelligence tests directly interacted with the children and did see them five times within the course of the study, unblinding can not be ruled out.

Due to financial limitations, it was not possible for external therapists to conduct therapeutic music therapy ratings. Although the findings on inter-rater reliability in [ 18 ] give sufficient assurance on the reliability of the Nordoff-Robbins rating, an external rating would have probably been of higher internal validity with a more objective character.

Considering these limitations, our results should be interpreted with care.

Underlying working principles

Until now, working principles of music therapy have mostly been examined using qualitative research. Although single case studies tried to identify possible modes of action in music therapy in speech development, we are still not able to isolate elements of music therapy as the driving therapeutic force. The only aspect that is for certain is that a mutually created musical dialogue improves the child's perception of him or herself and of the person who is sharing the experience. As a result, according to [ 27 ] the "activity of listening, in a structured musical improvisational context, without the lexical demands of language" may improve the cognitive, gestural, emotional, and relational development of the child.

Neuro-physiological approaches might underline these results but, due to limited resources, they have only been marginally applied in music therapy research. Additionally, it is questionable whether neuro-physiological approaches would be able to show development in areas such as social communication and self-consciousness, which are essential preconditions for language acquisition.

In addition, some important parameters for the development of language skills are not covered by the test parameters. Vital information was provided by the additional qualitative data collected from parents and testers. Most of the children started to use their language with increasing confidence; social skills improved and children were motivated to communicate more intensively. Although these data often did not correlate with the test results, these findings seem to be evidence of very important parameters that cannot be checked by the speech test and development tests alone. The Nordoff-Robbins scales, however, do reflect these aspects.

Music therapy according to this study may have a beneficial effect on speech development. It does not seem to influence individual isolated aspects of speech development but might address and integrate many different aspects in a comprehensive way that are important for speech development, including relationship abilities and prosodic abilities. It might be supposed that music therapy interacts with very fundamental aspects of speech development and has measurable effects even after a short period of time. Therefore, music therapy may provide a very fundamental, basic, and supportive therapy for children with developmental speech delay.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

WF carried out the study, participated in the evaluation of data, and helped draft the manuscript. UL conceived of the study and carried out the study, participated in evaluation of data, and helped draft the manuscript. TO participated in the design of the study, performed the statistical analysis, and wrote the final version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Pre-publication history

The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/10/39/prepub

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the foundation Aktion Mensch for their generous support of this study.

Our thanks go to Dr. B. Irion, Dr. B. Berger and Dr. M. Mousers, who helped organize the study at the Herdecke Community Hospital, and Dr. K Boehm and Katie Renaud, who cross-checked the manuscript.

We also thank the following foundations whose support enabled us to evaluate and publish the results of the study: Gerhard-Kienle-Stiftung, Herdecke; Andreas und Emilie Olmstedt-Stiftung, Witten; Werner Richard- und Dr. Carl Dörken-Stiftung, Herdecke; Stiftung Musik HILFT by Nordoff-Robbins, Berlin and the Verein zur Förderung der Nordoff/Robbins-Musiktherapie e.V., Herdecke.

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Speech on Music

Speech on Music for Students in English

Music is quite vital in our daily life, it gives a background to different moods, different moments of life. Music helps the soul to rejuvenate, to find the purpose, this music somehow aligns with the soul and hence we feel so connected to the music. It brings joy and happiness to the life of a person.

Beethoven, a dominant music figure, has rightly said music has the ability to change the world. Music helps us soothe both physically and mentally. Music is the best ailment, according to physicians.

Good Morning to one and all present here on such an auspicious occasion.

Today, June 21 we are celebrating World Music Day to upright the different forms of music and tunes which uplift our earbuds and soothe our soul.

Just imagine, how would our life be without music? In my view, it would be a life without harmony, without a purified soul. Music is a pleasant flow of melody in the air, which changes with rhythm and with a systematic playing method. This is the skill or art which a musician qualifies in himself and this gives a soothing and cheerful musical performance for an audience.

Music is considered one of the greatest boons of God for all living creatures. Music helps the sounds to get classified into a rhythm, which helps us to learn and practice music. Also, we can enjoy the harmony and the pleasant rhythm that is made by the musical sounds. The styles of music have changed in recent years drastically. To say there are six eras of musical history - Middle Ages, Renaissance, Classical, Baroque, Romantic music, and the current one in the twentieth century. Music is a common form of entertainment for everybody.

The dictionary meaning of music is a form of art of sound, that explains the ideas and emotions via the elements of rhythm, harmony, and melody. Music soothes our brain and nerves, it helps us to feel relaxed and also refreshed, this soothes our bodies and mind. It removes the anxiety and the stress level from our everyday life. Also, great physicians prescribe music dosage for our ears to heal better from the pain, music is excellent medicine. It is proven that women who are carrying children in their womb are given music therapy from the everyday rush and pain, this soothes their minds. Music takes us into the world of melody which helps us in forgetting disturbing memories or thoughts.

Music revives the old memories. Music therapy is often considered a great way to solve bigger problems, stress-related issues, our emotions in our daily life. Music also helps the brain to function quickly and effectively and this allows calmness in our daily life schedule. Music helps doctors and psychologists treat their patients well. It helps to calm the patient’s state of brain and their behavior, it soothes the nerves and stabilizes the heartbeat of the patient. Music also helps those patients to recover from brain injuries. Music is a great way to activate our brain cells in different ways. This helps in healing the damaged areas which allows the people to regain their speech and their physical movement. Thus, music can take out people from stressful situations.

I want to end this speech by thanking God for such a gift, music. While if you have the skill to create music you surely have a gift to cherish forever. Also, I would love to thank those talented musicians, who with their beautiful melodies, supported my low times also helped me to celebrate in my good times.

2 Min Speech on Music

Once the famous Shakespeare said, “If music is the food of love, play on, give me excess of it; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die.”

Good Morning Everyone present.

Today on this great occasion of World Music Day, I would love to enumerate the importance of music. Music is a quite pleasurable sound that is combined with melodies, and this helps to soothe the ear. A musician is such a person who knows music.

Music is of various styles. This is said that all sounds got the music. Starting from the sound of the waterfall, the sound of the ocean waves, or the simply flowing of the river have got harmony in themselves.

Music can heal a person emotionally and also mentally. Music serves as a form of meditation to quieten the mind. Music cures emotional disorders like anxiety, depression, and also lack of sleep called insomnia.

Music conveys many such emotions to the people. The power of music is inevitable. Without music, life would be very dull and boring, but with the music, even your bad times will sound perfect, as now you can align your emotions well, this, in turn, will help us to deal with bad times.

For me, music uplifts the soul, energizes me. While I derail from the purpose music pulls me back on track. The word ‘music’ is as lovely as it serves. In the concluding part I would like to say, let the world heal with the melodies of music and let your life flow with the rhythmic cords of music.

10 Lines on Music

For any culture, music captures an essential part.

Our country is known for its rich musical culture and diversity.

India has different types of music, and here people have different music tastes.

The northern part of India is famous for Hindustani music, while the southern part of India is famous for Carnatic music.

Music can be of 2 types- Vocal music and instrumental music.

Gives us peace of mind.

Music is played on every occasion.

Music helps in the treatment of the patients.

To connect with the supreme being, the best way is through the help of music.

Without music, life would be lifeless.

FAQs on Speech on Music

1. How is World Music Day Celebrated?

World Music Day takes place on the 21st of June to honor all the musicians. Around 120 countries celebrate World Music Day by organizing free public concerts in various other public places. In 1982, there was a music festival that took place in France called Fête de la Musique which later on was called World Music Day. This day honors budding and seasoned artists and allows them to showcase their accomplishments through their music. It also celebrates equality of opportunities in the world of music.

2. When was Renaissance Music Got Alive?

During the Renaissance time, Renaissance Music was written in European Countries. It saw the growth of new instruments, classical music as well as a burst of new ideas related to harmony, rhythm and music notation. During the 15th and 16th centuries, there was a rise in instrumental dances and the introduction of a wide range of classical music and different genres which also comprised masses, motets, madrigals, chansons, etc. By the 20th century, early musical ensembles came into form as Renaissance Music.

3. What are the Various Styles of Music in India?

Classical, Folk, Baul, Bhajan, Rabindra Sangeet are the different music styles in India. In India, there are two different forms of music. One is Carnatic Music which is associated with South India and the other is Hindustani Music which is played in North India. Carnatic Music is called Karnāṭaka saṃgīta and the lyrics of such songs are mainly devotional and dedicated to Hindu deities. The main features include raga and taal which are mandatory to be understood. Hindustani Music has four forms: Dhrupad, Khyal (or Khayal), Tarana, and the semi-classical Thumri.

4. What is the difference between Medieval and Renaissance music?

Unlike medieval music which comprised only vocals, Renaissance music included both instruments and vocals. The main instruments would be harps, flute, violin, etc. Medieval music was monophonic which in the later ages transformed into polyphonic. Renaissance music largely contained buoyant melodies. The Medieval period saw the beginning of music and by the time it reached the Renaissance era, the musical era was already developed to an extent with many music composers in existence like William Byrd and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

5. Is Indian classical music difficult to learn?

Indian classical music sounds too complicated for easy listening. Although it is not difficult to learn, mastering the music forms, both Carnatic and Hindustani, is an uphill task. Unlike Western music which has fixed notes, a note played by two classical music instruments may not sound the same. There are no set compositions or fixed scales. Instead, there are ragas that form the musical framework. Rather than learning the melodies, Indian classical music focuses more on improvisation and there are multiple techniques involved for emoting certain emotions.

Speech Topics For Kids

Speech on Music

Music could be stated as the language of the spirit. How boring our lives would be if there is no music? Music is a very important part of our lives. Human souls require music to rejuvenate. It brings peace and harmony to their lives. Without any doubt, we can call music ‘the magic of god’, and it is this magic that transforms a mere series of sounds to soulful music.

Speech on music has the power to heal, two-minute speech on music, one-minute speech about music, top 10 quotes to use in a speech on music, frequently asked questions on music, sample speeches on music.

A few sample speeches on music are given below. Go through these speeches and utilise them to expand your wisdom.

Music could be defined as the form of sound with the power to develop emotions within the minds of the listener. According to Colbie Caillat, “A great song should lift your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good.” With the support of music, an individual constructs an imaginary world within them. Melodious voices soothe our bodies and make us feel refreshed. By hearing music, a person can relax both the body and the mind at the same time.

Music helps us get rid of all unwanted thoughts, anxieties, and stress from our lives. Without any doubt, music is a great medicine for healing the wounds of our minds. More and more people worldwide are realising and accepting the healing power of music. According to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2020 conference, by listening to music for 30 minutes a day, the pain and anxiety levels were lowered in the patients who had survived heart attacks. Music has the power to slow people’s heart rates and decrease blood pressure.

The connection between human health and music is so strong. Music has the power to bring back old memories of individuals. There are multiple centres worldwide that use music to help treat Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. It is definitely a great medicine for our souls.

Music is a global language that is produced by the rhythmic arrangement of sounds. It has no boundaries, and it connects people from various political, geographical, and cultural backgrounds. Without the requirement of any actions or words, music helps individuals to express themselves. For many people, music is the greatest discovery of human beings, and it is considered the closest thing to god. There exist numerous styles of music in our society. And in today’s world, every individual has multiple options available to choose the music based on the feeling that they are experiencing. Music has a great influence on our lives. Music is a powerful tool to unite people. National anthems, hymns recited during worship and songs of various other themes are all examples to prove the uniting power of music.

Do you know why parents sing songs when their babies cry? Because by hearing the soothing sound of the parent, the baby experiences calmness and stops crying. Such lullabies enable parents to develop a deep attachment with their babies.

“Music is everywhere. It’s in the air between us, waiting to be sung.” These are the words told by David Levithan. Some of the greatest music is produced by nature. For example, the sounds made by birds, waves hitting the seashore, waterfalls, flowing water in a stream, rain and so on. How beautiful are those, right? Music produced by nature is highly connected with human emotions. Just like humans have a strong interconnection with nature, the emotions developed within humans are having strong bonding with the music. And that is the reason why many composers, poets, and musicians consider the music of nature as the foundation of their art. Composers throughout many generations and from all over the world have managed to inspire emotions in the listener’s mind through the portrayal of nature in music.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Andersen.
“Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can’t.” – Johnny Depp.
“Music is the strongest form of magic.” – Marilyn Manson.
“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.” – Henry David Thoreau.
“Musicians want to be the loud voice for so many quiet hearts.” – Billy Joel.
“Music is an outburst of the soul.” – Frederick Delius.
“For me, there is something primitively soothing about this music, and it went straight to my nervous system, making me feel ten feet tall.” – Eric Clapton.
“Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life.” – Jean Paul Friedrich Richter.
“Once again, she was free. Once again, she found peace. It was music that freed her soul from the dungeon of her mind.” – Wiss Auguste, The Illusions of Hope.
“Without music, life would be a blank to me.” – Jane Austen.

Why is music important in our lives?

Music soothes our bodies and makes us feel refreshed. By hearing music, a person can relax both the body and mind simultaneously. Music helps us get rid of all unwanted thoughts, anxieties, and stress from our lives. Without any doubt, music is a great medicine for healing the wounds of our minds.

Why is music called a global language?

Music is a global language that is produced by the rhythmic arrangement of sounds. It has no boundaries, and it connects people from various geographical and cultural backgrounds. Without the requirement of any actions or word usages, music helps individuals to express themselves.

List some top quotes to use in a speech on music.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Andersen.
“Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can’t.” – Johnny Depp.
“Music is the strongest form of magic.” – Marilyn Manson.
“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.” – Henry David Thoreau.

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Music Has The Power to Heal Speech - 10 Lines, Short and Long Speech

There are a lot of medicines to treat people who are hurt physically. These illnesses and their hurting must be considered as serious as physical hurt. In healing a person who is hurt emotionally and mentally, music plays a major role. By hearing music one can easily relax both their body and mind.

10 Lines on Music Has Power to Heal

Music helps a person to distract and deviate from painful thoughts.

Listening to music for a prolonged period of time helps the nerves connect the brain which automatically results in lessening stress.

Music is considered the language of the spirit. Music plays a very vital role in everybody's life.

Mild and harmonious music helps to get rid of all anxieties, stress and unwanted thoughts from our minds.

Music engages our emotions and helps to regulate our moods and brings good vibes.

Music is considered heart-healthy. There is a lot of research that shows the power of music in regulating the blood flow and keeping the heart healthy.

It is recommended that students listen to music for at least half an hour a day to concentrate better and reduce their stress.

Music can easily connect with memories. So automatically, when we listen to good music we can remember all the good memories we have had in our life which helps us to relax and calm our minds.

Medically when we have a problematic situation or we are stressing out, the nerves that are going through the brain are in much pain. When we listen to music these nerves will relax and the pain will lessen.

Listening to music has a lot more benefits physically mentally , and even medically.

Short Speech on Music Has Power to Heal

Long speech on music has power to heal, music: a powerful healer.

Music Has The Power to Heal Speech - 10 Lines, Short and Long Speech

Music is nothing but a sound form that has the power to encourage emotion. No matter how hard your day is, listening to music will surely lift your mood and ease your tension. Music can never be confined to a circle of state, nation, or language. The music itself is a language that overcomes all boundaries. Anybody from any part of the world can listen to and enjoy music from any part of the world. No language is required to understand music.

Music holds miracles. It has the power to make anyone cry or laugh or feel loved. Music is not just a treat to ears, it also helps relax one’s mind and body. Music can help people unite irrespective of their diversities. Such music is also used to heal a person. The very first song a human can hear is the lullaby of their mother. A lullaby helps the child to reduce his anxiety and feel safe. In the same way music at any age helps a person to reduce his stress and anxiety. Music holds emotions. Every piece of music is unique and powerful. There is a variety of music that helps us to forget our pain. People prefer different genres of music in different situations. Whatever the genre is, music itself possesses magic to heal.

Music is something that can calm our souls and help us refresh. Human history has no pages without music. Even great epics like Ramayana and Mahabarath speak about music. The world without music will be chaotic. People will feel lifeless while living. Music gives warmth to a cold soul and chills the heating mind. Music is an art that creates harmony in life. It is a precious boon to mankind given by nature. Many birds by birth are talented singers. The sound of river falls can make a man reborn.

There are different styles of music—classical, hip-hop, jazz, pop, and many more. All these genres have a unique rhythm that can help soothe the human soul. Music expresses one’s emotions and ideas in the form of sounds. Any culture around the world can never exist without music. This music is both vocal and instrumental. In fact, each and every culture has its own musical instrument they are proud of. For example, Tamil Nadu has Nadhaswaram, Kerala has Jandai, and so on. Northern India is very famous for Hindustani music and the south celebrates carnatic music.

Music as Therapy

Music plays a vital role in healing a person’s pain. There are many patients who recovered from their illnesses with the help of music. It is recommended to listen to music when a woman is pregnant. It is strongly believed music helps the unborn child to create a bond with his mother and in their cognitive development. Music is medicine. Psychologists make use of music to treat their patients. Music, by nature, possesses the power to heal. Listening to music helps reduce stress and eliminates negative thoughts.

Even poets and literary people stressed the importance of music in human life in many of their works. Every year, on 21 June, world’s music day is celebrated to mark the importance of music in human life. Music can help to energise, uplift one’s mood, to develop a positive vibe.

Music is an effective form of therapy to treat pain. In many hospitals, doctors make use of music to give their patients the best therapy for their mental health. It is medically proven that music can help increase antibody production which helps in fighting back invading viruses. It also helps in having control over stress hormones. Music makes an intimate relationship with humans thus helping them heal their emotional traumas.

My Music Medicine

For the past two years, I have been suffering from hypertension. This thing never let me do anything productive and I was always in my bed. Overthinking and anxiety are two major problems of hypertension that I had to deal with every single day. When I approached a psychologist they suggested I undergo music therapy. She simply asked me to listen to the music of my favourite genre for at least an hour a day. I started listening to music and I can say I feel a lot better now. Raw music, without lyrics or any video to support it, has a special power to control your mind. They are my happy hormones and music for sure is the best doctor any human can have.

Music therapy has proven to have a lot more benefits. It works wonders in stroke or trauma patients by helping recover the health of damaged left brain cells and helping in recovery. Former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords used this very technique to restore her lost speech that was damaged by a gunshot wound to her brain. Music made it possible to bring back her ability to speak after such great damage to her brain.

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COMMENTS

Music Therapy: Why Doctors Use it to Help Patients Cope
Music therapy is increasingly used to help patients cope with stress and promote healing. Andrew Rossetti, a licensed music therapist in New York, uses guitar music and visualization exercises to ...
The Transformative Power of Music in Mental Well-Being
Considering the healing effects of music, it may seem paradoxical that musicians may be at a higher risk of mental health disorders. 8 A recent survey of 1,500 independent musicians found that 73% have symptoms of mental illness. This could be due in part to the physical and psychological challenges of the profession.
Music Therapy: Definition, Types, Techniques, and Efficacy
Music therapy is a relatively new discipline, while sound therapy is based on ancient Tibetan cultural practices.; Sound therapy uses tools to achieve specific sound frequencies, while music therapy focuses on addressing symptoms like stress and pain.; The training and certifications that exist for sound therapy are not as standardized as those for music therapists.
What is Music Therapy and How Does It Work?
Music therapy is a multi-disciplinary field, and the area of music psychology is an innovative interdisciplinary science drawing from the fields of musicology, psychology, acoustics, sociology, anthropology, and neurology (Hillecke et al., 2005; Wigram et al., 2002). Psychologists use experiments and diagnostics such as questionnaires, and the ...
How and Why Music Can Be Therapeutic
Music can also be used to bring a more p ositive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. The uplifting sound of music and the positive or cathartic messages conveyed in lyrics can improve mental state as well. Having a more positive state of mind as a baseline can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the ...
What is music therapy, and how does it work?
Benefits. For anxiety. For depression. In children. Summary. Music therapy involves using a person's responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall well ...
Music Therapy: Types & Benefits
Music therapy is the use of music and/or elements of music (like sound, rhythm and harmony) to accomplish goals, like reducing stress or improving quality of life. A healthcare provider called a music therapist talks to you to learn more about your needs, music preferences and experiences, and designs each session specifically for you. They ...
Music Therapy
Music therapy—a type of expressive arts therapy that uses music to improve and maintain the ... singing words or short phrases set to a simple melody can often enhance speech production and ...
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a form of treatment that uses music within the therapeutic relationship to help accomplish the patient's individualized goals. This evidence-based approach involves techniques ...
Music therapy
Music therapy, an allied health profession, "is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program." It is also a vocation, involving a deep commitment to music and the desire to use it as a medium to help others. Although music therapy ...
Speech-Language Therapy and Music Therapy Collaboration: The ...
Music and Language are universal and specific to humans. Both have pitch, timbre, rhythm, and durational features. Spontaneous speech and spontaneous singing typically develop within infants at approximately the same time. Music and language have auditory, vocal, and visual uses (both use written systems) and are built on structure and rules.
What Is Music Therapy?
Get a snapshot of the profession of music therapy. What is music therapy? Who can benefit? Why is it effective? How it works? These are just a few of the que...
Speech on Music for Students and Children
Good morning to one and all present here! We all know about music. I am going to deliver my speech on Music. Music is a pleasing arrangement and flow of sounds in air and of course, it varies in rhythm and systematic method. It is also art or skill that musicians possess and hence they are capable to give a musical performance for the audience.
11 Quotes That Get At The Heart Of Music Therapy
That is why art or music therapy, which encourages a person to take up brushes and paint or an instrument, and just express themselves, is so powerful.". --Phil 'Philosofree' Cheney, author of multiple books including Energizing Your Life and Brion and Freya. "Music should be a part of every analysis". --C.G. Jung, world renowned ...
The Role of Music in Speech Therapy
In order to speak or sing effectively, the following processes must function: Respiration - Breathing. Resonance - How airflow is shaped through the nasal and oral cavities. Phonation - Initiating sound. Articulation - Using the teeth and tongue to produce specific speech sounds. Fluency - The ability to produce speech sounds easily ...
Personal Stories about Music Therapy
A Music Therapy Moment. Every music therapist has a wealth of stories about that exquisite musical/clinical moment when art and science come together to create an awareness, an accomplishment, a breakthrough. These stories - poignant, insightful, or humorous - show the power and effect of music therapy, and can help to build understanding ...
Music Speech for Students and Children in English
Long And Short Speeches On Music for Kids And Students in English. We are providing a long Speech on Music of 500 words and a short speech on Music of 150 words with ten lines about the topic to help readers. ... Music therapy is a great way to solve several problems and several emotions in our daily life. Music helps our brains function ...
Full article: Music therapy for stress reduction: a systematic review
The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of music therapy on both physiological stress-related arousal (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, hormone levels) and psychological stress-related experiences (e.g., state anxiety, restlessness or nervousness) in clinical health care settings.
Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT)
Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) is an evidence-based treatment method that uses intoning (singing) to improve expressive language in people with aphasia. The approach takes advantage of the undamaged right hemisphere by engaging areas that are capable of language. It is thought that the melodic & rhythmic prosody, slower rate of articulation ...
Effects of music therapy in the treatment of children with delayed
Music therapy appears to facilitate speech development in children, even within a short period of time. The aim of this pilot study is to explore the effects of music therapy in children with delayed speech development. ... Empirical observations frequently described the phenomena of an "initial effect" of music therapy on speech development (i ...
Speech on Music for Students in English
2 Min Speech on Music. Once the famous Shakespeare said, "If music is the food of love, play on, give me excess of it; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die.". Good Morning Everyone present. Today on this great occasion of World Music Day, I would love to enumerate the importance of music.
Speech on Music
Speech on Music Has the Power to Heal. Music could be defined as the form of sound with the power to develop emotions within the minds of the listener. According to Colbie Caillat, "A great song should lift your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good.". With the support of music, an individual constructs an imaginary world within them.
Music Has The Power to Heal Speech
10 Lines on Music Has Power to Heal. Music helps a person to distract and deviate from painful thoughts. Listening to music for a prolonged period of time helps the nerves connect the brain which automatically results in lessening stress. Music is considered the language of the spirit. Music plays a very vital role in everybody's life.

The Healing Power of Music

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