Having delved into the root of Music Therapy, it is okay for us to see what Music Therapy exactly is. Is it just singing? Does it just have to do with just playing a musical instrument to a patient? Is it just about the therapist doing or about both patient and therapist doing?
Brace Up! This is going to be an amazing ride, Music Therapy is one that has been defined by many but there is a unifying similarity in all of the definitions.
The American Music Therapy Association defines Music Therapy as an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.
Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as therapy based on engagement in musical activities : the therapeutic use of music (as to reduce anxiety, improve cognitive functioning, promote physical rehabilitation, or enhance interpersonal communication) that typically involves listening to music, singing, playing musical instruments, or composing music.
Simply put, Music therapy is medicine in music; it is music in the healing process of a patient.
Music Therapy does not just happen, Music Therapists makes them happen. Who are Music Therapist? Music therapists are the amazing humans who use music to help individuals of all ages who are experiencing emotional or mental problems, or who have learning or physical disabilities or physical illnesses.
More definitions might just bore you but here is it in all of these definitions, Music is the connecting factor between the Patient, the Music Therapist and possibly the family of the Patient.
You might have been asking yourself, how does a Music Therapy session work? Do they just sing or play instruments as an individual or group? The simple answer to this is that Music Therapy sessions are dynamic, it is tailored to the need of an individual or group so it tells you that a Music Therapist doesn’t work by assumption or generalize even when persons having the exact same ailment come to the clinic for a session 2 days apart. There is a lot of observation that goes on before a music therapy session happens.
However even though the sessions are dynamic, you can expect certain expressions like song writing, improvisation through singing or playing of musical instruments, listening to music, discussion on lyrics and so on. All these is aimed at one thing WELLNESS. Music Therapy helps social skills, motor skills, cognitive skills, speech and lots more.
Beneath this post is the link to a video of one way Music Therapy sessions can be conducted, kindly let me know what you think about it.
Kindly leave your comment below on what you think about this post. I love reading from you.
Thank You
SOURCES: https://www.musictherapy.org/about/musictherapy/ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music%20therapy
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