What do you think of when you hear the words ‘music therapy’?
If we think of the words separately first….
What role does music play in your own life?
Think about how you engage with music on a day today basis
Maybe it’s associated with dancing, concerts, seeing friends perhaps it’s part of your daily life, listening to music at home or playing a musical instrument, maybe it’s singing at sporting events, the jingles to your favourite TV shows, or as part of religious faith…certain songs may remind you of significant people in your lives, places you have been, good times or bad. Maybe you use it to help you get going in the morning or to help you relax before going to bed at night.
Music is around us so much of the time the time and most of us have an awareness of it and connect with it in some way, perhaps using it to confirm or maybe change the way we feel, it can help us to connect to others and provide comfort during difficult times as well as forming part of our personal identity or life story.
And what about ‘therapy’, what does that word mean to you?
Maybe a sense of improving, recovering after an illness as in physical therapy or a place to take your troubles to, where you will be listened to and supported. You may think of therapy as a process where a therapist can help you to interpret and make sense of your feelings and behaviours to enable you to move forward from a difficult time in your life.
Music therapy, then, is a psychotherapeutic intervention where a qualified music therapist works with a client to address certain identified health needs or wellbeing goals, using music as the primary means of communication and expression.
‘Music Therapy uses the different elements of music, such as components of rhythm, melody and tonality, to provide a means of relating within a therapeutic relationship.’ (BAMT, from website)
Music Therapists are Allied Health Professionals who are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. They often work as part of a multi-disciplinary teams in diverse settings including healthcare and education as well as on a freelance or private basis.
Observations and strategies that have been found to be helpful for the client are shared with those who are involved in the client’s care so that they can be used generally on a day-to-day basis to help support wellbeing (between sessions).
Music therapy is typically an ACTIVE process where both therapist and client make music together and it can involve playing a variety of accessible instruments, using the voice or singing. The music can be improvised or pre-composed pieces or songs are also often used. Sessions can be delivered to groups and individuals and are person-centred in nature, that is, they directly reflect the preferences, backgrounds and support needs of the people who are involved in the sessions.
As most people respond innately and naturally to music, no previous musical experience is required to participate in music therapy sessions. Also, because musical interactions are not dependent on words, music therapy can be a particularly suitable intervention for people who are unable to talk or have difficulties with speaking.
‘Music Therapy is an established psychological clinical intervention, delivered by HCPC registered music therapists to help people whose lives have been affected by injury, illness or disability through supporting their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical, communicative and social needs.’ (BAMT definition, from website)
Can you think of a time in your life when you have used music to change the way you feel?
What was the circumstance? How did you use music? E.g. singing, listening, playing What music did you choose? Why did you choose it?
