The Benefits of Music Therapy
In a world where words sometimes fall short, music has a unique ability to bridge communication gaps and evoke powerful emotions. Beyond listening for fun, music holds therapeutic potential, particularly for individuals with disabilities and older adults.
What Is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is tailored to meet individual needs through engaging music-focused activities. The goal of music therapy is to improve physical and emotional health. There are many ways to use music for healing, and some examples of activities include listening to music, singing, dancing or movement to music, meditating, playing instruments, and many more.
Benefits of Music Therapy
- Emotional expression and regulation: Verbal expression of emotions can be challenging for individuals with disabilities and older adults facing cognitive decline. Music therapy provides an avenue for emotional expression, allowing participants to convey feelings that might have otherwise remained unspoken.
- Speech and language enhancement: Singing along with songs can improve fluency, loudness, breathing and pitch. Music therapy strengthens and reinforces areas related to speech and cognitive abilities.
- Motor coordination and range of motion: Music therapy encourages rhythmic movement, aiding in the development of gross motor skills such as mobility, balance and coordination. It also enhances respiration patterns and muscular relaxation.
- Emotional well-being: Music has the power to soothe anxiety and alleviate stress. Listening to calming melodies can promote relaxation and emotional stability.
- Enhanced healing: Music has a positive impact on the healing process. Patients recovering from illnesses or surgeries often experience improved outcomes when exposed to music, highlighting its role as a complimentary therapeutic tool.
- Cognitive benefits: A different area of the brain processes music than speech and language, making it a valuable aid for learning and cognitive development. For children, information presented through music can be easier to interpret and absorb. Furthermore, individuals with conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease benefit from music therapy in managing symptoms and enhancing cognitive function.
Music Therapy in School Settings
Students enrolled in special education programs can access music therapy services in various formats. As part of a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), music therapy directly supports progress toward meeting IEP goals. During the student’s scheduled school day, music therapists work individually or in groups to address skills on the IEP. Music therapists also provide consultation to educators, helping them use music effectively as a tool for student learning.
Music Therapy in Home and Community-Based Services
Music therapy may be covered under self-directed Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), such as Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS), the Consumer Support Grant (CSG), and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) if it is determined to be an assessed need for the person served. Connect with your case manager, support planner or consultation services provider to learn if this is an option.
Music therapy can be an effective and fun way to empower individuals of all ages to express themselves while enhancing their emotional well-being, improving communication and motor skills, and fostering meaningful connections.
Sources:
What Are the Benefits of Music Therapy? (positivepsychology.com)
Music Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Work? (healthline.com)
Music Therapy | Psychology Today
Music therapy: Types and benefits for anxiety, depression, and more (medicalnewstoday.com)
musictherapy.org/assets/1/7/FactSheet_Music_Therapy_in_Special_Education_2021.pdf