What is music therapy?

According to the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), music therapy is the use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship with a credentialed music therapist. Music therapy interventions can address a variety of health and educational goals related to cognition, speech and language, sensory-motor, and social-emotional development, and can be effective for children of all ages with a wide range of disabilities. Academic journals such as the Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives publish research supporting the efficacy of music therapy.

But what is it about music that makes it an effective therapy? Music therapists say that the reason is simple: music is part of us. Music therapy seeks to tap into this organic connection to music to accomplish non-musical goals in a way that is natural and — perhaps most importantly — fun.

For more info on music therapy, read our article Music Therapy 101.