More than 1.6 million people around the world participate in music therapy programs in many different settings.
The use of music therapy seems like a new concept because it is not that well known, but it’s been around since the 1940s. Musicians began using music with soldiers who were experiencing physical and emotional trauma.
Today, there’s music therapy for stress, music therapy for anxiety…the list goes on. One of the great things about this type of therapy is it can be individualized for each patient.
When used in conjunction with other therapies or by itself, the results are positive. Keep reading as we explain the benefits of music therapy.
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What is Music Therapy?
A qualified music therapist uses music to address a multitude of issues described by their patients. Music therapy is a method used to help a person who’s dealing with emotional, physical, cognitive, or social problems.
Music therapists are trained professionals with a bachelor’s degree, clinical work, and certification. They use evidence-based research to find the best, most effective interventions to benefit each patient’s spiritual, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs.
How Does Music Therapy Work?
Music therapists design the therapy around the client. The sessions are crafted to ensure that the patient is involved and successful in the music-making process.
It doesn’t matter if the patient has a musical background or musical training. Everyone has an innate response to rhythm and music. Different aspects of sound are used to improve a patient’s emotional and physical well-being.
Music Therapy Benefits
Music therapy is especially helpful to people who have difficulty expressing themselves through language. This includes anyone from young children to seniors.
Music therapy is used to treat people with mental health disorders, developmental and learning disabilities, substance abuse issues, Alzheimer’s, brain injuries, acute and chronic pain, physical disabilities, and aging-related conditions.
It can be used to lessen stress by improving someone’s mood and eliciting emotions that make the person happy, relaxed, calm, or more energetic.
Music therapy is an alternative to pain medication for children post-surgery. Children felt less pain when they listened to a variety of popular music.
It helps to improve the communication skills of children with autism, the motor function of those with Parkinson’s disease and reduces the effects of asthma.
Are you looking for music therapy props? Shop here for everything from creative movement scarves to bean bags to listen and learn music movement prop sets.
Benefits of Music Therapy
We all know how powerful music can be in our lives to brighten a mood, calm us when we’re stressed, or celebrate something. Now you’ve seen the benefits of music therapy and how it can improve an emotional state, encourage recovery, or relieve pain.
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