What is Music Therapy?

I had an email from a woman in Madrid, who works as a music therapist and her email made me think it would be a good thing to try and write about what music therapy is, and where it happens and what happens in a typical session.

Music therapy is founded on the principal that human beings have the capacity to respond to sound/music, and that within a music therapy session(s), people can explore what is important to them through the medium of music. Music therapy does not require any previous musical knowledge or musical ability. Sessions often last about 45minutes each, and depending on the needs of the client may happen weekly for a month or so, or last many years.

Lots of my work has been with children with autism, cerebral palsy and adults with mental health conditions. Music therapy takes place in educational, healthcare, forensic (prisons/secure units), and residential care settings to name a few. My work has increasingly been about developing new areas of practice, such as within the corporate world, or within prisons. I have been a music therapist for four years, having qualified in 2002.

There are a number of different strands or approaches to music therapy, one of the most widely known is Nordoff-Robbins. Other approaches such as psychodynamic music therapy are as widely used, but perhaps less well known. Most music therapy uses musical improvisation as a basis for working with clients. Sometimes words are used, in the creation and/or singing of songs, but this really depends on how each session develops.

There are music therapy associations in most countries. Here are just a few of their links.

American Music Therapy Association
Association of Professional Music Therapists (UK)
Canadian Music Therapy Association
Bristish Society of Music Therapy
Australian Music Therapy Association
New Zealand Music Therapy Association
Voices (free online international forum)

Music Therapy Aids Healing

As a qualified music therapist myself, I see day in and day out that music therapy interventions dramatically impact people's health, well-being, social intergration and self of themselves. Musicatwork was created in order that music therapy sessions and training based on music therapy practices can be delivered in educational, healthcare, corporate and forensic settings.

The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has been using music more and more as a highly effective clinical intervention. Professor Paul Robertson says, "We are approaching the point where a doctor would legitimately be negligent not to actually recommend music as a therapeutic intervention". The BBC have the full report online.

Across the board Creative Arts Therapies are increasingly playing their true role in treating and supporting people with a whole range of conditions such as depression, autism, cancer, PND, and ensuring that emotional healing from accidents or traumas can be healed alongside any physical damage.

Isn't time that the Creative Arts Therapies were as widely used and recognised as "convientional" medicine?!

New Concepts in Innovation

I was reading around some Google results about how innovation breds success. Looking at the Business Council of Australia's site, and an article which specifically highlighted the need to develop creativity, cultural understanding and teamwork as the fundamental building blocks to success.

Their report says, under the heading "ADVOCATE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEMS IN DELIVERING THE CAPABILITIES FOR INNOVATION SUCCESS.....that.......The development within the workforce of not only strong technical and applied capabilities but also the skills and capabilities associated with communication, teamwork, problem solving, ongoing learning, creativity, cultural understanding, entrepreneurship and leadership are vital building blocks for business innovation success." (The full report is available as a PDF from their website)

This really highlights the need for all businesses to utilise The Arts as a key cornerstone to sustained and sustainable growth. The Arts offer a pathway to more deeply exploring the impacts and positive repercussions of corporate social responsibility, among other key elements in the dynamic between businesses, consumers, resource providers and Government.