“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
– Plato
Where it all began…
Music Therapy has been around for quite some time. It can be found in old writings from Aristotle and Plato as the ideas of music as a healing influence that could affect health and behavior. After World War I and World War II, the 20th century profession formally began. Musicians of all types would visit Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the suffering veterans who endured physical and emotional trauma from the wars. When doctors and nurses noted the positive physical and emotional responses from the patients, they requested hiring musicians by the hospital. The demand grew for a college curriculum to develop for such musicians that would like to perform for patients at hospitals. The earliest reference to Music Therapy that is known dates back to 1789. 2
Music Therapy is heavily supported and proven by different studies and research, that it is a qualified form of therapy that can provide great results for clients if done so correctly by a professional. Music Therapy can benefit many individuals. The therapist will determine what best suits the client’s needs, based off of an assessment. Music Therapy can help people both emotionally and physically, since music in itself is extremely diverse. This diversity allows the treatment to be applied to both areas of concern. Since different forms of therapy heavily focus on talking, Music Therapy can elicit responses that other therapies cannot. Music can evoke positive emotions and stimulate reward centers in the brain. It can also alleviate symptoms of mental health concerns. People dealing with mood disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance dependency, autism, insomnia, dementia, personality disorders, etc., have all been proven to benefit from Music Therapy. It can reduce stress levels, pain perception, self-esteem, self-concept, verbal communication, socialization skills, group cohesion, and coping skills. 3
2) American Music Therapy Association. History of Music Therapy | History of Music Therapy | American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). https://www.musictherapy.org/about/history/.
3) GoodTherapy.org. GoodTherapy.org – Find the Right Therapist. https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/music-therapy.
The Power of Music 