Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of musical interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by trained professional.
Music therapy is a creative, affect-based intervention that focuses on building rich, dynamic relationships through active music making. Individualized musical interventions help people in all kinds of situations and life changes. Within the therapeutic musical relationship, the primary intent is to deepen avenues for relatedness, communication, expression, and emotional processing.
In music therapy, we foster the dynamics of the musical process, not the outcome of a musical product. The musical experiences are co-created, providing opportunities for meaningful musical dialogues. One does not need to have specific musical skills to benefit from music therapy. Most often these meaningful dialogues are achieved in musical improvisations, using instruments and/or singing.
The improvised music is created with sensitivity and artistic mastery, utilizing all the elements of music; rhythm, melody, tempo, dynamics, and timbre with full range of expression and variety of musical styles and use of authentic musical modes. This supports and invites one to connect and express themselves in a range of emotions. In addition songs and genres of music that one finds meaningful are utilized and are important in the therapeutic process.
Almost all children respond to music.
Music is an open-sesame, and if you can use it carefully and appropriately,
you can reach into that child’s potential for development.
~ Clive Robbins ~
