What is the Music Therapy?

Music Therapy: The Rise of a Profession Backed by Science

What is Music Therapy

According to the World Federation of Music Therapy (2011), music therapy is a therapeutic discipline that uses music and its elements (sound, rhythm, melody, silence and harmony) to promote, maintain and restore the physical, emotional and mental health of people. people . This practice is based on the idea that music is a means of expression and communication to achieve non-musical objectives. Music therapists are professionals academically trained in this field to perform personalized musical interventions taking into account the interests, possibilities and health needs of individuals of all ages.

Music therapy, as a fusion of music and therapy, is simultaneously an art, a science, and an interpersonal process . It is important that this discipline be conceived in a way that encompasses this multiplicity and at the same time preserves its integrity. (Bruscia, 2007).

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Scientific Bases and Theories that Support Music Therapy

Numerous scientific investigations have shown that music and music therapy have positive effects on humans (Aguilar, 2006; Arias, 2007; Colegrove, et al., 2019; Custodio, et al., 2017, Davis, et al., 2000 , Poch, 2011). Neuroplasticity . , the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, is also key in music therapy (Jurado-Novoa, 2018) Studies carried out confirm that music and its elements (rhythm, harmony, melody) have an impact at the brain level, stimulating – among others – memories, training memory and a series of cognitive and emotional aspects that are beneficial to slow down the loss of certain functions (Raglio, 2014; Vannay, 2022).

Another relevant theory is the one that postulates that music can modulate the person’s arousal levels (alertness) , either by calming or stimulating the nervous system (Solsona, 2018). Additionally, nonverbal communication theory maintains that music can serve as a means of expression for those who have difficulty communicating verbally, facilitating the expression of deep feelings and thoughts (Kim, 2016).

Therapeutic Benefits of Music Therapy

Most people recognize the benefits of music to calm and/or motivate. Many will have experienced it firsthand through their own experiences. In music therapy these benefits are wide and varied. Some of the most notable ones include:

• Reduction of stress and anxiety where music induces a state of relaxation, reducing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. (Wigram, 2011)
• Improved mood through listening to and participating in musical activities designed in a specific music therapy program can raise levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with well-being and happiness (Summer, 2010).
• Cognitive stimulation through musical activities that can improve memory, attention and other cognitive functions, especially in older people or those with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (Thaut, 2016).
• Improving communication with individuals with speech and language disorders , music therapy can facilitate verbal and non-verbal expression and understanding (Vaillancourt, 2009).
• Pain management through musical techniques and the adaptation of the Priestley method in music therapy can reduce the perception of pain in women with fibromyalgia and improve their self-esteem. Resignifying the painful sensation and providing strategy tools in the face of the chronic situation (Vannay, et al, 2023).
• Improvement of motor skills through rhythm and movement. Music therapy helps in physical rehabilitation and improving motor coordination (Thaut, 2016).

Clinical Applications of Music Therapy

In clinical practice it is important, whether working in health, education, social services or more specialized areas, to have defined the referral criteria and the areas of needs for which music therapy can be helpful and offer a potentially effective intervention. and be able to make recommendations concerning the duration of the intervention (Wigran et al., 2011 pp.161).

Music therapy is applied in a wide range of clinical contexts , both individual, group and/or family (Bruscia, 2007; Davis et al., 2012) including:

• Mental Health Centers with specific programs for patients with anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental health problems.
• Physical rehabilitation with music therapy interventions dedicated to helping people recovering from strokes, traumatic injuries and other conditions that affect mobility.
• Hospitals, oncology and palliative care services with proposals for pain relief and emotional support for patients with chronic or terminal illnesses, among others.
• Geriatrics through programs with the main objective of improving the quality of life in active aging and also in those people with dementia or Alzheimer’s, through cognitive and emotional stimulation.
• Special education with music therapy sessions that benefit both children and adults with autism, learning disorders and other functional diversities, promoting communication and socio-emotional skills.
• Addiction rehabilitation centers based on strategic and systematized interventions to help patients manage stress and emotions during the recovery process.

These are some of the clinical contexts where music therapy can be used with a professional music therapist who performs an initial assessment, detects the therapeutic objectives, designs the treatment, selects the methodology and carries out the evaluation of the process. Naturally, the objectives and methods vary from one setting to another, from one music therapist to another (Bruscia, 2007).

Some Success Stories in the Use of Music Therapy

There are numerous documented cases that demonstrate the success of music therapy as a discipline with scientific evidence . One of the most notable is the use of music in patients with Alzheimer’s , which showed that music can awaken memories and emotions in patients with advanced Alzheimer’s, improving their mood and social interaction (Raglio, et al., 2014).

Dynamics such as singing, improvising, creating songs, listening to melodies from your youth , doing instrumental and/or body percussion as well as performing auditory discrimination exercises allow you to take this training to other tasks that impact daily life. This facilitates a wide range of therapeutic outcomes in development and rehabilitation (Vannay, 2022)

Another successful case is at the hospital level , where it has been shown that music therapy has been used to reduce anxiety and pain in patients undergoing medical procedures. The results have been impressive, with a significant reduction in the need for painkillers and an overall improvement in painkiller well-being.

In the field of mental health , music therapy has been effective in treating people with post-traumatic stress disorder . Music and the systematization of a music therapy program have helped these individuals process traumas and improve their quality of life, providing tools for emotional management, the development of creativity and the promotion of self-esteem.

Music therapy is booming, backed by growing scientific evidence and wide acceptance in various health fields. Its therapeutic benefits and clinical applications make it a valuable discipline to improve the quality of life of many people, consolidating this profession that is increasingly respected and in demand.

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