Music Therapy

Music Therapy is the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited Music Therapist to promote health and to facilitate positive change. It empowers persons in transition, and helps the individual:

• express feelings, both verbal and non-verbal
• increase task behaviour
• improve control over motor skills
• develop creative self-expression/communication

Bringing music therapy to “sick” and special needs kids as well as their siblings

Music therapy can benefit various special needs including:

• autism
• developmental disabilities
• emotional disturbances and/or victims of emotional, physical or sexual abuse
• learning disabilities
• medical needs
• neurological impairments (including speech)
• palliative care
• PDD (pervasive developmental disorders)
• physical disabilities
• speech development

Why music?
Music is a non-threatening and inviting medium. Children find it especially easy to relate to the music, which can be motivating as well as calming and used to encourage appropriate social interaction with others.

Interesting:

• Kumar et al (1999). This study tested blood samples of 20 individuals after 4 weeks of music therapy. Findings included increased melatonin levels. Melatonin is largely known for preventing "the blues".

• Suko and Akiuma (2004). Found that music raises dopamime levels. Dopamime is associated with the "pleasure system" of the brain, which provides feelings of enjoyment.

• Music alters heart rate, respiration, mood and elicits a relaxation response. (Pignatello, Camp, Elder, Thomas and Rasar 1989)

What is the Ontario situation?
Although publicly funded in other parts of the world, the Ontario government does NOT fund music therapy. Even when alternate or personal funding is available, many families outside the 416 area code face wait times of over a year to access a music therapist in their local communities.

Who can work as a music therapist?
The Canadian Association of Music Therapy (CAMT), established in 1974, regulates music therapy. A qualified music therapist:

• is a proficient musician trained to use music and education in psychology as well as child development to meet the specific needs of his/her clients
• is a graduate from a recognized four-year undergraduate and/or Masters University degree in music therapy
• serves a thousand-hour internship supervised by an accredited music therapist.

Popular web sites for more information:

• Wilfrid Laurier University
• The Laurier Centre for Music Therapy Research
• Canadian Association for Music Therapy
• British Society for Music Therapy
• American Music Therapy Association
• Music Therapy Association of British Columbia
• Capilano College
• University of Windsor
• Concordia
• Victoria Conservatory of Music
• Acadia
• Fermata Music Therapy