The Theory of Music Therapy

Music therapy is not about helping people with their music in the way that speech and language therapist is concerned with alleviating barriers to the 'normal' expression of speech and language. Nor is it about developing musical skill nor teaching people to play an instrument, although this factor maybe an unintentional by-product of the therapeutic process. Therapy itself implies the concept of change and many definitions of music therapy stress the development of aims and the client-therapist relationship: therapy is communicative, social, and interactive. One end emphasizes the music, whilst the other emphasizes the relationship. Each therapist's position on the continuum is influenced by training, personal philosophy, and the therapeutic orientation.

In some countries psychologist, psychiatrist, and other clinicians use music as part of the therapy. For example: the use of music as a form of relaxation to support a more verbally-based psychotherapy, or in dentistry and surgery. In other country the music itself is central ingredients, with changes in the music often being mirrored in changes within the client-therapist relationship. Any definition must therefore address the music and the therapeutic objectives. Furthermore, there are responsibilities for therapist to serve clients by attending to, listening to, and being vigilant towards them. In the end, one possible definition that summarizes these strands is that: Music therapy is the use of sounds and music within an evolving relationship between child or adult and therapist to support and encourage physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.