What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualised goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy degree program. (American Music Therapy Association definition, 2005)
Sessions vary depending on the therapeutic needs of the participants, their values, strengths, and personal preferences. Music Therapy being a strengths-based practice, one of the main focuses is on creating opportunities to celebrate who people are and what is important to them. Regardless of age, musical abilities and skills, everyone can connect through music. We use the expressive nature of music as an interactive tool between the therapist and the participants to achieve their therapeutic goals.
We tailor sessions using music-based activities to offer participants interactive opportunities to meet their needs, learn, grow, have fun, meet challenges and form strategies to overcome them, and gain awareness and understanding of how to use music to achieve their therapeutic goals. Activities may include:
Learning a musical instrument
Songwriting
Drumming
Improvisation
Listening to familiar songs
Music performance
Singing
Recording songs
Music relaxation
Music and imagery
Making musical instruments
Who can benefit from music therapy?
Music therapy can be beneficial for people across the lifespan from pre-born babies, children, adolescents, adults, and elderly. Music therapy has been shown to be an effective therapeutic support for people with mental health and psychiatric conditions, injury recovery, dementia, physical, developmental and learning disabilities, addictions, brain injuries, and chronic pain.
There is a substantial amount of research around music processing and the effects of music on the brain showing its ability to enhance brain function, stimulate and repair neural pathways in brain regions that might be affected by neurologic conditions. This makes it an excellent tool for supporting people to develop, maintain, or regain brain function as well as improving physical health and mental wellbeing.
Do I need to be musical to do music therapy?
If your heart is beating, there’s rhythm in you. Regardless of their musical abilities, everybody can benefit from music therapy because music is a universal language. Music therapy uses music as a vehicle to help people address identified non-musical needs.
What is a New Zealand Registered Music Therapist (NZRMTh)?
In Aotearoa New Zealand music therapy is a regulated and registered allied health profession. Music therapists are required to complete a masters degree in music therapy, which offers comprehensive theory into music therapy, supervised clinical practice, and a final year placement accompanied by publishing a research project.
Practising music therapists are required to register with the New Zealand Music Therapy Board and hold an annual practicing certificate. NZ Registered Music Therapists (NZRMTh) abide by the NZ Code of Ethics and Music Therapy Standards of Practice, complying with the regulatory requirements to maintain ongoing professional development and regular clinical supervision. For more information about music therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand please visit:
https://www.musictherapy.org.nz/
