Music therapy

Music therapy is a form of therapy that uses music to treat physical, emotional, mental, social and cognitive aspects of people.

The global professional organisation called World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT, 2011) defines as:

”Music therapy is the professional use of music and its elements as an intervention in medical, educational, and everyday environments with individuals, groups, families, or communities who seek to optimize their quality of life and improve their physical, social, communicative, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health and wellbeing. Research, practice, education, and clinical training in music therapy are based on professional standards according to cultural, social, and political contexts” 1.

This kind of therapy has great adaptability and many variables depending on the area in which it is carried out, so it can be defined in numerous ways.

Music in music therapy has to be understood in a very broad sense, as a tool with the possibility of activating the senses and opening the way to the imagination (Zimbaldo, 2015)2. In this context, music is a medium that adapts to people’s needs, it is not an end in itself and has no aesthetic value.

Due to how music is used, the objectives that are worked on and taking in account that it is a discipline based on scientific research, music therapy:

·  It is not a music lesson
·  It’s not just about listening to music
· It is nothing esoteric

In music therapy we use music and sound in an active and responsive way to improve people’s health and well-being. This approach can help reduce stress, improve communication, encourage emotional expression, and promote relaxation.

The best way to go is to know your interests and see what possibilities music therapy can offer you to work on them as it adapts to your needs.

Contact
  1. World Federation of Music Therapy. Recuperado de: https://www.wfmt.info/post/announcing-wfmts-new-definition-of-music-therapy ↩︎
  2. Zimbaldo, A. (2015. Musicoterapia. Perspectivas teóricas. Buenos Aires: Paidós. ↩︎
Svenska
Español