What is Music Therapy? Video Resources
- Xingyu Yao, MT-BC
- Jul 13, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 3
People ask me frequently,
What is music therapy?
What can music therapy do?
How music therapy can help us?
Who can benefit from music therapy?
Can music therapy help me?
What happens in a music therapy session?
Since music therapy a) draws from theories, research, and practices in fields like psychology, medicine, education, and music training, and b) can benefit people throughout their lives, a course is needed to introduce its scope and answer related questions.
Therefore, I've decided to create a collection of video resources that effectively demonstrate "music therapy in action."
These videos highlight how music therapy is applied in different settings and with various populations, such as:
- Medical environments
- Children with special needs
- Dementia care
- Rehabilitation
- Community music therapy
- Performance-based music therapy
- Premature babies
I have included brief introductions for each video to help you find the most relevant application. Tips: use the keyboard shortcut "control+F" to search keywords.
To begin with, I want to share an excellent animated video "How playing an instrument benefits your brain - Anita Collins."
This video has done a great job explaining the benefits of listening and playing music from a neuroscience perspective. It is an absolute joy to watch. Music Neuroscience is the foundation of my music therapy approach. Music's impact on human evolution and development continues to fascinate me.
Music Therapy at Boston Children's Hospital
Watch how music therapy is used to support and offer healings for children during their hospital stays.
Abbey's Story at Sophie's Place of Utah Primary Children's Hospital, U.S. first dedicated space for music therapy in a Pediatric Hospital opened in June 2013. Sophie's Place acts as a healing sanctuary for children in the hospital.
Watch how music therapy helped Abbey's recovery from a brain infection, regain her ability to speak and move, and enjoy Abbey's Song.
Abby's Recital - Music Therapy at Primary Children's Hospital
Watch how music therapy helped Abby through her recovery from a coma due to Traumatic Brain Injury. At the end of her two-month stay, she was able to perform a recital at Sophie's Place for all who helped in her recovery.
"Music Therapy is my favorite type of therapy!" --Abby
Meet June and St. Louis Children’s Hospital Music Therapist, Christy Merrell and learn about how music therapy had a profound impact on June’s recovery from Kawasaki Shock Disease and Coma.
Music Therapy for Autistic Children/Teenager |Community Music Center of Boston
Imani was one of my clients when I was working as a music therapist at Community Music Center of Boston in 2019.
Watch how long-term music therapy helps Imani enhance her communication, creative emotional expressions, motor skills, moods, and growing from a child into a teenager.
A 6-minitue documentary created in 2019 about ways in which music therapy can help children and youth who are on the autism spectrum:
Neurologic Music Therapy - Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation - Gait Training
This video shows how a 45-minute neurologic music therapy session improves the patient's walking ability. The patient is able to walk without a cane about 2 times faster and 6 times farther after the session. It is amazing to witness.
Watch how Neurologic Music Therapy helps a patient to recover from the impact of a stroke. The patient has severe left hemineglect, which means she is not aware of her left side of sensory space.
A Better Baby Lullaby: Music Therapy for Preemies | The New York Times
The Louis Armstrong Department of Music Therapy at Mount Sinai shares music therapy practice in their NICU in 2013.
PeaceHealth Southwest also has a nice video showcasing their music therapy NICU program, which was made in 2016, offering a slightly different perspective.
Study Finds That Music Therapy Decreases Anxiety For Cancer Patients
How Music Therapy helps patient after lung transplant at Houston Methodist Hospital
Performance-Based Music Therapy:
I implemented and directed the Watch City Singers pilot program during September-December 2019, in collaboration with Powers Music School and Lifetime Arts, LLC. I hope you enjoy these two videos documenting our joy!
Performance-based Music Therapy at A Place To Be
Cabin Films and Onyx Films in collaboration with A Place to Be have filmed a documentary "High Notes", which features the power of music to transform, inspire, and enrich lives. Here is the trailer.
Next Steps Music Therapy
Community Music Therapy using songwriting and music camps to support and lift up the spirit of youth living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or a rare genetic disorder.
Plus, a huge shoutout to Kimberly Khare, the music therapist in this video and my beloved professor at Berklee College of Music!
Mission: to use the power of music to provide healing, raise awareness, and promote positive social change for survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence.
The project helps hundreds of survivors heal by participating in their music therapy programs at partner agencies and shelters in St. Louis, Seattle, and New York City.
Recommended Music Therapy Documentaries and Filmes
Alive Inside
Music Got Me Here
A Lady in 6
The Music Never Stopped
Interested to learn how music therapy may help you or your organization to achieve health and wellness goals? Book a session here:
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