Music therapy is a research-based allied health profession in which music is used to actively support people as they aim to improve their health, functioning and well-being. It can help people of all ages to manage their physical and mental health and enhance their quality of life.
You don’t need to be musical to take part in or benefit from music therapy. Qualified music therapists plan and provide musical experiences for their clients. Each session is tailored to the needs and goals of the client.
Music therapists are committed to supporting people of any age, ability or background. They work across the full age spectrum from newborn children through to older adults.
A Registered Music Therapist (RMT) is a music therapist who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA). To be eligible to register with AMTA, a Registered Music Therapist needs to complete a certified university course in music therapy and maintain their skills through ongoing professional development as approved by the AMTA.
Currently in Australia, music therapy training is at a master's level and courses are offered at The University of Melbourne and The Western Sydney University. The course is two years full time.
To enter the master's course, students must have completed an undergraduate degree in music or a related health profession with demonstrated high level musical skills.
Registered Music Therapists are not only skilled musicians, they are trained in understanding the effects music experiences can have on behaviours, feelings, thoughts and actions. Music therapists use their therapy training and musical ability to facilitate interactive musical experiences to help clients achieve goals. These goals may include improved communication, cognition, physical function, mood, wellbeing, and/or spiritual goals.
How can you find a Registered Music Therapist (RMT)?
You can find a Registered Music Therapist by using the Find a Music Therapist search on this site.
How can music therapy help?
Research has shown that music therapy can help people in many ways:
Music therapy improves mental health and wellbeing
Research has shown that music therapy can improve mental health and wellbeing. It can help:
Reduce anxiety or stress
Regulate moods and energy levels
Increase motivation
Manage anger and frustration
Manage challenging behaviour.
Music therapy improves speech, communication and social skills
Research has shown that music therapy can improve speech, communication and social skills. It can help:
Improve verbal and non-verbal communication
Improve physical speech function
Increase social communication skills
Increase social interaction
Increase independence
Give positive and new ways to deal with situations.
Music therapy improves body movement, coordination and physical function
Research has shown that music therapy can improve body movement, coordination and physical function. It can help:
Improve gross motor function and control
Gross motor skills are the larger movements you make with your arms legs, feet, or entire body.
Improve fine motor function and control
Fine motor skills are the smaller movements you make using your wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes.
Improve balance
Increase physical independence
Help regulate heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure
Improve respiratory muscle strength and control
Improve sleep.
Music therapy improves memory, attention and cognitive function
Research has shown that music therapy can improve memory, attention and cognitive function. It can help:
Increase core executive functions: self-awareness, inhibition, non-verbal and verbal working memory, emotional self-regulation, self-motivation, planning and problem solving
Increase memory and attention.
Music therapy improves pain management
Research has shown that music therapy can improve the body’s ability to deal with pain. It can help:
Reduce pain perception by increasing the body’s production of natural pain killers.
Support faster recovery from medical procedures.
Who music therapy is for?
Music therapy can help support people of any age who might be experiencing challenges (including mental, intellectual, physical, emotional or social) or wishing to improve their well-being.
Music therapy is often used to address a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, behaviour, communication and movement including:
Autism
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety
Cancer
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Eating disorders
Personality disorders
Physical disabilities
Dementia
Stroke
Spinal cord injury
Neurodegenerative conditions.
Music therapy can also be used in hospitals and health care centres to help patients deal with stress, discomfort and pain. It is used to help patients who have:
Cancer and diseases of the blood and bone marrow
Advanced diseases that have little or no chance of cure or recovery
Experienced a stroke or brain injury
Mental health illnesses
Had surgery or other medical procedures.
Where is music therapy used?
Music therapy is used in many settings such as:
Hospitals
Schools
Residential aged care homes
Palliative care facilities
Disability care facilities
Community health programs
Child care centres
Prisons and detention centres
Private practice.
What happens in a music therapy session?
A music therapy session occurs face-to-face either in person or online. Music therapists use a range of music therapy methods. They tailor each session to the needs of the person. A session may include:
Listening to music played by the music therapist.
Listening to recorded music.
Making music by playing an instrument or singing.
Using or writing lyrics and songs.
Getting resources and activities to do outside of your music therapy session.
To maximise the benefit of your music therapy, Registered Music Therapists try to understand your situation and goals. This can involve working closely with your family, carers and other health professionals such as:
Occupational therapists
Speech therapists
Physiotherapists
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Neurologists and
Doctors.
How is music therapy different to music lessons or music entertainment?
Music therapy is different to music lessons and music entertainment in that:
The main goal of music therapy is not musical, for example, to improve fine motor skills, speech or communication skills. Musical experiences are used to achieve non-musical goals. For example, motivating people to use their fingers or to respond to music emotionally and physically. The added benefits of music therapy are musical, and often include opportunities for musical participation.
The main goal of music lessons is music focused. For example, to learn how to play a musical instrument, sing or read music. The added benefits of music lessons are not musical, and may include improved confidence, focus and fine motor skills.
The main goal of music entertainment is entertainment. For example, a person listens to music or watches a concert to be entertained. It is a passive experience that involves listening to or participating in a musical activity. The added benefits of music entertainment can be the relaxation, thrill or an emotional feeling from the experience.
Watch this video about what Registered Music Therapists do
