What is Music Therapy ?
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.
What is music therapy? Download our flyer to learn more
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.
What is music therapy? Download our flyer to learn more
What is a Registered Music Therapist (RMT)?
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.
Find out more about becoming a Registered Music Therapist
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.
Find out more about becoming a Registered Music Therapist
Why use a Registered Music Therapist?
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, well being, and/or spiritual goals.
You can find a Registered Music Therapist by using the Find a Music Therapist search on this site.
You can find a Registered Music Therapist by using the Find a Music Therapist search on this site.
How can music therapy help?
Music therapy improves mental health and wellbeing
Research has shown that music therapy can improve mental health and wellbeing. It can help:
Music therapy improves speech, communication and social skills.
Research has shown that music therapy can improve speech, communication and social skills. It can help:
Research has shown that music therapy can improve body movement, coordination and physical function. It can help:
Research has shown that music therapy can improve memory, attention and cognitive function. It can help:
Research has shown that music therapy can improve the body’s ability to deal with pain. It can help:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
- 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.
- 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:
Music therapy is different to music lessons and music entertainment in that:
- 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.
- Occupational therapists
- Speech therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Neurologists and
- Doctors.
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.