What is Music Therapy?
What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy been researched and has been proven effective at a national and international level.
Music therapy is a discipline in which Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains.
Canadian Association of Music Therapists
September 2020
Music Therapy been researched and has been proven effective at a national and international level.
Music therapy is a discipline in which Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains.
Canadian Association of Music Therapists
September 2020
What is Neurologic Music Therapy?
Neurologic Music Therapy is a research-guided clinical model that is driven by advances in neuroscience and the understanding of the perception, production, and performance of music and how music can influence and change non-musical brain and behavior function.
Neurologic Music Therapy is the therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system. It is for any population including stroke, traumatic brain injury,
Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, mental health, and other neurological diseases affecting cognition, movement, communication, and psychosocial function.
The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy
Neurologic Music Therapy is an additional professional music therapy training that is used by Kadence Music Therapy to provide clients with advanced music therapy services.
What is Neurologic Music Therapy?
Neurologic Music Therapy is a research-guided clinical model that is driven by advances in neuroscience and the understanding of the perception, production, and performance of music and how music can influence and change non-musical brain and behavior function.
Neurologic Music Therapy is the therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system. It is for any population including stroke, traumatic brain injury,
Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, mental health, and other neurological diseases affecting cognition, movement, communication, and psychosocial function.
The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy
Neurologic Music Therapy is an additional professional music therapy training that is used by Kadence Music Therapy to provide clients with advanced music therapy services.
Examples of Client Populations
But not limited to
Alzheimer’s/Dementia
Stroke
Brain Injury
Parkinson’s Disease
Palliative Care
Speech Disorders Developmental Disabilities
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Down Syndrome
ADHD
Depression
Anxiety
Examples of Client Populations
But not limited to
Alzheimer’s/Dementia
Stroke
Brain Injury
Parkinson’s Disease
Palliative Care
Speech Disorders Developmental Disabilities
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Down Syndrome
ADHD
Depression
Anxiety
Benefits of Music Therapy
MOTOR
Improve fine and gross motor skills, range of motion, balance, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, muscle strength
SPEECH/ LANGUAGE/ COMMUNICATION
Improving speech functional and expressive language, facilitate speech production; improve speech endurance, and improve verbal and non-verbal emotional expression.
DEVELOPMENTAL
Enhance well-being, improve body awareness, self-regulation skills, awareness of others and the environment, and foster independent living.
MENTAL HEALTH
Improved self-esteem and self-image, learning coping strategies, decrease anxiety, elevate mood, increase motivation, foster creativity and self-expression.
COGNITIVE
Recalling memories, learning new information, reinforce and modify desired behaviours, attention to task, and spatial awareness.
SOCIAL
Improve social skills, impulse control, sharing, eye contact, decrease feelings of isolation and increased involvement in a group setting
Benefits of Music Therapy
MOTOR
Improve fine and gross motor skills, range of motion, balance, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, muscle strength
SPEECH/ LANGUAGE/ COMMUNICATION
Improving speech functional and expressive language, facilitate speech production; improve speech endurance, and improve verbal and non-verbal emotional expression.
DEVELOPMENTAL
Enhance well-being, improve body awareness, self-regulation skills, awareness of others and the environment, and foster independent living.
MENTAL HEALTH
Improved self-esteem and self-image, learning coping strategies, decrease anxiety, elevate mood, increase motivation, foster creativity and self-expression.
COGNITIVE
Recalling memories, learning new information, reinforce and modify desired behaviours, attention to task, and spatial awareness.
SOCIAL
Improve social skills, impulse control, sharing, eye contact, decrease feelings of isolation and increased involvement in a group setting
IMPROVES INVASIVE PROCEDURES
Those who listened to music in the operating room reported less discomfort during their procedure. Hearing music in the recovery room lowered the use of opioid painkillers.
RESTORES LOST SPEECH
Listening to music reduces anxiety associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It can also quell nausea and vomiting for patients receiving chemotherapy.
REDUCES SIDE EFFECTS OF CANCER THERAPY
Music therapy decreases pain perception, reduces the amount of pain medication needed, helps relieve depression, and gives people a sense of better control over their pain.
AIDS PAIN RELIEF
Because the ability to engage with music remains intact late into the disease process, music therapy can help to recall memories, reduce agitation, assist communication, and improve physical coordination.
IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS
Music therapy can help people who are recovering from a stroke or traumatic brain injury that has damaged the left-brain region responsible for speech. Because singing ability originates in the right side of the brain, people can work around the injury to the left side of their brain by first singing their thoughts and then gradually dropping the melody.
IMPROVES INVASIVE PROCEDURES
Those who listened to music in the operating room reported less discomfort during their procedure. Hearing music in the recovery room lowered the use of opioid painkillers.
RESTORES LOST SPEECH
Listening to music reduces anxiety associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It can also quell nausea and vomiting for patients receiving chemotherapy.
REDUCES SIDE EFFECTS OF CANCER THERAPY
Music therapy decreases pain perception, reduces the amount of pain medication needed, helps relieve depression, and gives people a sense of better control over their pain.
AIDS PAIN RELIEF
Because the ability to engage with music remains intact late into the disease process, music therapy can help to recall memories, reduce agitation, assist communication, and improve physical coordination.
IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS
Music therapy can help people who are recovering from a stroke or traumatic brain injury that has damaged the left-brain region responsible for speech. Because singing ability originates in the right side of the brain, people can work around the injury to the left side of their brain by first singing their thoughts and then gradually dropping the melody.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some examples of musical interventions?
Music therapists use a variety of musical interventions. Musical interventions include, but are not limited to:
- Singing / Vocalizing
- Movement to Music
- Rhythmic Based Activities
- Musical Improvisation
- Instrument Play
- Listening to Music
- Songwriting / Composing
- Relaxation Techniques
- Music Discussion
2. Do I have to sing or play an instrument in order to participate in music therapy?
No, you do not have to have previous experience with singing and/or playing a musical instrument. The focus of music therapy is not on developing musical skills or technique. Rather, music is used as the primary tool in order to address clinical, non-musical goals. Anyone can benefit from music therapy, as long as they are motivated by music!
3. What time are appointments available?
Kadence Music Therapy is available for Weekday and After-School music therapy sessions Monday through Friday. Weekday evening and Saturday sessions are available upon request.
More questions? Please use the contact form to submit your questions to Kadence Music Therapy.
4. Who is are Certified Music Therapists?
Certified Music Therapists, MTA, complete a university degree (Bachelor’s, a Graduate Certificate and/or Master’s) in Music Therapy. University coursework consists of supervised clinical fieldwork placements and the academic study in the areas of music therapy research, music, and psychology. Following the completion of a university degree in music therapy, the music therapist in training completes a 1000 hour supervised internship. Upon completion of an internship, the music therapist in training is eligible to take the CBMT* Exam. After passing this exam, they can apply for MTA Certification signifying they are qualified to work in the field and will adhere to the Canadian Association of Music Therapists’ Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
* CBMT: Certification Board of Music Therapists
5. Is music therapy covered by OHIP? Can insurance pay for music therapy?
Music therapy is not currently covered by OHIP. HOWEVER, you may be able to receive partial or full coverage for Mental Health/ Psychotherapy services provided by Kadence Music Therapy through your private extended health benefits plan (i.e. SunLife, Manulife, etc.). It is important that you contact your private insurance provider directly to find out if services from a Registered Psychotherapist are covered because we do not direct-bill to companies. We will provide a receipt for your submission.
Kadence Music Therapy also has experience working with respite funding, Passport funding and WSIB. KMT is always interested in working with new third party payers and funding sources. If you have a funding source not mentioned here, please reach out to Kadence Music Therapy to see if the funding source can be accepted.