A (very) Basic Definition of Music Therapy

We just set up our new office space today, and while looking through old files on my computer, I found a graduate school assignment--to define music therapy in two sentences or less. It was amusing to me as it came on the heels of reading an entire book that attempted to define music therapy... but I tried, nonetheless.

"Music therapy is the use of music and music-based interventions by a qualified music therapist to achieve non-musical goals."

Breaking it down:

• Music itself can be applied in a therapeutic way. This can include the use of music in Neurological Music Therapy, using the iso-principle in a session, or modifying live music to adjust client responses. (And look at all that great future blog fodder!)
• Music-based interventions utilize music and its therapeutic characteristics but also incorporate basic therapeutic, instructional, or rehabilitative techniques. I personally use a variety of music-based interventions, including everything from shaping behavior by using music as a contingency, to teaching relaxation techniques paired with appropriate music selections.
• A qualified music therapist? Well, the current standard is board-certification. A variety of older standards exist as well, including Registered, Certified, and Advanced Certified Music Therapists, which are included under this umbrella. In my opinion, someone who simply calls themselves a music practitioner, music healer, sound therapist, etc., with no professional backing or credential, are not qualified to do the same things a truly qualified, and thus credentialed, music therapist is. While it is interesting and gratifying that other people see the value of music and wish to apply it, the field of music therapy has been around for several decades, is well-grounded in research, and has a variety of educational programs available to meet certification requirements. I support the standardization of training and professional certification, including the requirement of continuing education. I think this best protects our clients.
• Non-musical goals--this is a biggie! I am also a certified music educator, and began my life as a working adult teaching elementary music. The goals were always musical ones--learning to read, create, perform, and understand music. While there are some overlap between the two professions, this is one distinction that I cannot stress enough. The goal of a music therapist is never a musical one. (There is an... asterisk, if you will... to this, which I will address in a future post...) Instead, a music therapist seeks to improve a client’s functioning, increase his or her skill set, maintain wellness, and/or enhance quality of life, but does so through the above-described use of music.

Of course, as in most things, an all-encompassing definition is difficult. This post barely scratches the surface! Every specific context, therapist, and setting for music therapy can support its own definition. And frankly, my definition falls short for even my personal standard, as it doesn't address the importance of research-based interventions or data. For my professional portfolio, I developed my philosophy of music therapy, which I update depending on the setting and population the portfolio is intended for. This has helped me articulate why I do what I do, and understand what things are most important and essential to my practice in a variety of areas. I hope to share some of my philosophy next week!

What is your personal definition of music therapy? What components do you think are most essential to your practice, or what defintion do you find most meaningful to your population and setting?