Why Music Therapy?

Music is a core function in our brain. Our brain is primed early on to respond to and process music. From an evolutionary standpoint, music precedes language.

Our bodies entrain to rhythm. Our motor systems naturally entrain, or match, to a rhythmic beat. This allows our muscles to automatically move rhythmically without having to think about it.

We naturally have physiologic responses to music. Every time your breathing quickens, your heart-rate increases, or you feel a shiver down your spine, that’s your body responding physiologically to music. 

Music taps into our emotions. Whether from the music itself, or from our associations with the music, music taps into our emotional systems.

Music helps improve our attention skills. Even from an early age, music can grab and hold our attention. This allows music therapists to target attention and impulse control goals, both basic skills we need to function and succeed.

Music uses shared neural circuits as speech. This is helpful in helping helping someone learn to communicate after a stroke to re-learn how to talk again. Music enhances learning.

The inherent structure and emotional pull of music makes it an easy tool for teaching concepts, ideas, and information.

Music is an effective mnemonic device and can “tag” information, not only making it easy to learn, but also easy to later recall. Music taps into our memories. Music is second only to smell for it’s ability to stimulate our memory in a very powerful way, making it a powerful tool for treating dementia.

Music is a social experience and a defining identity for cultural values and traditions. The values and traditions of entire cultures are embedded in their art and music.

Music is predictable, structured, and organized which makes it non-invasive, safe and motivating! 



Source: Top 12 Brain-Based Reasons Why Music as Therapy Works Merzenich et al. https://www.brainhq.com/blog/top-12-brain-based-reasons-why-music-as-therapy-works/