Savannah Whisnant

English 112-971TR

Mrs. Carroll

Effects of Music Therapy

Have you ever had a certain playlist of songs that appeal to your feelings in such a way it

can change your whole day? Whether you realize it or not, this is a form of music therapy. Music

therapy itself can vary from the right music to work-out with to bringing back the memory of

someone with alzheimer's. Music can affect anyone from a positive manner to a negative manner

and it is all in which way the person is using it. Music therapy, by definition, is the clinical and

evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a

therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music

therapy program(American Music Therapy Association). ​Although music therapy is not

viewed as a form of medicine by many medical professionals, it is commonly used for

prolonging life and aiding in mental health. ​What exactly is music therapy?

Music therapy’s complexities can help keep people with severe mental disabilities in

check and in balance with the world. Through guided practice with a licensed professional, it can

affect many areas of the brain. These areas of the brain deal with emotion, cognition, sensation,

and movement (https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy). The diversity of music

makes it unique to each individual and aids in helping a large range of physical and mental

problems. Although anyone can benefit from music therapy, the people who benefit the most are

those with mental disorders, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and people close to dying.
The reason they benefit so much from music therapy is because music positively affects

emotions as well as stimulating the reward centers within the brain. What really goes on in music

therapy sessions? There are two primary techniques in which music therapy can be conducted

and that is active and receptive (https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy). Active is the

technique where one is allowed to make music, whether that be by playing or singing

(https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy). This style of music therapy can be most

beneficial in the emotional as well as cognitive brain functions

(https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy). Receptive is the technique where one

receives the music in styles of dancing or analytical processes among the lyrics in the music to

deeper understand what is really going on in their complicated brain

(https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy). Music therapy does have limitations at this

point in the medical field (https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy). Sometimes

medication, physical therapy, or psychotherapy may also be necessary for an individual patient

(https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy). How did music therapy come into play in

the medical world?

The earliest known reference to music therapy was in 1789 in ​Columbian Magazine​. The

article was titled “Music Physically Considered,”(American Music Therapy Association). Then

throughout the first decade of the 19th century, there were two major writings about the

therapeutic value of music which was published by Edwin Atlee in 1804 and the second by

Samuel Mathews in 1806(American Music Therapy Association). Both of these writers were

students under Dr. Benjamin Rush, who was a physician and psychiatrist that was adamant about

using music to treat medical diseases(American Music Therapy Association.). With these
movements within the realm of music therapy, it progressed the movement for music as a

medical treatment enough to contract the first recorded music therapy intervention within a

institutional setting. Interest in music therapy continue to gain steam throughout the 19th century

and carried itself through into the 20th century(American Music Therapy Association.). The

ideas itself outliving multiple organizations that were supporting the music therapy idea.

Although such associations failed to live out their dreams, certain associations formed and

pushed the idea of music therapy farther than some in the 19th century would think to believe.

Eva Augusta Vescelius in 1903 founded the National Society of Music Therapeutics(American

Music Therapy Association.). This organization prolonged the idea of music therapy to have

more institutions formed after it. One in 1926 was formed by Isa Maud Ilsen, named the National

Association for Music in Hospitals(American Music Therapy Association.). In 1941, Hamet

Ayer Seymour founded the National Foundation of Music Therapy(American Music Therapy

Association.). Although these organizations were very beneficial they were not able to develop

an organized clinical profession. In the 1940s there were three important advocates that pushed

the movement for music therapy to greater heights making it a profound profession that could be

studied at major universities across the country(American Music Therapy Association.). Their

names being Ira Altshuler, Willem van de Wall, and E. Thayer Gaston(American Music Therapy

Association.). Ira Altshuler promoted music therapy in Michigan for three decades(American

Music Therapy Association.). Willem van de Wall paved the way for the use of music therapy in

state-funded facilities along with a music therapy book on how to conduct music therapy titled

Music in Institutions​ (1936)(American Music Therapy Association.). The father of music therapy

being E. Thayer Gaston. He was the man who moved music therapy from an preconceived idea
to an actual topic that could be observed and learned within a classroom setting along with

educational benefits that come into music(American Music Therapy Association.). Gaston

established the first academic program at Michigan State University in 1944 and had other

colleges follow suit such as University of Kansas, Chicago Musical College, College of the

Pacific, and Alverno College(American Music Therapy Association.). Through the learning of

music therapy within educational institutions, organizations that have became prominent in

advocating this type of therapy have been profoundly influential in the medical decisions made

along the lines of injecting music therapy as a base therapeutic session. Associations that include

the National Association for Music Therapy, the American Association for Music Therapy, the

Certification board for Music Therapists and the American Music Therapy Association. All of

these institutions help advocate for the advancement of music therapy within the medical realm.

One major advancement that has been found over the many years of music therapy is the positive

brain stimulation it causes, specifically emotions.

Although researchers still debate the degree of how much overlap there is between

music-evoked emotions and emotions evoked in everyday life, there is now evidence that music

can evoke changes in the major reaction components of emotion. These emotions include

subjective feeling, physiological arousal, motoric expression of emotion (smiling) and action

tendencies, such as dancing (Koelsch, S. (2014). Music leaves a huge impact on human lives;

music can adjust human emotions in positive or negative ways, depending on the genre of music

of the individual’s preference. There are plenty of studies showing the positives of music

therapy, but there are also those that show the negatives of it.
 In studies conducted, evidence has shown that just because a person’s favorite song is

played it doesn’t always bring back accurate memories. In fact the therapeutic songs could bring

false memories, anxiety, or certain barriers; “ Patient interest and preference were associated

with negative affect, anxiety, age, perceived intervention-specific benefits, barriers, and

self-efficacy. Findings highlight the need for a comprehensive assessment of patient needs and

preferences prior to intervention (Burns 05).” With patients listening to songs of their past,

doctors will not know how the effects will be on the patient. As mentioned before, a song can

either offer positive effects or negative effects on the patient. While there is some bad to the

equation of music therapy, the positive effects strongly outweigh the negative. In a study

conducted from Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, family members were there to witness the benefits of

music therapy for loved ones in hospice and also those undergoing palliative medical treatments.

What the study was looking for was ​the effect on family member's stress level, quality of life,

mood and helpfulness of the music therapy session for the patient and theirself​. The research

showed that patients reported significant improvements in pain, depression, distress, and mood

scores. Family members of patients in palliative medicine and hospice settings reported an

immediate positive impact of music therapy on the patient and on themselves (​Rehabilitation​).

There have been so many cases where music therapy has taught people with autism how to

speak, where veterans have overcome PTSD, where music has helped people get out of their

state of depression. Along with these examples, a few more are bringing back memory, helping

lose weight, coping with traumatic events and so many more situations.

In conclusion​, ​music therapy has been proven again and again to drastically

improve mental states and well-being of every generation, defying contrary beliefs that it is
not a medical device because it is not a prescription that needs to be refilled; but, in

actuality it is cohesive to the health of patients that have experienced this treatment.

Together with everything that has been presented to you today, you should be able to have a

better understanding of what music therapy truly is. The good that music therapy can do and all

the benefits that it can have are not only for your loved ones, but can also benefit you. Following

this paper, my senior project will be working with an event planner at a nursing home,

interacting with the occupants of that nursing home and learning the event planners trade and

how they do their job and what comes with that and how to interact with the people they are

around every day.

Bibliography

“American Music Therapy Association.” ​Definition and Quotes about Music Therapy |

Definition and Quotes about Music Therapy | American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)​,

www.musictherapy.org/about/quotes/​ .
“American Music Therapy Association.” ​History of Music Therapy | History of Music Therapy |
American Music Therapy Association (AMTA),​
www.musictherapy.org/about/history/?_sm_byp=iVVJM2DQHF5HVNr5​.

Burns, Debra S., et al. "Cancer Patients' Interest and Preferences for Music
Therapy."​Journal of Music Therapy,​ vol. 42, no. 3, 2005, pp. 185-99​, eLibrary;
ProQuest Central,​
http://nclive.org/cgi-bin/nclsm?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/223557934?acco
untid=11866

.“GoodTherapy.org.” ​GoodTherapy.org - Find the Right Therapist,​

K​oelsch, Stefan. "Brain Correlates of Music-Evoked Emotions."​ Nature Reviews.Neuroscience,​

Hilliard, Russelle E. "The use of Music Therapy in Meeting the Multidimensional Needs of
Hospice Patients and Families."​ Journal of Palliative Care​, vol. 17,
no. 3, 2001, pp. 161-6​. ProQuest,​
https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/214201
548?accountid=10163​.

"Rehabilitation; Recent Findings from Cleveland Clinic Provides New Insights into
Rehabilitation (Perceptions of Family Members of Palliative Medicine and Hospice Patients
Who Experienced Music Therapy)."​ Health & Medicine Week,​ May 26, 2017,
pp. 942​. ProQuest​,
https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/189999
6451?accountid=10163​.

"Neurology; Studies from University of Minnesota have Provided New Information about
Autism (Effects of a Music-Based Short Story on Short- and Long-Term Reading
Comprehension of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cluster Randomized Study)."
Psychology & Psychiatry Journal​, Jul 09, 2016,
pp. 279​. ProQuest​,
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6244?accountid=10163​.