What is Music Therapy?
As a music therapist, this is the most common question we get asked. Regardless how often I hear it, I’m always at a loss for how to answer. Do I give the clinical, lackluster definition that we memorize in school? Or do I talk for far too long trying to help the person asking understand what my work actually looks like?
The difficulty lays in that music therapy carefully balances between the all-knowing nature of medical science and our innate understanding that what heals our soul is far beyond what words can describe. Although the clinical definition may be concise, it misses this balance. Many scholars have tried to do justice to this careful balance; trying to describe the utter transformation that we get to see in our clients; the growth and beauty that emerges because of the music. Carolyn Kenny perhaps came the closest to finding a way to think about music therapy that respects this balance. She observes: “We superimpose statistical formulae, hoping that if we develop the scientific side, the artistic, spiritual side will magically emerge. We describe and develop the objective, knowing all along that the subjective has as much if not more, influence on our patients, our clients and ourselves” (Kenny, 1996).
In The Mythic Artery, Kenny encourages us to break down the definition and fully immerse ourselves in the experience of music to truly understand the transformative power of music therapy. First, we need to peel back the layers of the medicalized “therapy” to see the unique potential of healing that music offers? Here are just some experiences we can consider:
- Music reflects nature
- Music stimulates the emotions, the intellect, and the body
- Music organizes our experience with forms and structures
- Music is greater than the moment
- Music communicates ideas beyond words
- Music reflects, dramatizes, and focuses on positive or negative connections between people and events
- Music provides a source of renewal
- Music is grounding
- Music is creative
- Music brings us together
- Music helps us be alone
- Music provides an opportunity of release
- Music acknowledges the whole range of emotions, from suffering to joy
- Music is flexible and adaptable
- Music provides meaningful social context
- Music has immediate and delayed influence
- Music is at once process and product
- Music is beauty
Music is both art and science
I encourage you to go back through this list. Think of a moment in time where you experienced each of these effects of music:
Consider a moment you have experienced the connection between music and nature
Consider a song that made sense of a feeling that you couldn’t find the words to describe.
When has music brought you closer to others?
When have you used music to help you feel alone?
Consider a moment that music provided clarity of mind.
Consider a moment that music provided you a cathartic release of emotions. What music works best for you?
What music helps you feel your suffering? Your joy?
Consider a song that helps you feel connected to your childhood.
It is through reflecting on our experiences that we begin to understand and embody the healing nature of music and the connection that it can bring to ourselves, our communities, and our world around us. This brings us one step closer to answering our question at the beginning.
Seeing music through this lens, we can understand more fully how music can function in therapy. After the initial stage of building trust and safety, therapy focuses on building skills and resources related to growth, transformation, and flexibility. This allows for people to work towards patterns to healing. A Music Therapist intentionally facilitates this by observing the needs and strengths of a person and providing musical opportunities within each session that can build these skills and resources, growing a person’s own relationship with music.
So what is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the space where the innate healing benefits of music are used intentionally to address life’s challenges, and
A Music Therapist acts as a resource, providing the experiences that will support each unique person on their own unique journey towards healing.
This may not bring you clarity about what your music therapy session may look like; we will write more on that in the future. But hopefully this gives you a sense of the role that music and a Music Therapist can play in your healing journey.
References Cited:
The Mythic Artery – Carolyn Kenny (1996)