Music What? Oh, Music Therapy

“You’re a Music what?” “Do you play Mozart all day and then give them a quiz?” “Do you play the harp?” “Is it like counseling put to music, singing about your deep rooted feelings?” These are all natural questions to ask. The answers are a definite “it depends!”

When people hear the words “music” and “therapy” together, their minds go in all directions. They may have a picture of singing lullabies to children to put them in a state of la-la land, or singing “If You’re Happy and you Know it” to see children clap for the first time. And then again, sometimes their eyes simply glass over because they don’t know what to make of the idea of “music therapy with kids.” Maybe I can clear up some of the glassy eyes.

Here’s a textbook definition: The prescribed use of music, music strategies and the relationship that develops through shared musical experiences to assist or motivate a person to achieve non-musical goals.

Now for a family friendly explanation: We use music as a tool to bring children from not interacting or using their abilities to being responsive and interactive, explorative and creative in all their developmental areas.

The reason music works so well is that when you make music with others, you instinctively use many abilities simultaneously. You respond as a whole person, rather than a fragmented one. And it’s done non-verbally, so you’re learning it and expressing it through a different channel, another road in.

Let’s take playing the drums and singing, “If You’re Happy and You Know it” with others, for example:

Sensory/Regulation – We’re thinking about our bodies in space, and the relationship between our hands/feet to the rest of our bodies. We’re controlling how hard or fast we hit the drum so it all sounds even.

Gross Motor- Even as we beat a drum, we’re leaning forward and back in a pulse, this is our trunk supporting all our fine and oral motor skills.
Fine Motor- We’re focusing on holding the mallet right and making it go up and down to hit the drum.

Oral Motor- Also through a foundational sense of pulse, and because melodies are a carrier for phrases, we’re coordinating words and timing.

Language- Not only are we expressing something very clearly when we beat the drum hard, we’re also making connections between words and their meaning.
Emotions- We’re becoming more aware of our emotions through the way we express ourselves on instruments.

Attention/following directions- Since music gives a natural sense of structure, by the music starting and stopping, we’re understanding clearly when it’s time to play.
Motor planning- We’re getting ready to clap those two beats at just the right time.
Coordination-we’re also planning which hand we’ll use and where the mallet will land on the surface of the drum.

We just might...
… Play Mozart – to help them move in an organized way
… Let the child strum an Autoharp – to help them develop hand grasp and a sense of steady pulse
… Bang the drum hard and yell, “I’m mad” – to give them an outlet for sincere expression

So…yes, “it depends!” on your child’s needs, strengths and areas of interest. Another tool in your child’s toolbox could be….not “music what?” but MUSIC THERAPY!