The Historical Origins of Music Therapy
Music therapy was developed in the United States in the 20th century, primarily to impact the mental and physical well-being of soldiers during World War II. The U.S. Army developed music recreation services in the Reconditioning Program to boost morale and aid the recovery of wounded soldiers (Bronson, 1942; Rosenberry, 1944). After World War II, music therapy continued to be used in veterans hospitals, which led to the establishment of the first music therapy degree program at Michigan State University in 1944 (Rorke, 1996).
Afterward, the establishment of the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) in 1950 led to the development of standards for university-level educational and clinical training requirements. This prioritized research and clinical training, resulting in the creation of a registry, board-certification requirements, and the publication of research and clinical journals. In 1971, the American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT) was founded. Although it shared many purposes with NAMT, there were differences in philosophy, education and approach. AAMT published its own research and clinical journal, Music Therapy, by 1997. In 1983, the Certification Board for Music Therapist (CBMT) was founded with the purpose of enhancing the credentialing process for music therapists, which is to guarantee the competency of music therapists who hold credentials (History of Music Therapy, American Music Therapy Association [AMTA], n.d.).
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Finally, in 1998, the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) was formed through the merger of NAMT and the AAMT. The profession has since expanded to include various patient populations and music therapy publications (Byers, 2016; Music Therapy and Military Populations, AMTA, n.d.; Rorke, 1996; U.S. War Department, 1945). Hence, music therapy was established in a medical setting during wars and contributed to improving the well-being of soldiers, ushering in the beginning of music therapy as a professional field that combines both art and science.
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References:
Bronson, H. C. (1942). Music in the army. Music Educators Journal, 28(6), 27, 57-59.
Rosenberry, C. M. (1944). The army music program. Music Educators Journal, 30(5), 18-19.
Rorke, M. A. (1996). Music and the wounded of World War II. Journal of Music Therapy, 33(3), 189–207.
History of Music Therapy. American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.musictherapy.org/about/history/
Byers, K. L. H. (2016). A history of the music therapy profession: Diverse concepts and practices. Barcelona Publishers.
U.S. War Department. (1945). Technical Bulletin 187: Music in reconditioning in American Service Forces convalescent and general hospitals. War Department Technical Bulletin, TB Med 187, 1–11. U.S. War Department.
Music therapy isn’t a lesson —
it’s a clinical solution!
combining
Professional Practice, Interventions,
and Group Benefits.
A Board Certifited Music Therapist
is a Clinical Professional with Advanced University Degree,
Registered with National Music Therapy Association
Strictly Adheres to its Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
Music therapists focus on serving individuals or groups with special needs, or those who have not benefited from other treatments. We assess, plan, and implement music therapy programs to daily life to activate the brain and enhance multisensory integration. It allows multiple participants in a group to work toward various therapeutic goals together, increasing engagement and treatment effectiveness.
According to the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University and the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research in the UK, music therapy has been shown to improve social communication in children with autism and enhance quality of life for people with dementia (1)(2).
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In addition, several large clinical studies funded by the US National Institutes of Health indicate that music therapy can significantly help with anxiety, depression, and neurorehabilitation (such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease) (3).
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In 2022, a systematic review from Taiwan analyzing 12 randomized controlled trials also found that music therapy effectively reduces pain for cancer patients during surgery or medical procedures (4).
（1）Nordoff, P., & Robbins, C. (1977). Creative Music Therapy: Individualized Treatment for the Handicapped Child. John Day Company.
（2）Wigram, T. (2004). Improvisation: Methods and Techniques for Music Therapy Clinicians, Educators, and Students. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
（3）Windle, G., Joling, K. J., Howson-Griffiths, T., Woods, B., Jones, C., van de Ven, P. M., ... & Orrell, M. (2020). The impact of music interventions on health and well-being: A systematic review. Perspectives in Public Health, 140(5), 282–290.
（4）Chai, P. R., Carreiro, S., Innes, B. J., Rosenblat, G., & Boyer, E. W. (2022). Music therapy as a form of nonpharmacologic pain modulation in cancer patients: A systematic review. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 28(3), 241–247.
What activities take place in a music therapy session?
#Songwriting & Song Discussion
Clients may independently, or with the therapist’s assistance, fill in blanks of existing lyrics, rewrite lyrics, or compose entirely new songs. This process enhances emotional relief, self-exploration, self-awareness, communication skills, decision-making, active participation, etc.