World Music Therapy Day

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already the last day of February! It seems that spring is (finally) approaching in Minnesota. The great thaw will begin soon! At least we tell ourselves it will…

As you may have noticed from our numerous posts this week on all of our social media platforms, tomorrow is WORLD MUSIC THERAPY DAY! (Side note: if you have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s time for you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Trust me, you won’t regret it).

The World Federation of Music Therapy has proclaimed March 1st, 2018 to be World Music Therapy Day in an effort to celebrate and advocate for music therapy. Here at Toneworks, we celebrate music therapy every day, but we never say “no” to an extra party. So, in celebration of this vibrant, diverse, research-based allied health profession, we have compiled a short list of facts and figures that demonstrate what music therapy really is.

As stated by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA):

Music Therapy 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. (AMTA, 2018)

Music therapy has been utilized and researched since the 1800’s, according to writings by physicians and psychologists. The professional field of Music Therapy, as it is currently organized and defined, was founded in 1950!

Music therapists work with a huge variety of client populations with an array of needs. They serve clients with mental illness, Alzheimer’s and dementia, brain injury, developmental disabilities, and much more.

There are over 7,000 Music Therapists who are credentialed by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, and there are 72 educational institutions in the United States that offer a degree program in music therapy.

There are a variety of different theoretical approaches to music therapy, just like in any other therapeutic profession. These include Cognitive Behavioral, Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Nordoff-Robbins, Neurologic Music Therapy, and several others.

Thank you for reading! For more information, please visit the American Music Therapy Association’s Website.

Please feel free to share this post and don’t forget to include the hashtag #WorldMusicTherapyDay in the caption.

Anusha Ramaswami | Board Certified Music Therapist & Marketing Specialist