What Is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is the specialized use of music to improve or maintain functioning in the following areas: motor, physiological, social/emotional, sensory, communicative, or cognitive functioning. The purpose of music therapy is to help individuals attain and maintain their maximum levels of functioning. This is achieved by addressing the client's needs and problems through music.

Although music has been used as a healing agent since the times of Aristotle and Plato, the music therapy profession in the United States was established relatively recently in 1950. The first music therapy degree program was founded at Michigan State University in 1944. Music therapy degrees are offered at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Currently, there are approximately 69 colleges and universities offering degrees in music therapy.

The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) is the national organization for music therapists. As of January 2000, there are over 3,800 individuals world-wide who hold current AMTA membership. The following three professional credentials are recognized by AMTA:

• MT-BC (Music therapist-board certified)
• RMT (Registered music therapist)
• CMT (Certified music therapist)