What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is a therapeutic process where people engage in music and musical experiences with a trained music therapist to achieve health and wellness goals. People participate in music therapy to address emotional, psychological, social, physical and/or spiritual health and wellness needs. No previous musical experience is necessary to participate in music therapy.

Why Music?

• Music reaches us in a unique and often powerful way that words alone cannot. 
  
• Music can help us express ourselves, understand ourselves more deeply, and grow as human beings. 
  
• Music can help us to experience connections with others and within ourselves. 
  
• Music can empower us by highlighting and building upon our strengths. 
  
• Music allows us to embark on a creative process.
  

What Happens in a Music Therapy Session?
Every music therapy session is unique and based on the needs of the client(s).
Examples of music therapy experiences include:

• clinical improvisation
  
• songwriting
  
• singing
  
• playing various instruments
  
• creating art to music and/or creating music based on artwork
  
• discussing significant music or lyrics
  
• active music listening
  

CLINICAL IMPROVISATION
In clinical improvisation, the client is drawn into the world of music, where they are able to create and explore different sounds in the moment by playing an instrument and/or singing. The client’s music is supported by the music therapist, who typically improvises simultaneously to create a musical framework for the experience. Music can express and evoke emotions and feelings that we might be unable to express otherwise. This makes clinical improvisation a powerful agent for self-expression, self-discovery, and change. Because music does not require verbal dialogue, clinical improvisation can be a safe-feeling and accessible way for clients to express themselves. Indeed, it is often through this musical dialogue between client and therapist that the therapeutic relationship is developed. 

A core belief of clinical improvisation is that the sounds and music that we create in the moment are indicative of some part of ourselves in that moment. In this way, clients may experience a journey of self through sound during clinical improvisation, while being supported and guided by the music therapist.

SONGWRITING
Writing music and/or lyrics for songs can be a valuable way to express, process and organize our thoughts and feelings. The music therapist can guide the client or group in creating original music and lyrics for songs, while providing support through the therapeutic relationship. 

SINGING
Singing familiar songs, original songs, or vocally improvising are ways that clients can be involved with singing in music therapy. Singing can be a powerful way to self-express, as the “instrument” (the voice) is so personal. Singing experiences can also be effective in addressing communication and speech related goal areas. As in clinical improvisation, there can often be a connection between our vocal “self” and who we are in the moment. 

PLAYING INSTRUMENTS
Instrumental experiences in music therapy can address various goal areas:

• Repeating, initiating, and developing rhythmic and melodic motives on instruments can assist in developing communication skills;
  
• Selecting instruments that we connect with (such as playing loudly on the drum, or softly on the metalophone) can facilitate powerful self-exploration and self-expression;
  
• Fine motor skills can be developed by playing instruments such as the piano, while gross motor skills can be developed by playing instruments such as the drum.
  

CREATING ART TO MUSIC AND/OR CREATING MUSIC BASED ON ARTWORK
Creating artwork, while listening to a recording of a clinical improvisation or a meaningful song, can allow clients to further process their experience. Likewise, creating music based on meaningful artwork can facilitate further self-exploration and self-expression around a given topic.