Music Therapy

Association Musique Et Sante. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/181_763596/1/181_763596/cite. Accessed 1 Jun 2017.

Did you know, there have been proponents of music therapy in the United States since 1950? The American Music Therapy Associaton [AMTA] defines music therapy as "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. Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals."  Music therapists must have a bachelor's degree or higher in music therapy and other credentials. Apparently music therapists contributed to helping Congresswoman Giffords to regain her speech after surviving a bullet wound to her brain. The AMTA differentiate music therapy from "therapeutic music," which includes a piano player player in the hospital lobby, nurses playing background music, artists in residence, an Alzheimer's patient listening to his or her favorite songs on an iPod, and the like - probably helpful, but not clinical music therapy.

We've compiled a list of items from the library catalog that will take you on a journey into the "transformative power of music." We hope this list of items focusing on the therapeutic power of music is balm to your soul, but if you are truly interested in music therapy, we recommend checking out the AMTA website for more information.

Waking the Spirit: A Musician's Journey Healing Body, Mind, and Soul by Andrew Schulman

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks

Fallen: A Trauma, A Marriage, and the Transformative Power of Music by Kara Stanley

The Healing Touch of Music: An Exploration by Alana Woods 

Manage Your Stress and Pain Through Music by Suzanne B. Hanser and Susan E. Mandel 

Music and Cancer: A Prescription for Healing by Nimesh P. Nagarsheth

Essential Musical Intelligence: Using Music as Your Path to Healing, Creativity, and Radiant Wholeness by Louise Montello    

Self-Healing with Sound & Music: Revitalize Your Body & Mind with Proven Sound Healing Tools by Andrew Weil, Kimba Arem [eAudio]

Sacred Verses, Healing Sounds: The Bhagavad Gita and Hymns of the Rig Veda by Deepak Chopra [eAudio]  

Alive Inside [DVD]

Harp Music for Healing by Sarajane Williams [CD]
According to Amazon, "Williams' Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy® (VAHT) is now being used by hospitals and health practitioners to help patients relieve tension and physical pain, reduce stress and anxiety." 

For more titles, try a subject search of "Music therapy."