When Sari, a child with an autism spectrum diagnosis, was little, she used to ask her mom to buy bottled water, then dump out all the water and tap the bottles together. She tapped anything she could get her hands on. Participating in music therapy, according to Sari’s mom, helped her redirect her behaviors into more socially acceptable activities, including playing a variety of musical instruments. Now Sari sings in her school choir and continues to attend individual music therapy, where she practices choir music, learns to play keyboard and guitar, and reaches goals of staying on task, following directions and improving her visual tracking skills to read music. Her mom says music therapy has given her "a real sense of success."

Yosef, a teenager with spina bifida, was enrolled in music therapy by his grandmother. He has perfect pitch and is extremely motivated by many genres of music. His grandmother attributes his progress in fine motor and reading skills to his playing the piano, guitar, and drum set in music therapy. Finger isolation on piano has enhanced his dexterity and increased his speed on the computer keyboard. Playing multiple drum set components in rhythm has assisted his eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, while practicing keyboard at home has increased his leisure-time activities and sense of responsibility.

How Kids Respond to Music Therapy

A child does not need to possess a special gift or talent in music to benefit from music therapy. As long as he responds to musical sounds with some interest, from a brief turn of the head toward a sound to an attempt at producing a sound with his voice, body or objects, he may be a candidate for music therapy. Parents refer their children for music therapy for many reasons. One girl was referred because she sang and played by ear on the keyboard before she could even talk. A young boy was referred because he repeated commercial and TV show themes that "hooked" him and focused his attention.

Professionals who work with your child might suggest music therapy as well. Kyle’s preschool teacher and school psychologist recommended music therapy in addition to his school-based occupational and speech therapies. Kyle, a visual learner, had difficulty in processing directions. When his music therapist showed pictures that corresponded with verbal or sung two-step directions (e.g., "Play your tambourine in the air and then play it in back of you"), his consistency in following directions increased. Kyle continued to follow directions successfully when the therapist phased out using the pictures.

With structured opportunities provided for talking and singing in his sessions, Kyle’s speech and singing increased from one-word responses to sentences and even paragraphs. Kyle’s mom called music therapy a "hidden treasure" because her son received the benefits of "speech, occupational and physical therapy all rolled into one" and was amazed at "how it all fits together." His mom also appreciated the opportunity to meet other parents of children with disabilities and develop an informal support group.

Music Heals Through the Ages

Reports of music’s healing influence date back to David playing his harp for Saul and to the writings of Plato and Aristotle. The formal discipline of music therapy, however, began after World War I and II, when community musicians performed in veterans’ hospitals and doctors and nurses noticed the patients’ positive and emotional responses to music. In 1944, the first music therapy degree program was founded. Today the American Music Therapy Association 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."