Inside the Time

I want to ask the same question I have been asking this entire blog season. What

is Music Therapy? I have been researching it for some time now and thought I couldn't describe it anymore. But I sat down and thought why I hit a wall so soon. Then it came to me. I have only been looking at this topic in a music stand point. I love music and I love to learn about what many things it can accomplish. What I really need to do is also look at it in a medical fashion. Music Therapy is not practiced so specially trained professionals can just come in and play music for someone. It's about healing ones needs through musical experience. More importantly, what makes the procedure what it is is the clientele.

Generally speaking, everybody can be treated by and enrolled in a music therapy session. The main age group that is influenced by music therapy are the children and seniors who are suffering from some form of challenge. Some of the challenges faced include: ADD, Autism, Asperger, Cerebral palsy, Depression, Schizophrenia, Bi-polar disorder, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Arthritis, and even Cancer.

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When undergoing music therapy, you and the “doctor” focus on using active, improvised music. There are times when pre-composed music may be played or even pre-recorded music. In a further aspect, there really is no typical session on music therapy. It's just the individuals who are participating in the process which could be

anywhere from two people to ten. Sessions normally last between 30 to 60 minutes. Being so short, the therapist must analyze afterwards.

Clients are offered to choose from an abundance of many different instruments. They include a range of tuned and untuned percussion, some different string instruments, and even wind instruments. The clients are even allowed to use their voice as long as it fulfills the musical properties the patient will need.

After the session is over, The therapist and client will most likely sit down and listen to a peaceful, lyrical song to ease the mind after a long, stressful session. In the end the patient can only benefit from the progress made by undergoing therapy musically.

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