Potential Benefits | Locations | Training | More Info
Music Therapy, defined
Music Therapy harnesses the natural responses children have to music in order to help them work towards non-musical goals such as: social skills, language & communication, emotional well-being, attention span and motor skills. Music therapy can be used with individuals of various ages, abilities, musical, or non-musical backgrounds.
I work with the family and other professionals to determine what areas are important for the child to learn and grow in, then after an assessment of the child's strength's, formulate a plan to use music interventions to help them acheive success in these areas.
I am an accredited music therapist (MTA) who specializes in working with children with special needs. I believe intervention in early childhood is critical in helping children achieve optimum success in their lives. Music is a powerful and fun way to help them in this journey.
Increase attention span
Improve listening skills
Improve language and communication
Opportunity to make choices
Creative personal expression
Emotional release
Learn new information
Maintain and/or strengthen family bonds
Motivate to change or participate
Muscle control and coordination
Manage pain
Relaxation
Build self-esteem
Develop social skills (ie. turn-taking in a group)
Improve memory
Improve visual performance (ie. watch a moving object)
Music Therapy can be benefical for...
Acquired Brain Injury, Aids, Autism, Asperger's, Pervasive Developmental Disabilites, Global Developmental Delays, Emotional Trauma, Hearing or Visual Impairments, Mental Health, Neonatal Care, Oncology, Palliative Care, Pain Control,
Personal Growth, Physical Disabilities, Speech and Language Impairments, Substance Abuse, Teens at Risk,
Victims of Abuse and more... 
It is used in facilities such as....
Schools, Early Childhood Centres, Hospitals, Private Practice, Day treatment programs, Hospices, Community programs, Correctional Centres, Long term care centres, Substance abuse, and/or addictions centres
A Music Therapist's skills and training...
...includes a 4-yr Bachelor Program & 1000hr internship. Music Therapists are trained to make assessments & observations, create goals and objectives with the individual or family, start treatment plans and evaluate progress of plans. They develop skills on two or more instruments (usually piano, voice or guitar), learn music history and theory, have training in normal human development and psychology, and learn tools and techniques for making music accessible to non-musicians.