FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

In short, no!

Therapeutic Music and Music Therapy are not the same thing. There are many differences in these modalities, but that doesn't mean you have to choose between them! Music Therapists and Therapeutic Musicians can work side by side due to their different training, techniques, and goals. Because of this, patients can benefit from both of these therapeutic services.

There are many important reasons to consider a Therapeutic Musician!

Education

A Therapeutic Musician is specifically trained and certified by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians, and has completed both clinical and independent practicums. A Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) is a graduate of the Music for Healing and Transition Program, and is required to regularly complete Continuing Education Credits in order to maintain this certification. Further, CMPs work within a Scope of Practice and are bound by a Code of Ethics in order to protect the patient, meet HIPAA standards, and provide the best quality of care.

A volunteer musician may play as a hobby, or hold a music degree. Volunteer musicians certainly have value, and it can be fun to share in their performances. They simply have not completed the specific criteria required by this profession. In healthcare facilities, only qualified medical staff like Certified Music Practitioners are allowed to enter private patient areas to administer care.

Assessment

CMPs assess the patient’s immediate needs by evaluating blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, mood, body language, etc. Without an assessment, competent care cannot be provided.

The Music

A volunteer musician performs for an audience as a form of entertainment, and may even take requests or work from a set list.

A Certified Music Practitioner provides an important healthcare service intended to support the patient's ability to heal, without requiring any participation from the patient. A CMP tailors the music to the changing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient in the moment.

Treatment

CMPs are aware of the effects of all types of music, and utilize music's intrinsic components to address the patient holistically. Because music is an incredibly powerful medium and can have negative effects just as it can have positive effects, a trained and certified Therapeutic Musician is vital when it comes to providing treatment.

Untrained musicians may accidentally trigger injurious physical and emotional states. For more information about Music Induced Harm, please read this abstract.

Therapeutic Music is an evidence-based modality and essential healthcare service!

Many studies have been performed to examine the effects of music on patients suffering from a variety of ailments. Music has had a place in healthcare for ages! Pythagoras (the "father of music") was the first person to prescribe music as medicine, teaching that one could heal using sound and harmonic principles. Modern studies confirm this! To read further, check out the Biblio section.

Everyone benefits from Therapeutic Music! Even visitors and facility staff naturally benefit by simply being in proximity. This unique and valuable healing modality addresses a variety of patient conditions:

Injury and Recovery

Chronic Disease

Emotional Crises

Terminal Illness

Life Transitions

Chronic Pain

Acute Conditions

Anxiety and Depression

Cognitive Impairments

Birth and Dying

According to the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians,the benefits of therapeutic music can include, but are not limited to:

PHYSICAL

• Vital Sign Support

• Increased Oxygen

• Decreased Blood Pressure

• Decreased/Stabilized Heart Rate

• Decreased/Stabilized Respiration

• Augmented Pain Management

• Relief of Body Tension

• Accelerated Physical Healing

• Easing the Birth Delivery Process

• Easing the Dying During Transition

• Change in Brainwave Frequencies

• Allowing the Body to Rest

• Affecting Digestion Systems

• Stimulating the Vagus Nerves

“You can look at disease as a form of disharmony. And there's no organ system in the body that's not affected by sound and music and vibration.”

Mitchell Gaynor (1956-2015)

MENTAL

• Reduced Stress

• Refocused Attention

• Altered Sense of Time

• Aiding Mental Focus

• Reduced Mental Tension

• Encouraging Imagination

• Increased Mindfulness

• Altered Perceptions

• Stimulates Creativity

• Distraction and Dissociation

“Music is the mysterious key of memory, unlocking the hoarded treasures of the heart. Tones, at times, in music, will bring back forgotten things.”

Lord Edward Bulwer Lytton (1803-1873)

EMOTIONAL

• Reduced Anxiety

• Increased Morale

• Stabilized Mood

• Decreased Overwhelm

• Allowing for Emotional Processing

• Evoking Emotional Memories

• Influencing Action

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”

Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

SPIRITUAL

• Inspires Connection

• Encourages Feelings of Harmony

• Creates Opportunity for Presence

• Increased Sense of Worth

• Increased Empathy

• Increased Inner Peace

• Bridges Communication Between Loved Ones

• Allows for Transformational Experiences

“The highest goal of music is to connect one’s soul to their Divine Nature, not entertainment.”

Pythagoras (569- 475 BC)

Therapeutic Music can be provided in myriad environments! Because it is a comprehensive healing tool, it can be found in places like:

Hospitals

Dental Offices

Hospices

Nursing Homes

Chiropractic Offices

Psychiatric Facilities

Birthing Centers

Private Practice

Treatment Centers

Educational Institutions

Therapeutic Music is ideally provided in person, and there are many benefits to this:

There is no substitute for compassionate presence.

Music brings joy and connection.

Music can be immediately adapted to the patient’s needs.

Live acoustic music is not compressed and digitized like recorded music. This allows for greater effectiveness as live music has a rich spectrum of vibrations and harmonics.

A Therapeutic Music session is unique to each patient, and is adapted to meet the patient’s immediate needs. A typical session proceeds thus:

I obtain a referral

Referrals may come from a patient, their family or friends, their care providers, chaplains, or social workers.

I receive the patient’s permission

Many patients are curious about my instrument, and sometimes even mistake it for a barbecue grill! Often patients are happy to have both a visitor and a distraction from their time in the hospital. Nevertheless, it is always the patient’s choice to allow me in their room. I explain to the patient and any visitors who I am, my role as a therapeutic musician, and what they can expect from me. I invite them to relax and enjoy, reminding them that what I provide is not entertainment, but a service intended to facilitate healing.

I set up and begin to play

I position myself so that I can see the patient. Sometimes I am given information about the patient that guides my music, though frequently I must discern through observation what type of music would best meet their needs. While I have no specific agenda, I do hope to provide comfort and stability to the patient. It is quite rewarding to see a patient finally able to rest, allowing their bodies to heal.

During the session

I generally play for about 20 minutes, all while keeping my attention on any changes in the patient. Depending on the changes I observe, I may adjust the tempo, complexity, texture, melody, style, dynamic, or duration of the music. Changes can be subtle or overt, and can occur abruptly or over time. I am constantly observing and adapting to the patient.

I end the session

I may end a session when the patient falls asleep, when I feel I have provided sufficient care, or when the patient requests that I stop. I thank the patient (even when they are asleep) and quietly exit their room. I then document the session and note any changes I observed in the patient.

After the session

This work can be intense, and I sometimes need to take time to process the pain that I witness. I am grateful to those who appreciate the intimacy of my profession, and who share with me how a therapeutic music session has affected them. Read more in these Testimonials.

Therapeutic Music is accessible to Groups and Individuals of all ages.

You value one-on-one interaction to meet your needs in the moment with compassionate presence in a supportive environment.

Often a clinical setting is associated with negative connotations; it is a foreign environment where a patient may not feel comfortable with constant interruption from staff. One's home is the preferred site so that the patient can fully relax, enjoying safety and ownership of the healing process. Both in-person and virtual sessions are options you can include in your healthcare.

Therapeutic Music inspires connection. It relies upon compassionate presence, which enhances the healing process. It honors YOU and your immediate experiences, seeking to relieve imbalances in your entire being.

You feel “out of balance” or have a specific physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual complaint.

Sometimes it can be difficult to define just what's "wrong" with us . Therapeutic Music takes into account the individual's innate self-knowledge and natural ability to heal, when a diagnosis is not necessarily possible.

In our society, we are often diagnosed with limiting conditions, which don't take into account our entire being. Therapeutic Music addresses the person as a whole, which allows healing to occur more quickly and comprehensively.

You want to heal without needing to do anything but to allow the music to address your ails.

Therapeutic Music requires no participation on behalf of the patient. Because this isn't a performance, no applause is necessary. You can simply relax into the music, allowing your body to feel the compassionate musical treatment process which is specifically tailored to you in the moment.

Employers please read about the Returns on Investment of including a Certified Music Practitioner on staff.

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