There hasbeen a lot of evidence over recent years that music therapy and music-basedtreatment helps with a variety of disorders including cardiac conditions,depression, autism, substance abuse and Alzheimer’s disease. It can help withmemory, lower blood pressure, improve coping, reduce stress, improveself-esteem and more.  Music is amazing! Here are the top ways that music as therapy heals:

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Psychological/Emotional: Music can call up repressed or bottled up emotions that may then bediscussed and dealt with in a safe environment. Music can lessen feelings of isolation, improve mood, decrease depression, and reduce anxiety.

Physical: As music calms our mood, this directly has positive physical effects onthe body by changing your heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and loweringrespiration or breathing rate.  Playingand practicing an instrument has also shown to improve motor development orprocessing, increase hand-eye coordination, and also strengthen some areas ofthe hand and arm muscles.  Music canpromote relaxation and improve sleep. It helps with the management of anddistraction from pain. It has been shown to help reduce asthma episodes.  

Spiritual: Many different religions andspiritual practices use music in their worship or services.  It is a great way to connect the logical sideof your religious belief’s, through the lyrical content of the music, and alsotap into the emotional side of your spiritual devotion through the melody andmusic itself.  As someone who spent yearsleading music/worship ministry I can say that music was a huge catalyst to leadpeople to a greater spiritual level.


Cognitive: Music hasbeen shown to increase cognitive and mental skills in different areas.  Studies have shown that math, reading, andother skills have greatly improved with the regular use of and playing ofmusic.  It has been shown to increaseoverall test scores, specifically in children. Some therapists and medical professionals also use music to help withdementia and Alzheimer's patients.

Social: Music can bring people togethersocially, not just at large gatherings such as parties, weddings, or funerals,but in more informal, intimate, shared experiences, like a hospital room.  For children taking music lessons, it cancreate a close social network of other like-minded kids where they can supportand encourage one another.  

So how doesall this make a difference in our regular lives or the lives of ourchildren?  Well, even though they may notbe in an actual “therapy” setting, just having them be involved in music at allcan be a major benefit to them.  Forchildren who take regular music lessons, they are immersing themselves intomusic on a regular basis and this can have the same effects that regular musictherapy would have.  Music is amazing andwe should enjoy its healing effect in our lives!

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