Unit 17
Music Therapy

Ancient civilizations believed music renewed the divine harmony and rhythm of the body, emotions, and mind (Tame, 1984). Sick people were considered to have lost their inner harmony; they were no longer in tune with the universe. Music realigned them. Many societies used chants and ritual dances for curing the sick. Today, music therapy or sound therapy is increasingly popular. These therapies involve instruments, recordings, radio, singing, and even dancing.

Objectives

When you have completed this unit, you should be able to

1. define “music therapy,” and discuss the nature of this therapy.
2. identify situations where music therapy is commonly used.
3. determine the effectiveness of music therapy by analysing the available research.
4. identify trends and issues involved in using music therapy.