FAQs about Music Therapy

Why use Music as a basis for Therapy?

This field of therapy has developed out of the fact that music is universal, connecting people across language and cultural barriers. Music is innate and is therefore powerful in the responses it can generate from each individual, making music therapy unique in practice, yet widespread in its application.

Who can benefit from Music Therapy?

Music Therapists use music interventions to address the health goals of all age groups and abilities.

Music therapy can address physical, social, emotional and developmental health goals of individuals. Some examples of using music therapy include, but are not limited to:

·        Pain management and relaxation

·        Positive engagement to address withdrawal from environment (particularly for pediatric patients)

·        assisting with sleep

·        Using music in conjunction with other therapies to reach full health potentials, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech therapy

·        Emotional distress, release, and music-supported counselling

·        Socialisation, relatedness and positive self-esteem

·        Communication and speech development and/or rehabilitation

·        Physical development and rehabilitation

Do you need to have musical skill to benefit from Music Therapy?

While music-based techniques are applied in sessions, a music therapy participant does not need to possess any formal musical training or experience beforehand.

What kind of techniques are applied during a music therapy session?

Some of the techniques used by music therapists include:

·        instrument playing

·        songwriting and lyric substitution

·        music improvisation

·        receptive music therapy and reminiscence

·        rhythmic enterainment (physical rehabilitation)

What training is required to become a Music Therapist?

Music therapy is a research-based practice that is conducted by practitioners all around the World, at varying levels. While some education institutions provide 6-month courses on Music Therapy, becoming a qualified Music Therapist of international standard requires the completion of a post-graduate degree in Music Therapy, involving a mix of research-based and placement-based learning.

Why does Mewsic recruit Music Therapists from Australia?

Music Therapy is still a new field of therapy in India. There are very few opportunities to train to become a music therapist, with those currently being offered not yet reaching international standards.

The goal of the Mewsic Therapy in Hospitals program is to provide employment opportunities for local music therapists, thus providing job placements for local graduates and encouraging the growth of this field in the country. Working towards this goal, Mewsic is providing placements for Australian Music Therapists, in order to establish Mewsic Therapy Departments providing therapy session of international standards, in order to nurture local therapists through internships, and work towards a smooth hand-over towards local music therapists in the future.