Music Therapy is the use of music as a tool to acheive a wide range of therapeutic goals (including speech/communication, physical, social, emotional, academic and sensory goals).  According to the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA), it is: "a research-based practice and profession in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing.", and practiced by a "university trained professional who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. Registered music therapists draw on an extensive body of research and are bound by a code of ethics that informs their practice."

 

Like other allied health professionals, such as Speech or Occupational Therapists, Music Therapists are focused on helping people meet therapeutic goals, and, in order to do this, the Music Therapist will use a variety of different techniques, such as:

· Instrument playing.

· Movement to music

· Listening to music

· Singing

· Improvisation  

· Song-writing

. Lyric discussion and analysis

. Use of Music Technology and  

. Songs to reinforce academic concepts