The Power of Music – Understanding Music Therapy, Education, and Entertainment

Article by guest author Alexis Baker, MT-BC, CDP, owner of Bridgetown Music Therapy

Did you know that music activates every area of the brain? It's true, scientific researchers have observed that listening to music and engagement in music-based activities can involve all areas of the brain. Music activates the “feel-good centers” of the brain, and it can even help create new neural pathways. The benefits of music are abundant and far-reaching! 

The music therapy process involves assessment, treatment planning, implementation, documentation, and evaluation...based on a therapeutic relationship...

What is Music Therapy?

As a music therapist, one of the questions I am asked all the time is “What exactly is music therapy?”
 
The formal definition of music therapy as defined by the American Music Therapy Association is:

“The clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” (AMTA, 2019)
 
This definition can be broken into two parts:

1. It involves the use of evidence-based music interventions designed to accomplish specific goals based on the needs of an individual or group.
2. All of this happens within a therapeutic relationship, and that person is a credentialed professional music therapist.

 
To break these parts down further, evidence-based interventions are simply music-oriented experiences or activities such as singing, playing an instrument, moving to music, and songwriting, all of which have been studied and shown to be effective in promoting health and improving quality of life.
 
Next, music therapy is always goal oriented. The focus is using music to achieve specific, measurable goals and objectives. A few examples of general goal areas include improving communication abilities, increasing range of motion, reducing stress/anxiety, and promoting social connection. The music therapy process involves assessment, treatment planning, implementation, documentation, and evaluation.
 
Finally, music therapy is based on a therapeutic relationship which implies there’s an established relational bond involving rapport and consistency. This person is a professional board-certified music therapist. As a side note: According to the Certification Board for Music Therapists, there are currently only 10,000 board-certified music therapists in the U.S.
 
Music therapists go through rigorous training to enter the field as a certified and highly-trained professional. They complete a specialized bachelor’s degree in music therapy which is like a double major. Coursework covers a wide variety of areas including music theory, ear training, music history, psychology and human behavior, human anatomy, and therapeutic applications. Music therapists are required to be competent on four instruments: guitar, piano, voice, and percussion. Training also includes 1,200 clinical training hours. Following completion of all coursework and hours, they must take and pass a national board exam to earn the credentials MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified). Recertification is every five years which requires the completion of 100 CMTE (Continuing Music Therapy Education) credits.
 
Music therapists can work with any age, all the way from babies in the womb or preemies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to older adults and end of life/hospice. Music therapists work in many kinds of settings including adult day programs, childcare programs, long term care, hospitals, schools, rehabilitative facilities, community health centers, hospice care, and private practice. Music therapists serve a wide variety of populations in these settings including but not limited to people with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions, issues associated with aging, dementia and various other diagnoses, disabilities, or diseases. 

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What Music Therapy Isn’t

It’s exciting to hear about what music therapy is, but many people struggle to recognize it as a clearly defined practice. They see anything music-related and want to call it ‘music therapy.’ It’s true, music can function therapeutically in a myriad of ways, but the formal practice of music therapy is specific and limited, so let’s talk about what music therapy is not.

To put it simply, music therapy is not music education or music entertainment. It can involve aspects of education and entertainment. It can even sometimes look like education and entertainment, but music therapy is different from these two fields.

Music education fosters creativity and cultural understanding by introducing students to a variety of musical genres and traditions from around the world.

What is Music Education?

Music education is the structured teaching and learning of music theory, practice, and appreciation. It involves more than just learning to play instruments or sing—it encompasses a wide array of skills and knowledge, including reading music, understanding rhythm, harmony, and composition, and exploring music history. Music education fosters creativity and cultural understanding by introducing students to a variety of musical genres and traditions from around the world.
 
At its core, music education helps develop essential cognitive and motor skills. Studies have shown that learning music enhances memory, improves problem-solving abilities, and sharpens attention to detail. It also boosts emotional intelligence by providing an outlet for self-expression and understanding the emotions conveyed through music.
 
For learners of any age, music education often starts with basic concepts like rhythm and melody and gradually progresses to more advanced topics such as composition and performance. In academic settings, it is commonly taught through choir, band, or orchestra programs, allowing students to collaborate and learn teamwork.
 
Beyond the classroom, music education is accessible through private lessons, community programs, and online courses, making it available to people of all ages. Whether someone aspires to become a professional musician or simply wants to enjoy the personal and social benefits of music, education in music nurtures a lifelong appreciation for this art form while enhancing overall personal development.
 
Music education plays a vital role in shaping well-rounded individuals, enriching both their academic and emotional lives.

Musicians and performers create experiences through their music that can evoke emotions, tell stories, or simply provide a fun atmosphere.

What is Music Entertainment?

Music entertainment, on the other hand, is more of a receptive experience. It’s enjoying music for the value of being entertained.
 
Music entertainment is the broad field of performances, events, and productions centered around music as a source of enjoyment for audiences. It encompasses everything from live concerts, festivals, and DJ sets to recorded music, streaming services, and music videos. Whether experienced in person or through media platforms, music entertainment is a universal form of enjoyment that transcends language and cultural barriers.
 
At the heart of music entertainment is the connection between artists and audiences. Musicians and performers create experiences through their music that can evoke emotions, tell stories, or simply provide a fun atmosphere. These performances might be intimate acoustic sets or massive stadium concerts, where production elements such as lighting, sound effects, and visuals further enhance the experience.
 
In today’s digital age, music entertainment has expanded beyond live events to include various digital formats. Streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube allow people to access vast libraries of music from artists worldwide, while social media enables fans to interact with their favorite musicians directly. Music videos, television shows, and films that feature or are centered around music have become key parts of the entertainment industry.
 
Ultimately, music entertainment is about creating memorable, emotional, and engaging experiences. It serves as a means of relaxation, celebration, and connection, providing joy and excitement for individuals and communities alike. From the casual listener to the devoted fan, music entertainment touches lives by bringing people together through the power of sound.

Music engagement is participating in music-based activities for the benefit of participating in music-based activities.

What is Music Engagement?

We are now aware there’s music therapy, music education, and music entertainment. All of these are important, and each serves various purposes. But what if something doesn’t fit the definition of formal music therapy? Or it’s not quite pure music entertainment, or it doesn’t fall under ‘music education’? There is one more term to introduce you to: ‘music engagement’.
 
Engagement is somewhat of a buzzword recently. Music engagement doesn’t have a formal definition, but it does offer a helpful description for things other than pure music therapy, entertainment, and education. Music engagement can incorporate elements of all three of the above. Music engagement is participating in music-based activities for the benefit of participating in music-based activities.
 
As a board-certified music therapist, I’m a huge supporter of music therapy services; however, having been in the field for the past 10+ years, I know that music therapy services can often be expensive and inaccessible. There just aren’t enough music therapists to serve all needs everywhere, especially within senior care. It can also be cost-prohibitive or difficult to access geographically. For example, what about rural areas? This presents several problems for which I wanted to find a solution.
 
I created our virtual music engagement program for many reasons. At the center of it all is my passion and mission in life to use music to make a difference in older adults living with dementia.

Second, this program was created in response to Covid. It started out as an alternative when the pandemic was limiting activities. It can still function in this way. Beyond Covid, however:

• it’s a cost-effective solution to life enrichment through music
• it’s a turn-key activity for busy care home providers and staff
• it’s accessible 24/7 with lots of variety to choose from
• it’s a high-quality alternative when other options simply don’t fit the budget or are inaccessible.

 
Finally, I created it as a music engagement program, for individuals and groups to ENGAGE with music for the purpose and benefits of engaging with music!

For more information about Bridgetown Music Therapy and our virtual music engagement program for care homes, click here.

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Author

Alexis Baker is a board-certified music therapist, certified dementia practitioner, and founder of Bridgetown Music Therapy.