Resources & references

Article in a magazine that states the benefits of music therapy for individuals going through bereavement. Information about goals of music therapy and certified music therapists (MTA) are provided. 

An interview with Mark Ettenberger, an experienced music therapist in Colombia. He describes what music therapy is, its benefits, how it can be applied clinically and how it can support early childhood development.

Click here to watch a video interview of Mark Ettenberger.

Read how music therapy has helped an older adult living with Alzheimer’s disease, with benefits that extend into his home care. Learn what music therapy is and how caregivers can use music at home to support their loved ones (includes a video, 4:15).

Music therapy offers a holistic way to help people of all ages manage pain. Learn how it can support goals such as improving mood, regulating emotions, and easing discomfort.

Learn how music therapists support individuals across the lifespan. This article explores potential music therapy goals tailored to different age groups and needs.

This informational page from the Music Therapy Association of British-Columbia provides an overview of music therapy practices in a mental health context. It describes why music therapy may be effective in addressing mental health needs, lists examples of mental illnesses where music therapy can help, presents different approaches and activities that can be used, and provides literature supporting the use of music therapy for mental health.

This article explains how music therapy can help people cope with grief in a variety of ways. It can help create connection with a deceased loved one. It can help those grieving to explore spirituality (hope and meaning in life) and deal with challenging emotions. Many people have an intimate connection to the songs that have helped them through bereavement.

 Music therapy improves the health of premature babies and boosts parental bonding.

Click here to watch a video about this article. 

This article explores the evidence-based benefits of music therapy among adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It references existing research showing how music enhances communication, cognitive functioning, physical activity, memory, reality orientation, and quality of life.

Learn more about the benefits of music therapy by seeing a music therapy experience in action 

This article describes different techniques, interventions and outcomes of teens during cancer treatment. They describe how writing lyrics, making videos helped them get through grueling treatment and connect with others, study found.

Research article about how neurologic music therapy can enhance neurorehabilitation among stroke patients, traumatic brain injury, autistic individuals, and those with learning disabilities.

Discover the benefits of music therapy in the treatment of chronic pain in adults, in this article about research projects from Dr Katie Fitzpatrick and Dr Joke Bradt.