Resources & references

Watch as a music therapist sings and plays a hello song for a child during an individual music therapy session.

Music therapists often begin sessions with a hello song and end them with a goodbye song. Read about the function of these songs to support music therapy goals with children.

Click here to see an example of a hello song in both French and English.

Hayley Echols, a board-certified music therapist, explains how she incorporates hello and goodbye songs to enhance emotional expression and communication, with examples for different ages.

This video (in Spanish) explains how music has been used therapeutically throughout history. It describes how music was used in ancient civilizations, the Middle Ages, the renaissance, the baroque period, and the modern age, when music therapy was established as a profession.

People with advanced dementia are at increased risk of institutionalization and experiencing distress. This study uses existing research to demonstrate that music therapy can effectively help reduce agitation and improve well-being within interpersonal contexts in long-term care.

This article examines music therapy's role in supporting addiction recovery, the types of musical experiences that benefit this clientele, and its potential limitations.

Music therapy is an ancient and yet very modern practice that has the power to heal and transform our brains and bodies in significant ways. Kathleen Howland, speech language and music therapist explains how music really does have the power to heal our brain and heart.

This article summarizes many ways in which music therapy is used in medical institutions. Testimonials from patients and interviews with therapists are featured. 
 

This article describes the ways music therapy has been applied to help children cope with anxiety related disorders

Learn what music therapy is and how it can help individuals with cancer as per the American Cancer Society. Using a combination of music experiences and conversation, music therapy can help manage symptoms and process emotions among patients.

This video exposes a case study of a child who was born without eyes and has always feared medical procedures. She is enrolled in music therapy at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s to decrease her anxiety.

University of Louisville (UofL) Health is integrating music therapy into its care plan for inpatient psychiatric patients at UofL Hospital. This video introduces you to Katelyn Farris, the music therapist who is helping patients relax and recover through the soothing sounds of music.