Resources & references

The DRUMBEAT program uses drumming to engage at-risk youth in musical expression and discussions on healthy relationships. Findings support its theory that integrating music therapy with cognitive–behavioural principles promotes emotional control, better relationships, and higher self-esteem.

This paper conceptualizes songwriting as an ‘after-queer’ approach for exploring notions of gender and sexuality with young people. It draws on songs created by adolescents in music-based workshops in schools.

This research article presents a case study of an adult man with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who participated in music therapy sessions. The results determined that music improvisation improved affect regulation, exploration of trauma-related issues, and self-agency.

Read how Nordoff Robbins music therapy helped a child with complex needs improve communication and self-expression, with testimonials from her mother and therapist.

Click here to watch a live Nordoff Robbins music therapy session.

This video features the story of a young patient's healing from leukemia, who benefitted from music therapy during her hospital stay. Testimonials from the child, the parents, the music therapist and a pediatrician are shown.

 The Journal of Music Therapy (JMT) is published by the American Music Therapy Association, and is a forum for authoritative articles of current music therapy research and theory, including book reviews and guest editorials.

This video shows 6 short excerpts from music therapy sessions, led by Dr. Alan Turry at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy; each excerpt is preceded by the presentation of the goals planned. 

Daniel Torres explains how music stimulates the brain, what humanistic music therapy is, and how music therapy applies these principles to support development and rehabilitation across ages and needs.

Music therapist Sheila Pereiro shares about her experiences working with diverse populations and how music therapy can improve self-expression, connection with others, and quality of life.

A music therapy program piloted in a British Columbia mental health clubhouse in 1997 and later expanded to group homes was originally shown to promote rehabilitation through a client-centered empowerment model. This article updates the program’s status 20 years later with new data.

Read about music therapist Anne Lacourse's work at the Saint Raphaël Palliative Care Home and Day Center and watch a video (1m 6s) of her peforming a song composed by one of her clients.

The Journal of Music Therapy Research MiSOSTENIDO is an international open-source journal that publishes music therapy research in Spanish.