Resources & references

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.

Read an article exploring the use of music therapy for hospitalized children and, more specifically, the development and creation of heartbeat songs for families with a critically ill child, as a palliative measure. It also includes the description of the impact these songs can have, by featuring commentary from the parents of a baby who died.

Read a case study exploring the use of music therapy and, more specifically, therapeutic songwriting, on pain management during acute pain episodes in adolescent sickle cell disease patients. Results found that active music therapy interventions were more effective at managing pain than passive interventions, and that the song written during music therapy served as a coping resource by the teen outside of the therapeutic environment.

A music therapist speaks with the mother of a young client who receives music therapy services. Learn how music therapy has helped her son, who is diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, find the motivation to achieve his therapeutic goals, including improved social and physical skills.

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 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.

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. 

Read an article detailing a micro-intervention protocol for adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder in music therapy. The intervention targets hyperarousal regulation through the use of singing and/or rapping, by employing entrainment as the primary therapeutic mechanism. Both indicators and contra-indicators to the use of this micro-intervention are also discussed. 

This anthology of Carolyn Kenny’s works (1979–2006) showcases her writings and contributions to music therapy and Indigenous studies, revealing the deep interplay between these fields and integrating multiple disciplines that shape music therapy education, practice, and research.

Read an article featuring an interview with Julie Dawn Reid, a music therapist, explaining how music therapy can be used and what it may look like with individuals in addictions recovery. A discussion of the risks of music in this population, especially due to the strong associations between certain types of music and substance use is also included.

This research study interviews experienced music therapists of diverse cultural backgrounds. The results provide recommendations on how to build safety in the therapeutic relationship among children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.