Resources & references

Read about facilitators and barriers to the development and integration of an inpatient music therapy program for neurorehabilitation, from the perspective of patients, family members, and various health care professionals.

This study describes an interprofessional intervention program, combining the expertise of an occupational therapist and of a music therapist to systematically teach piano keyboarding to preschool children with impaired vision. We conducted a small, mixed methods non-randomized pilot case study to determine how such a program could be successfully embedded into a preschool setting, to examine if fine motor skills improve post-intervention, and to study the perceived effects on participants and their families.

Read a Cochrane review on the use of music interventions for acquired brain injury. Results indicate positive effects in motor and communication/speech rehabilitation, as well as on quality of life, and that interventions lead by a qualified music therapist were more effective.

Watch a video on the use of music therapy for autistic children featuring music therapists Blythe LaGasse, Jody Wilfong, and Erica Lyles. Both parent and music therapist testimonials are included.

Click here to watch part 1 of the documentary.

Review of current research supporting the use of music therapy and music-based interventions in pediatric neurorehabilitation. Results demonstrated measurable benefits of music therapy in multidisciplinary teams in three principle domains: gait rehabilitation, upper limb function, and speech recovery.

Listen to music therapist Savannah Zimlich explain how she uses music therapy with individuals with multiple disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities. She equally discusses how interdisciplinary collaboration assists these individuals in reaching their full potential. 

Music therapy allows children with visual impairment to reach their goals and develop their motor, cognitive and communications skills. Children who are part of the group explain why they enjoy music therapy. 

Read a scoping review on musical interaction in young people with severe or profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Findings highlight six categories of promising components of musical interaction and suggest that musical activities, including music therapy, have positive benefits in a number of domains for this population.

This research article investigates how music therapy can improve rehabilitation among individuals with physical impairments, neurological conditions, and developmental diagnoses. The study reviews existing literature and demonstrates that music therapy is effective in improving physiological, psychological, cognitive. and emotional functioning among patients.