Resources & references

An online destination for discovery & deeper understanding.

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The purpose of our resources database is to provide an easy access to knowledge about music therapy and its application with a diverse array of clientele, and to help answer questions from a diversity of visitors seeking information about music therapy. We therefore propose a selection of pertinent* references, however not exhaustive, given that each week more research and other information are published around the world.  

If you wish to contribute to our database, click on the button below. The proposed references are submitted to an analysis and a selection process by a team of music therapists from the Institute. Thank you in advance!

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Note (*) : the Institute does not endorse any promotional content, publicity or donation requests that might be included in any of the references.

General search

Languages
Type of reference
Clients
Format
10 results Clear all
Between Music and Medicine
2012
Type of reference
General information
Author
Robert Gupta
Language
English
Subtitle
English
Source / Publisher
TED Talks
Country
United States (USA)

When Robert Gupta was caught between a career as a doctor and a violinist, he realized his place was in the middle, with a bow in his hand and a sense of social justice in his heart. He tells a moving story of society's marginalized and the power of music therapy, which can succeed where conventional medicine fails. .

Future perspectives on neural mechanisms underlying rhythm and music based neurorehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease
2018
Type of reference
Scientific publications
Author
Yuko Koshimori, Michael H. Thaut
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Ageing Research Reviews
Country
Canada

This article reviews current knowledge to guide future neuroimaging studies on the therapeutic effects of rhythm and music-based interventions for motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

How Music can Heal our Brain and Heart
2015
Type of reference
General information
Author
Kathleen M. Howland
Language
English
Source / Publisher
TED Talks
Country
United States (USA)

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.

La Experiencia Musical
2023
Type of reference
General information
Language
Spanish
Subtitle
Spanish
Source / Publisher
Canal Revista Medicina y Cultura DEP
Country
Mexico

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 and its Impact on the Brain
2017
Type of reference
General information
Author
Elizabeth Stegenmöller
Language
English
Source / Publisher
TED Talks
Country
United States (USA)

 Elizabeth Stegemöller presents at the TEDx Iowa State University event on music therapy and its impacts on the brain. She is a music therapist and utilizes music therapy to treat people with Parkinson's disease.

Neurobiological Foundations of Neurologic Music Therapy: Rhythmic Entrainment and the Motor System
2014
Type of reference
Scientific publications
Author
Michael Thaut, Gerald C. Mcintosh, Volker Hoemberg
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Frontiers in Psychology
Country
United States (USA)
Germany

This research article explains the scientific basis of Neurologic Music Therapy. In this music therapy approach, trained professionals use rhythm and auditory perception to enhance physical, cognitive, speech, and language rehabilitation along clients with various diagnoses such as Parkinson's disease and aphasia.

New perspectives on music in rehabilitation of executive and attention function
2019
Type of reference
Scientific publications
Author
Yuko Koshimori, Michael H. Thaut
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Country
Canada

This paper explores the existing behavioural, neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies of musicians, non-musicians and clinical populations with the goal of delineating the uses of music therapy to target executive functioning and attentional processes in cognitive rehabilitation.

Review on the Relationship Between Sound and Movement in Sports and Rehabilitation
2019
Type of reference
Scientific publications
Author
Nina Schaffert, Thenille Braun Janzen, Klaus Mattes, et al.
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Frontiers in Psychology
Country
Canada
Germany

Review of current literature on sound, movement, and rhythmic auditory information showing that it can improve movement execution, control, and relearning processes in sports and motor rehabilitation.

The Clinical Neuroscience of Music: Evidence Based Approaches and Neurologic Music Therapy - Editorial
2021
Type of reference
Scientific publications
Author
Michael H. Thaut, Gerard Francisco, Volker Hoemberg
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Country
Canada
United States (USA)
Germany

Read about the neuroscience supporting the use of music, and, more specifically, neurologic music therapy, to target non-musical tasks in neurorehabilitation and neurodevelopment.

The Scientific Basis of Music Therapy
2020
Type of reference
General information
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Berklee Online
Country
United States (USA)

In this video series, Berklee College of Music Faculty Dr. Suzanne B. Hanser, a board certified music therapist, and Annette Philip, founder and director of the renowned Berklee Indian Ensemble, share simple strategies from the Berklee Online course "Music Therapy Techniques for Wellness" to help you enrich your mind, body, and spirit through music.