World Music Therapy Day is celebrated annually on March 1 and aims at bringing global awareness about its impact and benefits.

Music has had a powerful influence on humankind and has been a part of our lives for thousands of years. It acts as an outlet for expressing our feelings and emotions and has been a source of healing and comfort.

What Is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is a form of expressive arts therapy that utilizes the power of music for the treatment of concerns related to emotional and behavioral problems. It helps aid mental health concerns such as depression, schizophrenia, mood-related disorders, autism, insomnia, anxiety, and more.

It is also used to address physical discomfort as it helps in improving respiration, lowering blood pressure, muscle tension, and heart rate.

Types Of Activities Used In Music Therapy:

Music act as a catalyst for people to communicate or express themselves. Music Therapy involves a wide range of abstract activities that help in improving and maintaining the physical, psychological, and social well-being of individuals, based on their concerns and needs.

Some of the popular activities used by music therapists while conducting this form of art therapy are as follows:

  • Listening to melodies
  • Singing along to music
  • Playing musical instrument
  • Composing songs
  • Guided Imagery
  • Meditation

Benefits Of Music Therapy:

Music therapy is a therapeutic healing intervention that is appropriate for people of all ages and gender. It can be practiced by anyone as it works towards improving the quality of life of individuals.

The main intention or goal of music therapy is to meet the needs of the individual and offer a variety of benefits to individuals. Some of the benefits of music therapy are as follows:

  • Helps boosts memory, concentration, and attention
  • Helps build self-esteem
  • Improves self-expression and communication skills
  • Improves sensory skills and levels of awareness
  • Lightens mood and relieves tension
  • Helps in reducing tiredness and fatigue
  • Improves your response to pain
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