What Is Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. It is administered by a board-certified Music Therapist who has completed an approved credential program.

After assessing the needs of each patient, the board-certified Music Therapist provides the personalized treatment that includes creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, a patient’s abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of his or her life.

Music Therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words.

Research in Music Therapy supports its effectiveness in overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people’s motivation to become engaged in their medical treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for the expression of feelings.

Music Therapy Helps Medical Conditions, Disorders

We work with our CMF Kids to empower them to manage chronic and acute pain, anxiety and depression, chronic illness and terminal diseases, emotional crisis, developmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, psychological trauma, neurological disorders, sensory impairments, stress, and more.

Research Supports Music Therapy

Children’s Music Fund supports, contributes to and publishes Music Therapy research. Additionally, a substantial body of literature exists to support the effectiveness of Music Therapy and can be found at the website of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), the largest professional association representing over 5,000 Music Therapists, corporate members and related associations worldwide.

Misconceptions About Music Therapy

People often think you must already know how to play an instrument or sing. On the contrary — no musical skills are needed by a patient in order to participate in and benefit from Music Therapy. There is not a particular style of music that is more therapeutic than all the rest – all styles of music can be useful in effecting change in a sick child’s life. Music Therapy is based on the individual’s preferences, circumstances and need for treatment.

Music Therapy Sessions and Services

After an assessment of the patient, our Music Therapist individualizes each session to specifically help the needs of the child. The Therapist may select exercises to teach techniques for such things as self-calming, expression of emotion, easing the pain experienced, or one of the countless other benefits of Music Therapy. Session duration is typically one hour in-person or through Telehealth sessions. Currently all Music Therapy sessions are being held online (virtually). Parental or guardian participation is required. Services offered by Children Music Fund are provided at no cost to a child with a medical need for music therapy.

Children’s Music Fund has also built mobile recording studios for use at select hospitals in Southern California to capture the Music Therapy session, so that patients and families can replay those recordings and relive the joy, teachings and empowerment they experienced with their music therapist. We also provide musical instruments of a patient’s choice and gift instruments to sick children to fulfill a special wish.

Instruments Used For Music Therapy

Here are the most commonly used instruments that our Music Therapists use during session with our CMF Kids: guitars, keyboards, shakers, drums/percussion, HAPI drums, meditation instruments, music engineering software and laptops/midi controllers, singing bowls, bells, tone chimes, ocean drums, and rainsticks.

Services Are Fully-Funded

Children’s Music Fund provides fully funded Music Therapy sessions to children who have a medical need for treatment and gifts musical instruments to support their journey to a better quality of life. It is through the kindness and generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations that we are able to support our mission.  Make a difference today!