Resources & references

This article explains how a music therapy support group was created to relieve some of the strain on caregivers by allowing for greater emotional support through relationships with peers and professionals, and through the increase of meaningful interactions with their loved ones with dementia. The community-based MT support group has been replicated twice within the region, and is a promising model for other communities. 

This first episode of a podcast about music therapy is an introduction to the field of music therapy, what it takes to practice in the field, its different forms, and how it can support different people with a variety of needs.

This transcription the first episode of a podcast about music therapy is an introduction to the field of music therapy, what it takes to practice in the field, its different forms, and how it can support different people with a variety of needs.

This single-blinded randomized controlled trial compares the effects of 1) active group music therapy and 2) receptive group music therapy to group counseling in treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The conclusion is that group music therapy, either active or receptive, is an interesting adjunctive treatment option for outpatients with MDD. 

The authors aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of adjuvant music therapy for patients with hypertension, to provide insights to the clinical management of hypertension. Their conclusions support the use of music therapy to control blood pressure and heart rate, reduce anxiety and depression levels, and improve sleep quality in hypertensive patients. 

This article describes how music therapy can be an anti-oppressive and affirmative service for LGBTQ+ individuals. It describes the benefits of music therapy in both group and individual settings, and describes an example of how one client benefited from a music therapy program.

This study aimed to investigate clinical effectiveness of a structured eight-week mindfulness-based music therapy (MBMT) program on improving mood regulation in older women with blindness. 

In this video (in Spanish), Max Terán, a music therapist in Costa Rica, explains what music therapy is, who can benefit, and how it can help diverse populations. He also describes his work as a music therapist and how he became a music therapist. Lastly, he emphasizes how music therapy can bring positive change to communities, schools, heath care, and families.

This intervention guide is designed for music therapists and recreation and leisure/activity team members who support individuals living in retirement and long-term care (LTC) homes and wish to provide intergenerational music therapy experiences to their residents. The creation of the Jamboree was a collaborative process between the music therapist and the director of recreation at the Village of Riverside Glen LTC home in Guelph, Canada. The team advocates that creating intergenerational opportunities can benefit the health and well-being of both younger and older individuals. 

The Jamboree is an intergenerational music therapy program in which young children, typically between the age of 0-4, and their accompanying adults (e.g., parent, grandparent, guardian) take part in weekly music therapy sessions along with residents living in retirement or LTC. During each session, a certified music therapist leads the group in singing songs, moving to music, using instruments and props (e.g., drums, scarves, bubbles) and gently facilitates interaction between participants. Additional care providers (e.g., recreation team members) observe, support and can participate in the program alongside the residents.

This systematic review indicates that music interventions compared to standard care may have beneficial effects on anxiety, depression, hope, pain, and fatigue in adults with cancer. The results of two trials suggest that music interventions may have a beneficial effect on anxiety in children with cancer. For several outcomes, music therapy interventions delivered by a trained music therapist led to consistent results across studies. The abstract is available in many languages. 

This informational page from the Music Therapy Association of British-Columbia provides an overview of music therapy practices in a mental health context. It describes why music therapy may be effective in addressing mental health needs, lists examples of mental illnesses where music therapy can help, presents different approaches and activities that can be used, and provides literature supporting the use of music therapy for mental health.