WHAT DO MUSIC THERAPISTS DO?
Music therapists are trained professionals who use music in a variety of ways to help people of all ages overcome and cope with illness, disability or other struggles. Music therapists work all kinds of people with all kinds of challenges: pre-term infants, children with developmental disabilities such as autism or Down syndrome, youth and adults struggling with depression and anxiety, patients facing cancer and chronic illness, survivors or stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury, older adults suffering from dementia.Â
Music therapy research is published in peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Music Therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives, and the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy.
WHAT DO MUSIC PSYCHOLOGISTS DO?
In a word—research! Music psychology grew out of early psychoacoustic research, and now includes aspects of neuroscience, sociology, psychology and physiology among many others. Music psychologists study things like how musical skill develops in children, how musical training changes the brain, how personality affects what music we like and how we dance, how music is able to make us feel emotions, and what role music plays in our everyday lives. Music psychologists use research methods ranging from online surveys to machine learning and AI to fMRI to motion capture to in-depth interviews and focus groups.Â
Music psychologist publish their work in peer-reivewed journals, including Psychology of Music, Music Perception, and Music Scientiae.
WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER?
Despite having so much in common, music therapists and music scientists have only collaborated occasionally in the past. MTFI believes that changing this will make the world a better place for everyone, not just music therapists and music psychologists!
Some of our friends
Music Therapy Academy
Check out MTFI guest speaker Rachael Finnerty's excellent work providing public education about music therapy in Canada.
Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain
MMBB represents an amazing example of research briding the gaps between music psychology and music therapy right here in Finla. Visit their website to learn more!
Beat Rockers
MTFI guest speakers James Kim and Dr. Michal Icht are involved with amazing clinical and research work using beatboxing as a tool for speech therapy. Check out some of their accomplishments!