MusicWorks FAQs—
Music Therapy

4. Is there research to support music therapy?

There is a growing base of published research extolling the positive results of music therapy on the human body and mind. Published studies on the benefits of music therapy can be found in the Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives. Supporting research reports can also be found in many professional medical and psychological journals. All of these publications are available through university and public libraries. A large body of research has been conducted exploring music therapy's effect on cognitive and behavioral disorders in young children, such as, ADD, ADHD, autism, mental retardation and other pervasive development disorders. Another area that has received attention from music therapy research is lifestyle changes that impact seniors. Illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia, depression and isolation are being treated with music therapy.

Music therapy research has been sanctioned by the National Institute of Health. Over 70 American Music Therapy Association approved colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree program or higher in music therapy. Some of the more notable music therapy research institutions include New York University, Johns Hopkins University and Colorado State University. Locally, music therapy programs are offered at Immaculata University, Temple University and Drexel University's Hahnemann Medical College.

Close window