Music Therapy

Music Therapy

Music therapy is a well-established health profession that uses music to assist
with rehabilitative, adaptive, and developmental goal areas.  A trained music
therapist uses musical elements such as rhythm, melody, and harmony to
achieve functional, nonmusical goals.  Music therapy is not simply listening to
or playing music.  Specific treatment techniques are chosen based on clinical
and scientific evidence.  Music therapy can be used to address the following
goals and objectives:

•        To increase expressive language and communication
•        To improve fine and gross motor skills
•        To improve timing and symmetry in gait and other motor movements
•        To improve retention of academics
•        To increase attention and on-task behavior
•        To provide structure to organize information (mnemonic device)
•        To improve executive functioning (problem solving,
        organization, decision making, reasoning, and comprehension)
•        To assist with activities of daily living and compensatory training

I would like your feedback if these services would be needed for our students with significant disabilities.  These would be written into the IEP as a related service.  This would not replace regular music class for students but be a supplement.  For more information on Music Therapy Services from a local provider you can go to: http://www.mtscw.com/index.html. I have used Music Therapy in our severe programs in my prior school district.