GOALS OF MUSIC THERAPY

In both private and small group settings, Music Therapy uses clinically-based, creative musical interactions to support your child’s development towards IEP goals and objectives in the following areas:

  • COGNITIVE: building pre-academic/academic skills, increasing attention span, enhancing memory, following directions

  • SOCIAL: facilitating social interactions, peer awareness, developing concepts of turn-taking, listening to others

  • EMOTIONAL: developing appropriate expression and regulation of emotions; alleviating stress

  • MOTOR: developing fine/gross motor skills; neurological rehabilitation of impaired functioning; developing compensation strategies to achieve the highest level of independence

  • SPEECH/LANGUAGE: developing speech musculature; improving specific processes of speech production (articulation, phonation, breath support); facilitating neurological development of speech; supporting the use of alternative communication aids

  • BEHAVIORAL: practicing functional behaviors within individualized and group settings
     

WE CARE ABOUT THE WHOLE PERSON!

 

GOALS OF MUSIC THERAPY VERSUS GOALS OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to address non-music therapeutic goals. 
– American Music Therapy Association

The goals of music therapy are therapeutic and individualized to help the child in his or her particular areas of need.  The domains that can be addressed with music therapy include communication, physical, cognitive, social, emotional, physiological and others.  Learning musical skill may be an ancillary benefit but never the primary goal of Music Therapy.  Music often evokes emotions and passions thus providing the therapist with an exciting way to encourage participation, motivation and interaction. Our therapists are trained to use the elements of music as a medium to reach therapeutic goals and encourage clients to achieve their fullest potential.

Following the music therapy assessment period, the therapist may feel that your child may also be suited for some type of mainstream or adaptive music instruction, rather than music therapy, taught by  a non-therapist. The goal of music instruction is music education (for example, learning to play an instrument).  The fees for mainstream or adaptive music instruction are not reimbursable and are not focused on therapeutic goals.  Click here to learn more about the types of music and dance instruction offered at Arts Educators Group.