Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Music Therapy vs Music Lessons #1: Different Goals
Do you have a special needs child who loves music? Are you confused about the difference between music therapy and music lessons? The goals for music therapy won’t be the same as for music lessons. Keep reading Music Therapy vs Music Lessons to help you decide which is best for your child.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Music Therapy vs Music Lessons #2: Music is Therapeutic
“How is music therapeutic?” The whole idea behind music therapy is that music has a strong ability to teach us as well as strong ties to our emotions.
- In the womb, sound is one of the first sensations that babies have that indicate that there’s more to existence beyond just themselves.
- Because of this, sound has a primal connection to our emotions.
- This explains why music can sooth us and helps us deal with trauma.
- This can, in part, explain the thinking behind bilateral music stimulation.
- Also, music is a powerful teaching tool, which a song therapist can use in, for example, music therapy for autism and other special needs children.
- In addition, songs can help students to remember facts and instructions as well as work on physical coordination issues through playing instruments.
- Moreover, playing music will help to impact brain development in a beneficial way.
Keep reading to find out the difference between music therapy vs music lessons.
Video: How Music Boosts Your Brain
Music Therapy vs Music Lessons #3: Adapted Music Lessons
First, we talked about how music is therapeutic, now we’ll discuss music therapy vs music lessons.
- Music therapy isn’t synonymous with music lessons.
- In music therapy the extramusical goals have priority over the musical goals.
- With music lessons, learning music is the goal.
Betsey King Brunk, a noted music therapist, states:
Music therapy is the use of music and music related strategies to work on non-musical goals. Music therapy is practiced by board certified specialists who have learned how to use music for cognitive, physical, and emotional goals…
Adapted music lessons, like all music education programs, focus on teaching musical skills, such as proficiency on an instrument… Adapted music lessons may be provided by music educators … Daily practice at home is usually part of adapted music lessons. (103 – 104)
At its heart, adapted music lessons use a prepared score to teach music and musical concepts. To learn how to adapt a score:
Music Therapy vs Music Lessons #4: Final Thoughts
Here’s a summary of Music Therapy vs Music Lessons.
- Because music is therapeutic music therapy focuses on using music to achieve extramusical goals.
- Conversely, music lessons focus on how to sing or play an instrument. Likewise, adapted music lessons use an adapted score to help students with special needs to effectively learn music.
- Which you choose depends on what your needs are, or if necessary, you can do both.
Related Posts:
- Color Coding Instruments
- How to Color Code Musical Diagrams
- How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes: Part I
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
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