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: