Music therapy = someone plays the guitar and sings along to make people feel good? Listening to classical music to feel calm? Playing music with friends?
We wanted to take the time to dispel a few myths related to music therapy!
What music therapy actually is can absolutely be confusing, because board-certified music therapists can work towards so many different goal areas, using all kinds of music-based interventions. Even in the field of music therapy, defining what it is has been an ongoing topic, because people with various philosophical orientations have different points of view.
We will not dive into every definition in this post. Instead, we will go through some common misconceptions or myths associated with music therapy and share insights into them. As a quick baseline:
Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional. A board-certified music therapist has completed a bachelor's degree or higher from one of over 70 American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) approved college programs, finished a 1,200-hour clinical internship, and passed the national board certification exam. From there, board-certified music therapists continue their education throughout their careers, using music to help clients work toward non-musical goals, including sensory, motor, emotional, physical, cognitive, or communication goals.
Music therapy myth #1: Music therapy is someone singing or performing music to make me happier.
Music can definitely make people happier, and that's why we connect with it so instinctively. However, mood modulation just a piece of what a music therapist can help you with within sessions. According to the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT), music therapy works on diverse domains including cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and so forth. Emotional well-being and quality of life are valued outcomes, while there are more areas where therapists can help. Here at Resonate, music therapists set various goals depending on clients' needs. For example, they may work on communication with autistic clients or work on pre-academic skills with kids.
Music therapy myth #2: Music therapy is for people who are talented in music.
You don't need any musical background or training to benefit from music therapy. It is the music therapist, not the client, who is the trained musician. What matters is how someone responds to and engages with music. Activities we facilitate in sessions are adapted to each client's level. We have various adaptive ways for instrument playing at Resonate. For example, we have smaller pianos for kids to easily handle. Also, one of the amazing aspects of music is that anything in life can be musical: clapping, stomping, humming, even silence can be musical engagement. A better way to describe who music therapy is beneficial for could be "people who are responsive to music."
Music therapy myth #3: Music therapists only use classical or soft music.
A common picture of a music therapy session might be a dimly lit room with soft harp melodies, spa sounds, or Mozart playing in the background. While calming music certainly has its place, it is far from the only genre used. In reality, music therapists draw from an incredibly wide range of musical styles including pop, rock, Disney songs, country, metal, and hip-hop, to name just a few. What matters most is client preference and the clinical goal of the session. Client-selected and preferred music is ALWAYS what’s used in session! For instance, a high-energy rock rhythm can motivate physical movement and coordination, while a client’s favorite pop song might foster social connection or support speech articulation. At Resonate, there is no "one-size-fits-all" playlist. Every musical experience is intentionally tailored to what engages the individual and works best on their goals.
So- what do people actually do in a music therapy session?
When I recently told a driver that I do music therapy, he seemed surprised about the field. He assumed clients simply sit back, listen to music, and relax. Receptive listening can certainly support relaxation and emotional regulation, but music therapy sessions can also be (and often is) active, dynamic, and highly collaborative. Depending on each person's age, strengths, and goals, a session might include:
Playing instruments: Exploring keyboards, guitars, ukuleles, drums, or percussion instruments to build fine and gross motor control, sustained attention, and emotional expression.
Singing and vocalizing: Using familiar melodies or vocal exercises to practice articulation, breath control, and expressive language development.
Moving to music: Engaging in purposeful movement or rhythm-based actions to support sensory regulation, balance, and motor coordination.
Songwriting and composition: Creating original lyrics or musical pieces to process emotions, foster self-expression, and build self-advocacy.
Above all, every session is designed to be a safe, creative, and empowering space where clients can experience meaningful success while working toward their goals.
What is the difference between music therapy sessions and music lessons?
Music lessons are designed to build musical skills, such as learning to play an instrument, reading notation, or improving techniques. Music therapy uses music as a tool to work on client-centered goals, and is delivered by a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) trained in both music and clinical practice. In a music therapy session, a client has opportunities to play instruments, sing songs, or move to a beat, while the point of those activities is not necessarily making music with certain techniques but supporting the therapeutic goals through the music-making process. For example, during a music therapy session working on communication, a client may express their feelings by singing their familiar tunes. During a music therapy session for motor skills, a client may move their hands by playing the drums. Progress is measured against these goals (e.g., how many times a client identifies their feelings or how many drum strikes a client makes).
Is music therapy the same as singing in the shower or singing lullabies to my kids?
Both of them share some similar values, but they are still two different things. Client-preferred music is important as it increases engagement and motivation, and more brain activation occurs with preferred music versus non-preferred music (Ward, 2024). Music therapists will definitely take clients' interests and preferences into consideration. However, it's not the song alone doing the work. It's what a therapist does with that song to target individualized goals for each client. On the other hand, singing preferred songs or singing to your own kids still plays vital roles in life. A therapy session happens once or twice a week, but life happens every day, and the comfort, connection, or self-expression you get from your spontaneous singing matters. It's just a different kind of value than what happens in a session.
Hopefully the above discussion has shed some light on what music therapy really is. If you are interested, want to learn more, or find it helpful for someone you know, feel free to contact us and we are happy to help you. Resonate Music Therapy here in Colorado Springs offers music therapy, speech therapy, and music lessons! Whether you're exploring music therapy (or another service we provide) for a family member, loved one, or yourself, we're happy to answer your questions and help you decide if it's the right fit. Email us at staff@resonatemt.com or text/call at 719-354-0893.
References:
Certification Board for Music Therapists. (2025). Music therapy board certification: Board certification domains – 2025. https://www.cbmt.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CBMT-BOARD-CERTIFICATION-DOMAINS-DOCUMENT-0725-50463-V2-F.pdf
Ward, J. (2024). The harmony of music therapy. Brooks Rehabilitation. https://brooksrehab.org/resources/harmony-of-music-therapy/