Top Music Therapy Services in Singapore

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based type of treatment in which music interventions are used to accomplish individualised goals. The treatment focuses on using music within a therapeutic relationship with a certified professional to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of the individual. 

After the music therapist assesses the strengths and needs for each individual, he or she will decide on the appropriate music treatment. This could include creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. By involving these individuals in this music-creation within the therapeutic context, it helps to strengthen the individual’s abilities and ultimately, benefit them in other areas of their lives. 

Music therapy also provides a communication avenue for individuals who find it difficult to express themselves or their feelings in words.

How did music therapy come about?

Music has long been practised before the times of Beethovan and Mozart. In fact, music therapy is said to have been practised across cultures with varying approaches.

It was only during World War I and World War II that music therapy began to gain more traction and was widely used and accepted. During this time, professional and volunteer musicians would offer their services to the wounded, sick, or mentally ill soldiers that had suffered from trauma as a result of the war. 

In the 1940s, there were three key figures that emerged as innovators of music therapy, namely Willem van de Wall, Ira Altshuler, MD, and E. Thayer Gaston. These three key players were instrumental in the development of music therapy as a recognised clinical profession. Their contributions were key in moving music therapy as a clinical profession forward, transforming music therapy into a recognised type of clinical treatment that is widely practised today. 

Is music therapy the same as sound therapy?

While music therapy and sound therapy may seem similar in nature, each approach has its own goals, tools, and settings. 

Music therapy focuses on addressing key behavioural symptoms, such as pain or stress. On the other hand, sound therapy focuses on using tools to achieve specific sound frequencies which aims to improve one’s emotional and mental well-being. Music therapists usually work in hospitals or private practices, while sound therapists typically offer their services as a complementary or alternative treatment. 

Who is it for?

Music therapy is a highly personalised treatment, which makes it suitable for people of any age group. It is an extremely versatile treatment that offers numerous benefits for people with varied musical experience levels as well as different degrees of mental or physical health challenges.

Research from numerous clinical studies have also shown that music therapy can be beneficial for people experiencing depression, stress, anxiety, sleep disorders or even cancer. Music therapy can also help people or children with pain, autism, mental health or psychological disorders.

What are the various types of music therapy?

As with other types of therapy, music therapy can be either an active or passive process. Depending on the type of treatment administered by the music therapist, the individual will either play a role in creating the music or simply listen and/or respond to the music. Some music therapists may use a combination of both approaches depending on the diagnosis of the individual.

Here are some of the common approaches used in music therapy:

Analytical music therapy

This type of music therapy involves the individual improvising a musical dialogue to portray a certain feeling or situation with the verbal assistance of the music therapist. It may also involve the individual singing or playing an instrument. The music therapist will use this musical dialogue to explore all possible therapeutic implications. 

Benenzon music therapy

The Benenzon music therapy model is often considered as one of the five most important models of music therapy. It centralises on the idea of searching for one’s “sound identity”, which involves identifying with external sounds that associate most closely with the individual’s internal state of mind.

Cognitive behavioral music therapy (CBMT)

CMBT is usually used to complement cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of music therapy focuses on three key levels: behavioral issues, cognitive distortions, and underlying causes of eating disorders. It is also often used to help individuals with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression. Music is used in this structured approach to motivate patients as they embark on their recovery journey. This may include listening to music, dancing, singing or playing an instrument.

Community music therapy

Community music therapy is a relatively new development within the broader music therapy. This type of therapy emphasises on human connectedness, health promotion and social change at a community level. Such a therapy approach takes into account social and community-wide factors. It is conducted within a group and requires high engagement levels from all the group members.

Nordoff-Robbins music therapy

The Nordoff-Robbins approach to music therapy, also referred to as creative music therapy, centers around the belief that everyone can respond to music, regardless of how ill or disabled. This approach involves the use of a musical instrument, often a cymbal or drum, while the music therapist uses an accompanying instrument, to help with self-expression.

The Bonny method of guided imagery and music (GIM)

This type of music therapy involves the use of classical music to stimulate inner experiences. The individual will then explain his or her feelings, thoughts, memories and sensations to the music therapist while listening to the music. The Bonny method of guided imagery and music is often used to help individuals with a wide range of psychological and emotional difficulties. It may sometimes be used to complement verbal psychotherapy or serve as an alternative treatment to verbal counselling of psychotherapy.

Vocal psychotherapy

Vocal psychotherapy is defined as the use of breath, sounds, songs and vocal interpretations to promote interpersonal growth and change. This type of therapy is meant to help individuals build a stronger and deeper connection with themselves.

Keen to engage a music therapist? Here are some of the best music therapy services in Singapore

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