Rock Out for Success: Unleashing the Power of Music Therapy for Autism and Special Education
Enhancing Skill Development in Autism through Musical Interventions: Strategies to Boost 18 Crucial Skills
My little one's special education unit just incorporated a thrilling new resource into their program: music therapy for autism and special needs. I must admit, music therapy hadn't crossed my radar as a must-try for my autistic son. Although it seemed like a killer activity, his sensitivity to loud noises had me questioning its practicality. However, my son describes his relationship with music like a love-hate affair: "They're terrifying yet I'm drawn to them".
Excited about music therapy for autism yet clueless about its benefits for my son, I reached out to our music therapist for guidance and started delving into some research. In this post, I'll share the research-supported advantages that the blend of music and autism can unlock.
But before we dive into music therapy for autism and special needs, let's get some fundamentals out of the way.
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What's the Lowdown on Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the strategic use of music to aid in healing and personal growth for individuals with emotional, intellectual, physical, or social needs. As stated by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), "clinical music therapy is the only research-based, professional discipline that applies supportive science to the creative, emotional, and energizing experiences of music for health treatment and educational goals."
Music Ed or Music Therapy? A Breakdown
In music education, the aim is to learn musical knowledge and skills, while in music therapy, the focus is squarely on therapeutic goals rather than musical accomplishment.
Who Can Profit from Music Therapy?
Music therapy holds great potential for everyone, but it's particularly valuable for individuals with:
- Learning and developmental disabilities
- Mental health concerns
- Alzheimer's or other aging-related complications
- Brain injuries
- Physical disabilities
- Substance abuse
- Chronic or acute pain
Music Therapy Techniques: The Lowdown
Here's a glimpse at some music therapy techniques used to achieve healing, personal growth, or educational objectives:
- Music Listening
- Improvisational Singing
- Instrument Playing
- Songwriting
- Lyrics Substitution
- Lyrics Analysis
- Music and Movement
Special Education and Music Therapy: A Match Made in Heaven
Music therapy in special education focuses on leveraging music to achieve special education goals. Extensive research supports the use of music therapy to facilitate cognitive, emotional, physical, and socio-emotional development in children with autism or special needs. The programs are structured to complement a student's Individual Education Plan, aiming to assist students' holistic development.
Want more insight on music in special education? Check out this Related Reading: Music in Special Education
Music Therapy for Autism or Special Needs: The Benefits Unveiled
The following are some research-supported benefits of music therapy for individuals with autism or special needs. Keep in mind this list is not exhaustive; music therapy likely offers many other advantages as well.
16 Benefits of Music Therapy for Autism or Special Needs
- Practice and Introduction of Academic Concepts
- Enhance Cognitive Skills
- Aid Memory Recall
- Improve Attention Span
- Decrease Anxiety
- Improve Pre-Academic Skills (e.g., on-task behavior, turn-taking skills, eye contact, skills of initiation, attention span)
- Ameliorate Social Skills and Relationships
- Assist Integration into Regular Classes
- Enhance Group Participation Skills (e.g., cooperate, share, take turns, interact with others)
- Improve Motor Skills, Posture, and Sensory Perception (rehabilitative goals)
- Develop Fine Motor Skills
- Facilitate Self-expression and Creativity
- Support Leisure Skills Development
- Improve Behavior in Social and Emotional Domains
How Music Therapy Works Its Magic
I, too, often hear about activities that can help us, but I like to understand the nuts and bolts before committing. Here are some examples of mechanisms through which music therapy achieves its benefits:
Goal: Practice and Introduction of Academic ConceptsTechniques: Word substitution into known song material and playing musical instrumentsHow it Works: Recreational techniques let information be repeated.
Goal: Enhance Cognitive SkillsTechniques: Use of music and music therapy elements (e.g., melody, rhythm)How it Works: melodic and rhythmic components of music amplify the learning of information.
Goal: Aid Memory RecallHow it Works: Music serves as a mnemonic device, making recall easier for individuals with learning difficulties and their peers.
Goal: Improve Attention Span and Decrease AnxietyHow it Works: Music is used as a background stimulus to increase attention span and decrease anxiety levels for children with physical disabilities in learning environments.
Goal: Develop Auditory Skills and Ability to Follow DirectionsHow it Works: Through music activities that require students to follow directions.
Goal: Increase Self-esteem, Awareness, and Self-expressionHow it Works: Use of improvisatory techniques (e.g., improvised instrumental or vocal music making).
Goal: Acquire a Particular SkillHow it Works: Repetition of newly acquired information.
Sources: Barbara Daveson & Jane Edwards (1998) A Role for Music Therapy in Special Education, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 45:4, 449-457, DOI: 10.1080/1034912980450407
Even More Benefits of Music Therapy
Research on music therapy demonstrates its effectiveness in various other areas:
- Physical rehabilitation
- Movement facilitation
- Increased motivation for medical treatments
- Emotional support
- Expression of Feelings
Music Therapy for the Perkily Healthy
Music therapy isn't just for individuals with special needs; it can benefit anyone, even perfectly healthy individuals. Applications might include:
- Stress Reduction
- Support for Physical Exercise
Check Out These Sources for More Info on Music Therapy:
Music Therapy Associations Worldwide:
- American Music Therapy Association
- Canadian Association of Music Therapists
- British Association for Music Therapy
- Australian Music Therapy Association
- Music Therapy New Zealand
Music Therapy Research: A Deep Dive
- Barbara Daveson & Jane Edwards (1998) A Role for Music Therapy in Special Education, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education (the article includes research references for every benefit mentioned in the "Music Therapy for Autism or Special Needs" section of this post)
- AMTA's Fact Sheet: Music Therapy & Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Music Therapy News: Stay Informed
- Article on "Improve Speech in People with Autism"
- The strategic use of music in healing and personal growth is known as music therapy, acknowledged by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) as a research-based method that caters to individuals with diverse needs such as mental health concerns, Alzheimer's, brain injuries, physical disabilities, substance abuse, chronic pain, and learning and developmental disabilities like autism.
- In the realm of education and self-development, music therapy can be an invaluable resource, particularly for children with autism or special needs, as it aims to facilitate cognitive, emotional, physical, and socio-emotional development, complementing a student's Individual Education Plan.
- Within the realms of health and wellness, music therapy has been proven to offer numerous benefits for those with autism or special needs, including improving attention span, decreasing anxiety levels, enhancing social skills, aiding memory recall, and increasing self-expression, among others.
- The power of music therapy transcends beyond special education and special needs, extending to stress reduction, emotional support, and even promoting physical exercise for people who are healthy and strive for a balanced lifestyle.
