What is Music Therapy for Children? | Pediatric Therapy Directory

What Do Pediatric Music Therapists Do?

Pediatric music therapists are experts at helping children express themselves and cope with challenges through the therapeutic use of music.

They use musical instruments, singing, and song games to address the emotional, social, cognitive, physical, and mental health needs of children.

Music therapists are mental health professionals who use music to help children who have difficulties with things like

Managing and expressing emotions
Communication and social skills
Focus and concentration
Developing self-esteem and confidence
Coping with trauma or loss
Managing pain and chronic illness
Developing age-appropriate play skills

Participating in musical activities under the guidance of a skilled therapist helps kids explore their feelings in a safe, non-threatening way.

Many of the children who benefit from music therapy have a history of

Social, emotional, or behavioral struggles
Developmental disabilities like autism or Down syndrome
Speech, language, or motor deficits
Pulmonary issues like asthma
Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or OCD
Trauma or PTSD
Chronic illness or pain
Substance abuse in the family
Vision or hearing loss

Music therapists collaborate with parents, teachers, and other specialists to improve the lives of the children they treat.

A diagnosis is not required for a child to benefit from music therapy. Music therapists can help any child build emotional resilience.

How Are Pediatric Music Therapists Trained?

Pediatric music therapists complete a bachelor's degree or higher in music therapy that includes coursework related to child development, psychology, sociology, and focused work with their instrument of choice.

Most programs require an audition before admission. That means music therapists are accomplished musicians before they ever apply to college.

Supervised clinical training

Music therapy students must complete at least 1200 hours of clinical training before graduation.

During their clinical rotations, students work directly with clients under the supervision of an experienced board-certified music therapist.

This mentorship teaches them how to assess a client’s needs, design treatment plans, implement therapeutic music interventions, document progress, and work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Credentialing

After graduating, music therapists must demonstrate clinical competence by passing a national board exam. Once they pass the exam, they can apply for the MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) credential.

Some states also require licensure in order to practice.

Continuing education

Continuing education is an integral part of a music therapist's career. Music therapists must complete continuing education credits regularly to maintain their certification with the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

Most music therapists would choose to pursue additional training even if it was not required. Some music therapists choose to take classes that allow them to specialize in areas such as

Early childhood therapy
Addiction and recovery
Therapeutic songwriting
Autism treatment
Trauma recovery

Is Pediatric Music Therapy Supported by Research?

Yes, music therapy is backed by a substantial and growing body of research demonstrating its effectiveness.

Music therapists incorporate insights from fields like

Psychology
Neuroscience
Child development
Behaviorism
Neurobiology of trauma
Addiction studies
Sociology
Developmental disabilities

Some examples of research journals that music therapists reference include

Research has shown music therapy can help children manage pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, and issues associated with developmental disabilities.

Ongoing research continues to validate music therapy as an effective therapeutic approach for children.

What Age Groups Do Pediatric Music Therapists Treat?

Music therapists work with a wide range of ages and developmental stages:

Early Childhood (0-3 years): Music therapy helps infants and toddlers with self-regulation, language development, and cognitive skills. It also helps improve their bond with their parents.
School-Aged Children (6-12 years): Music therapy addresses conditions like trauma, grief, learning disorders, and developmental disabilities. It helps kids build emotional resilience and confidence. Studies show that music therapy interventions involving woodwind instruments can improve asthma symptoms in children.
Teens (13-18 years): Music therapy provides teens an emotional outlet to express their identity, process relationships, and and manage stress. It facilitates self-expression and strengthens self-awareness.
Young Adults (18-25 years): Music therapy assists older teens in the transition to adulthood. It helps them articulate feelings, improve interpersonal skills, and learn how to cope with the challenges of adulthood.

Creative expression through music gives children and teens a constructive way to explore their inner world. Music therapists are skilled at providing safety and support no matter where they are in their development.

Where Do Pediatric Music Therapists Work?

Pediatric music therapists work with children throughout the community. You’ll most commonly find them in:

Hospitals: Music therapists are part of child life teams in hospitals. They use music to help children cope with trauma, chronic illnesses, and medical procedures.
Schools: Music therapists collaborate with teachers and counselors to provide therapy to students through singing, playing instruments, and song games. Music therapy is considered a related service for children in special education in some states.
Private practice: Many music therapists have private practices offering individual and group music therapy sessions.
Home-based: Some music therapists provide therapy in children’s homes. Home-based music therapy can be an integral part of homeschool curricula.
Psychiatric hospitals & clinics: Music therapy is used in inpatient and residential psychiatric treatment to promote communication, social skills, and mental well-being.
Rehab clinics: Music therapists work in drug, alcohol, and eating disorder rehab programs, using music to help kids process emotions and support recovery.
Crisis centers: Music therapists provide a sense of security and safety to children in foster care, homeless shelters, and crisis care clinics.
Online: Virtual music therapy can improve access to services, especially for families who don’t live close to a music therapy practitioner.

Could My Child Benefit from Music Therapy?

Music therapy is beneficial for kids who are struggling in a wide variety of areas. Some signs your child might benefit from music therapy are

Communication Challenges: Music provides nonverbal ways for children with speech or language difficulties to communicate and express themselves. Musical elements like rhythm, melody, and song lyrics can be used to improve verbal skills.
Social Skills Issues: Music therapy improves engagement and promotes turn-taking, imitation, and sharing in kids who are struggling with social skills.
Emotional Regulation Problems: Musical therapy can teach coping strategies for managing overwhelming feelings like anxiety, sadness, or anger. Songs can validate and help children label emotions.
Trauma and Loss: Music therapy can help kids process their traumatic experiences in a more productive way. It can provide them with a sense of agency over a world that feels out of control. Music therapy can help children process grief in a developmentally appropriate way.
Cognitive or Learning Disabilities: Music therapy reinforces academic skills and can help improve executive skills like memory, attention, and organization.
Motor Coordination Delays: Playing instruments and musical movement activities develop fine and gross motor skills. Rhythm activities can help improve coordination.
Sensory Processing Differences: The multisensory nature of music therapy helps kids learn to process and use sensory information more effectively.
Developmental Disabilities: Music therapy can help children who have difficulties related to diagnoses like autism, cerebral palsy, and Down Syndrome.
COVID Learning Loss: Music therapy can help kids who have fallen behind due to the pandemic. It can reignite their interest in learning and improve their focus. Music therapy uses fun, musical activities to boost memory and rebuild social skills.

If you think your child is struggling, trust your instincts. No one knows your child as well as you do. Most music therapists offer a free introductory consultation. Reach out to several therapists and see how they can help your child thrive.

How Do I Pay for Music Therapy for My Child?

Music therapists accept the same payment methods as any other healthcare professional. Some examples are

Insurance: Many commercial insurance companies cover music therapy. Coverage varies by plan and state.
Medicaid: Music therapy is covered by Medicaid as a mental health therapy in some states.
Private Pay: Many music therapists offer fee-for-service rates. This means that you pay out of pocket rather than filing insurance claims.
Sliding Scale: Some music therapists offer a sliding scale payment plan for families who qualify.
Schools: Some public and private schools offer music therapy. If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), their school district may cover music therapy as a related service.

How Do I Find the Right Music Therapist for My Child?

Ask your child's pediatrician or psychiatrist

Your child’s pediatrician or psychiatrist may be able to provide referrals to qualified music therapists. They know your child's history and can recommend a therapist who is a good fit for your family.

Word-of-mouth and personal recommendations

Ask for suggestions from parents whose children have participated in music therapy. Friends, family members, and parent support groups can recommend music therapists they know and like.

Ask a therapist

Your child's mental health therapist or other pediatric therapists (like PT or OT) may be able to recommend a music therapist they know and trust.

Ask your child’s IEP team

In some school districts, music therapy is provided as a related service on IEPs. If your child receives special education services, ask his IEP team if he qualifies for music therapy.

Search online

While general online searches tend to provide spotty results, using a specialized pediatric therapy directory can give you a list of qualified music therapists in your area. This allows you to review their approaches and specialties before you commit.

As with any therapist, finding one that connects well with your child is crucial. Most music therapists offer free 15-minute introductory phone meeting. Use these consultations to interview several therapists and get a sense of their approach to music therapy.