What is Therapeutic Music?

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Therapeutic music is live music played at the bedside in medical facilities as a healing modality.  Unlike music that is played for entertainment, therapeutic music is primarily patient-directed and focuses on using music as a healing, physical influence on the listener.  

 

Studies have shown that music can stabilize breathing and heart rate, promote relaxation, increase oxygen saturation and stimulate the brain in a positive way.  It has also been shown through numerous studies to be effective in pain management, stress reduction, immune system response, mood enhancement and sleep. The specific music played is based on the immediate and changing needs of the patient. 

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More information about therapeutic music, including recent research and training standards, can be found at The National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians website, nsbtm.org.

 

What is a Certified Clinical Musician?

 

A Certified Clinical Musician (CCM) is a therapeutic musician who is trained to work in clinical settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, or hospice facilities, playing soothing, healing music at the bedside and contributing to a more peaceful, healing environment for patients, families and staff.

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What Training Does a Certified Clinical Musician Have?

 

Clinical musicians must complete a two-part training program. Studies includes the following subject areas:

 

• Information about clinical environments, common practices, 

       patient types and needs, and the musician’s role in the care

       team

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• Information about the sciences of sound, music and the mind-body connection, including research about the effects of music on physical health

 

• Strategies to assess the patient and choose the kind of music that will be most beneficial 

 

• A 45 hour internship at medical facilities including 15 hours of hospice/palliative care work.

 

In addition, Certified Clinical Musicians must complete 40 hours of continuing education credits every four years to maintain certification.

 

More information about the Clinical Musician Certification Program can be found at the Harp for Healing website, harpforhealing.com.

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Are you a Music Therapist?

 

No. A music therapist is trained to work one-on-one with clients with specific results in mind, and clients are expected to interact with the therapist.  A therapeutic musician, on the other hand, requires no action on the part of the patient. The goal is to provide a peaceful, healing atmosphere and to tailor the music to the patient’s immediate needs.  

 

" 'Music' has always been one of the first things I look up in the index of any new neurology or physiology textbook." - Dr. Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia 

 

"Half an hour of music produced the same effect as ten milligrams of valium." - Dr. Raymond Bahr, Baltimore St. Agnes Hospital

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