Instead of stethoscopes and pills, music and melodies can be used to treat pains and disorders that traditional medicines often cannot reach. "Music therapy", a therapeutic practice recognized in several countries, including Brazil, has been gaining space in clinics, hospitals, and even schools as an effective tool for relieving stress and anxiety, improving communication, and promoting emotional and physical well-being!



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What is Music Therapy? 🩺🎵


Music therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses music as a tool for addressing emotional, cognitive, and even physical issues. Through songs, musical games, and instruments, melody acts as a natural remedy, promoting well-being and aiding in patient recovery.


Sessions can be individual or group-based, and are recommended for a wide range of people, from those dealing with emotional disorders like anxiety, depression, and panic syndrome, to neurodivergent individuals such as autistic patients, where the practice has shown significant results. Music therapy is also used with Alzheimer’s patients, helping them access emotional memories through meaningful songs from their past, as well as relieving physical pain.


Since ancient times, in Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese civilizations, the power and influence of music on human behavior have been recognized. Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle discussed how songs could shape human character and influence emotions.


Known as the father of music therapy, Thayer Gaston was one of the key figures in developing treatment through music. He founded the first music therapy undergraduate program at the University of Kansas in 1944, which later led to the creation of the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT), the first music therapy association in the United States.

In Brazil, the Faculty of Music Education of Paraná launched the first music therapy degree program in 1971.



Why is Music Therapy Important? 🧠🎻


Music awakens emotions, triggers memories, and connects human beings to deep feelings, and it is precisely this ability that makes music therapy such a powerful tool. Its use goes far beyond entertainment, it can stimulate brain areas linked to language, motor coordination, cognition, and affection.


In clinical practice, music therapy has proven effective in treating patients undergoing neurological rehabilitation, relieving chronic pain, and even supporting cancer treatments. For children, especially neurodivergent ones, music can become a bridge for communication and emotional expression. For the elderly, it helps maintain lucidity, revive memories, and combat social isolation.



Who Can Conduct Music Therapy Sessions? 🎓🎼


The professional responsible for conducting these sessions is the music therapist, who must hold a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC). Over the course of the four-year program, students develop skills in both healthcare and music, preparing to work ethically and technically in holistic patient care.


The professional’s work may include activities such as reproducing the patient’s favorite songs, attentive listening to identify details and emotions in the music, walking in rhythm to improve coordination and reduce stress, and even learning to play an instrument.

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Sources: 


1. https://acervo.avozdaserra.com.br/noticias/breve-historia-da-musicoterapia?utm_source=chatgpt.com 


2. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3345004 


3. https://ubammusicoterapia.com.br/institucional/musicoterapia/definicao/ 


REPÓRTER: Ryan Teófilo

REDATORA: Cleidyane Souza