Certificate in Music Therapy and Sound Healing

Music Therapy: Inspiring Health and Wellness

Music therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. At a time when people are increasingly turning to holistic methods of healing, music therapy has developed into a powerful and nonthreatening method that can be used successfully with individuals of all ages and disabilities.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the elements, goals, interventions, and therapeutic uses and benefits of music therapy.

Sound Healing: Vibrational Therapy

Sound healing is the process by which participants play or listen to live or recorded sounds in order to have a positive healing experience. Those experiencing sound healing may feel healing on a physical, emotional, energetic, and/or spiritual level. Sound healing uses vibrational and sound frequencies, combined with music or its elements (such as rhythm, melody, and harmony), to promote healing and bring the individual into a state of harmony and health. Many types of music and sounds can be used to reflect the goals of the healing session as well as our individual personality, our culture, unique experiences, and sense of self.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the health benefits, principles, techniques, and modalities of sound healing.

Music and the Brain

Most of what we know about music and the brain has been discovered in the last 20 years. Music is universal across all cultures and, like other arts, is a function of specific social and cultural influences. Listening to or playing music can provide pleasure, joy, and comfort and create life-changing experiences that involve almost every part of our brain. According to neuroscience, listening to or playing even the simplest melody requires the interaction and collaboration of many parts of the brain.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the structures, functions, and the effects of music on the brain, and the neurological, physiological, and psychological effects of music.

Music Therapy for End of Life Care

Music therapy for end-of-life care involves playing music on a variety of instruments, singing, listening to music, and performing music based on the patient's preferences. The goal is to enhance the person's quality of life by relieving or easing a variety of symptoms present during this time, addressing psychological needs unique to dying patients, offering support to, and facilitating communication between, both the family and the patient, and meeting some of the spiritual needs of the patient.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe how music therapy goals, interventions, and levels of practice can support individuals at the end of life in the context of the unique spiritual and cultural aspects of the patient and their family.

Music Therapy and Alzheimer's Disease

Music therapy influences an individual's physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being and is especially exciting as a modality that can improve the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The type of therapy used in individuals with AD may involve listening to music, singing, composing music, or playing instruments.

The outcome for the learner is to describe Alzheimer's disease, the components of music therapy interventions, music selection, and the effects of music therapy on Alzheimer's patients.