All I’ve been listening to this week, throughout waves of anger and frustration over nothing, has been classical music. Stuck in traffic? Beethoven. Bank account low again? Mozart. Burnt my finger making dinner? Debussy. Despite being classically trained in music, it’s quite the rare occasion that I find myself listening to classical. I find myself saving it for when I need it the most. It’s my pleasant study music, or something that keeps me sane while driving on I-93 South in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Although on paper, this is technically not music therapy. The national organization will tell you that Music Therapy is the use of music for non-musical goals done by a credentialed professional (although, I AM a credentialed professional… maybe it’s a paradox). I personally think music therapy is any use of music that helps you achieve a non-musical goal. Have you ever gone for a run without music? It’s kind of strange, isn’t it? The upbeat music can help you pace your 8-minute mile so you don’t tire out. Music at a party automatically makes people have energy and want to dance; music makes people want to socialize.
In my short time as a professional, I’ve seen music help folks learn how to speak again. I’ve seen it help someone with dementia remember things from their youth. I’ve seen a child with autism look me in the eye and say “thank you, that was fun”.
Music should not be a gate-kept entity. Music is for everyone. Music can and should be something everyone has access to, because, let’s face it; music can do so much good.