Photo of a child happily engaged in moving in time to musical instruments, dated 2003.

more overview topicsThis page defines the use of music to achieve non-musical learning goals.This page describes strategies, tasks, goals, motivation, and musical assistance.This group of pages describes three goal headings and offers examples of typical goals that therapists set.This page describes the successful use of music therapy to help specific diagnoses of disability.This page offers results of research that validates the use of music therapy in special education and with specific diagnoses of disability.

 
 


Motor Abilities
Research is highly conclusive in supporting rhythm as an external timekeeper for movement. Basic goal areas such as bilateral integration, crossing midline, visual-motor integration, or imitating movement can be functionally translated into music-based interventions. For these skills, rhythmic timing cues, song lyrics, and musical instruments are used to increase an individual's motivation to participate, improve coordination, and increase duration of motor participation.


Cognitive | Academic goals

Communication | Social Interaction goals

Behavior goals









Behavior
Condition
Criteria
Mastery
 





Motor Goal Example


John will cross midline independently
given a drum and rhythmic cues
five consecutive times
during three of four sessions.

 
 
Pages under this topic heading describe our professional qualifications and approaches to treating children with special needs. Pages under this topic heading describe music therapy and how we use music to achieve goals in treating children with various diagnoses. Pages under this topic heading describe our individual and group music therapy, consultation, music lessons, funding, and workshop services. This page offers parents and educators free downloadable documents, filled with explanations of dozens of music therapists' tips for using music to treat children with special needs. Pages under this topic heading list links to dozens of quality online resources available to parents and educators of children with special needs. This page lists noteworthy new music therapy services and current regional music therapy events.  
     
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