4 Proven Benefits of Music Therapy for Individuals With Special Needs
Like a warm hug, good music embraces and comforts the soul. Whether it’s singing or playing a simple instrument such as the harp, music can connect a person with their inner self and heal them by reconciling, suppressing, or amplifying certain emotions.
The ability to make people experience a wide range of emotions makes music the perfect therapy tool for helping individuals navigate life’s challenges.
For individuals with special needs, music therapy utilises all musical devices—including sound, instruments, songs, lyrics, and performances—to create exercises they can enjoy.
The necessary benefits people with special needs get from music therapy are critical for their overall well-being, especially in regard to:
Social skills
Emotional stability
Mental and physical health
Cognitive development
"Music therapy can make the difference between withdrawal and awareness, between isolation and interaction, between chronic pain and comfort - between demoralisation and dignity." — Barbara Crowe
At Harmony Harp, we understand the benefits that special needs individuals get from music therapy.
1 - Improved Communication and Social Skills
Music therapy provides an engaging and a supportive environment for individuals with special needs to express themselves.
The experience helps them tap into their deepest emotions and learn how to convey them productively.
Individuals with special needs may experience difficulty speaking or expressing themselves clearly, while a lack of social skills makes it difficult for them to interact with their peers.
Here are some ways music therapy helps improve the communication and social skills of individuals with special needs.
Lyric analysis: People with special needs often have problems pronouncing different words. Singing, listening to, and discussing the lyrics of different songs provide an opportunity for learning how to say problematic words correctly.
Music and movement: This technique encourages people to engage in music alongside movement activities such as dancing and rhythmic games. These activities improve non-verbal communication skills.
Instrumental improvisation: This music therapy technique requires participants to play instruments such as the Veeh Harp while improvising their own tunes. For group improvisation to be successful, the individuals need to be active listeners and take turns in the music creation.
Benefits of having good communication and social skills as an individual with special needs include:
Having meaningful relationships with their peers as they can participate fully in social activities
Being able to advocate for themselves since they can express their concerns and also understand other people's concerns
Reducing the likelihood of isolation, therefore improving their mental health and fostering a sense of community and connection
2 - Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence
When self-esteem and confidence are compromised in an individual with special needs, their chances of prospering in society suffer.
People with special needs may feel inadequate and therefore lack the motivation to live a fulfilling life.
Music therapy helps such individuals by making them feel appreciated for their unique abilities, and in turn, boosting their self-esteem and confidence.
In the setting of music therapy, these individuals are encouraged to participate in activities that allow them to showcase their abilities and feel valued and appreciated.
Some activities include:
Songwriting: This activity provides an opportunity for a creative outlet, making the individuals feel valued and appreciated for their abilities.
Performance: In music therapy sessions, participants are encouraged to perform songs they’ve written, dances they’ve practised, or play a musical instrument in front of an audience. Such activities help them develop confidence in their abilities and increase their self-esteem because of the appreciation they get.
From radiant smiles, a more open personality, and a willingness to achieve more, you can tell that an individual with special needs is full of confidence and self-esteem.
3 - Emotional and Behavioral Regulation
Most individuals with special needs have difficulty regulating their emotions and behaviour. This is largely due to a lack of knowledge of how to communicate their feelings in a way that can be easily understood.
They tend to be either too aggressive or passive, impulsive with their actions, lack empathy, and have difficulty adapting to change in their immediate environment.
There are many different triggers of emotional outbursts and unregulated behaviour in individuals with special needs, and some may be unique only to a certain individual. Some include unmet basic needs such as hunger, overstimulation, and communication difficulties.
Music therapy helps such individuals by addressing their triggers and teaching them alternative coping mechanisms like patience, allowing them to manage and express their feelings and emotions well.
Several techniques can be applied by a music therapist when helping individuals with a lack of emotional control and poor behaviour, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Music Therapy (CBMT): This music therapy technique combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with music. Unlike most techniques, CBMT is a highly structured and goal-oriented form of therapy. It helps manage conditions like emotional concerns, anxiety, and depression.
Instrumental music making: With guidance from the therapist, the individual patiently learns to play the musical instrument of their choice, and in the process, they learn how to regulate their emotions and behaviour.
Singing: Singing requires a person to pronounce and say the words in the song correctly. By learning different songs, the individual improves their speech and communication skills. Better communication helps them express their emotions, needs, and concerns clearly without being misunderstood or ignored.
Being able to regulate emotions and behave appropriately goes a long way in helping individuals with special needs function in society.
4 - Improved Motor Skills
Motor skills are associated with movement and coordination of the body. They are fundamental in dictating how we perform every physical task, from scratching an itch to running in marathons.
Individuals with special needs may need help performing basic tasks such as eating, walking, and even relieving themselves because they lack or never properly developed motor skills.
By incorporating rhythmic elements such as movements in dances, music therapy helps individuals with special needs master coordination, balance, and overall motor skills.
Another technique used is playing a musical instrument. The individual gradually learns how to coordinate their muscles as they aim to achieve certain musical sounds.
Mastering motor skills enables individuals to achieve independence as they can perform basic tasks independently.
Comparison Table of Music Therapy Techniques
The following is a comparison table of the different music therapy techniques discussed.
| Technique Name | Description | Key Outcomes |
| Lyric analysis | Singing, listening to, and discussing lyrics | Improved pronunciation of problematic words |
| Music and movement | Engaging in music and movement activities | Improved non-verbal communication skills |
| Songwriting | Writing and performing original songs | Improved self-esteem and confidence |
| Performance | Performing songs, dances, or playing musical instruments | Developed confidence and increased self-esteem |
| Cognitive Behavioral Music Therapy (CBMT) | Combining cognitive behavioural therapy with music | Managed emotional concerns, anxiety, and depression |
| Instrumental music making | Learning to play a musical instrument | Regulated emotions and behaviour |
| Singing | Improving speech and communication skills through singing | Expressed feelings, needs, and concerns clearly |
Enhancing Lives Through Music Therapy
There can never be a more enjoyable and better way to help individuals with special needs cope with or overcome life’s challenges than satisfying music therapy sessions.
The safe environment allows them to be themselves, acknowledge their shortcomings, and learn how to better themselves while enjoying the good feeling of music.
The expertise and experience of a professional music therapist will come in handy when dealing with specific individuals.
One instrument that has proven to have the calming effect needed in music therapy is the easy-to-use Veeh Harp. Consider getting it for your patient early during treatment.
Feel free to contact us to learn more about the harps at Harmony Harp.
