World Music Therapy Week: Celebrating the transformative power of music

World Music Therapy Week, which is recognized annually from April 10 to April 15, is an opportunity for music therapists and supporters to engage in activities that increase awareness of and advocacy for music therapy. World Music Therapy Week is a global initiative aimed at promoting the use of music therapy as a valuable tool for improving mental health and well-being, and it also serves to highlight the global connectedness of music therapy and its ability to transform lives and impact those around us.

Have you ever had a favorite song that you just can't get enough of? You know the one – It immediately puts you in a better mood, reduces stress, and helps you conquer any obstacle that comes your way. I’ve been known to play mine on repeat – don’t laugh, I bet you’ve done it too! As a music therapist, I know firsthand the power of music and its ability to transform our lives. This World Music Therapy Week, I've been reflecting on ways to honor my profession and the impact it has on individuals and communities.

Here in Louisiana, music is an integral part of our culture, particularly in New Orleans. It brings people together, celebrates life, empowers us and helps us cope with difficult times. At Children's Hospital New Orleans, we offer a variety of music programs regularly to our patients, families and staff to tap into the therapeutic benefits of music. We have volunteer musicians, daily music experiences, special events, concerts, guest artists, and more. Music is accessible to everyone here. But one program that stands out is our Music Therapy program, which has been a part of patient treatment for more than 45 years.

Music therapy is a profession that requires specialized training, education, and board certification. At Children’s Hospital, we have four board-certified music therapists (MT-BC’s) that work in various units of the hospital including the Rehabilitation Unit, Critical Care, Acute Care and Behavioral Health. They use music to help patients reach specific goals, such as rehabilitation from an illness or injury, coping skills, memory-making (i.e., legacy projects via songwriting and heartbeat songs), and using music therapy to help infants reach certain developmental milestones. Music therapy is very different from other music programs you may see or hear in hospitals because it is personalized to each patient's needs and goals.

Children’s Hospital has been a pioneer in music therapy for pediatrics and maintains a National Roster Internship Program through the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), training future MT-BCs from all over the country since the late 1970s. We also offer invaluable opportunities for pre-clinical learning experiences to undergraduate and graduate music therapy students from Loyola University.

Music is therapeutic in its own right, but music therapy takes it to the next level by designing specific interventions to meet individual needs, whether it’s listening to your favorite tune, or in my case, finding a meaningful song and playing it on repeat to help you feel empowered and ready to conquer the day.

For more information about the Music Therapy Program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, visit our website: Music Therapy | Children's Hospital New Orleans (chnola.org). If you want to learn more about music therapy or have questions, visit the American Music Therapy Association website, or contact me directly at Kimberly.bell@lcmchealth.org.

Let's celebrate the power of music and its impact on our lives during World Music Therapy Week!