Introduction of music therapy

Abstract

Music therapy has rapidly progressed in recent years as a method of medical treatment in Japan. No less than 2,300 music therapists work in medical and welfare institutions. Music has tremendous effects on the improvement of conditions of people with mental illness and physical disorders. It can be used for children and elderly persons. Music therapists work in a medical team at hospitals as co-medicals in Norway, Canada and Australia. Demand for music therapy is still increasing in Japan. Therefore, physical therapists will most probably work with music therapists in the near future. In this paper, I report my findings on the practise of music therapy.