If you’ve been looking for the lowdown on everything music therapy apps, you have come to the right place.
Image courtesy of Unsplash.
There are a lot of music therapy apps on the market right now, but how do they work and are they legit? This article is going to break it all down for you so that you do not have to test them all yourself. Let’s get into it!
Music therapy is the clinical use of music to address the physical, emotional, psychological, and cognitive needs of an individual. Music therapy is often used in hospitals, nursing homes, elementary schools, and can also be seen occasionally to help animals in shelters.
Music therapy apps can make music therapy much more accessible. Image courtesy of Unsplash.
The purpose of a music therapy app is to make music therapy more accessible to more groups of people. Not only does putting the music therapy into a phone application make it easier for people who are already utilizing music as a form of therapy, but this can also be beneficial for teachers and caretakers who are not musically trained themselves.
This can be particularly helpful in schools with younger children, as music therapy can be used as a developmental and learning tool. Specifically for schools who are in more rural areas that do not have a great deal of access to many music therapists, having access to an app can help them open many more doors.
In short, no– you cannot do music therapy on your own. The technical answer is that although music is inherently therapeutic in all ways, music therapy is the clinical practice of using music as a therapy technique. Now, with that, there are ways that you can simulate music therapy practices at home, which is what a few of these apps are able to replicate for people who are searching for something like music therapy if they do not have access to an actual music therapist.
Not all patients who need music therapy are able to access it, so having apps that can be utilized at home are very important. Image courtesy of Unsplash.
Not everyone has access to a music therapist near them, and especially ones that are able to make at home visits. This is why it is important to have apps like these that can be accessible to all types of people around the world.
Humm.ly is an app that utilizes music to help with the mind, body, and soul as a type of meditation app. Their aim is to help users to inspire, heal, relax, and grow. This app is often used to combat anxiety, fight pain, unwind the body and ultimately, help users to find the best versions of themselves.
Drum Pad Machine is another visually stimulating app that can be used to create beats, make sounds, and is great for expression as well. This is a great option for those who do not have access to any type of real drums but still want the effect of the sound and beats.
Kandinsky is a great app to combine visual stimulation with auditory stimulation. This innovative app allows you to draw, and with the art you create, to make music. Each shape you draw creates a different sound. This can be a great exercise for children or patients who are having trouble with speech.
Music Care - Music Therapy was the first digital therapy validated by a variety of scientific publications in the treatment of anxiety, pain, and sleep disorders. Patients can log on and choose what they are experiencing, and the app’s technology will be able to identify which sessions fit best with the individual's needs, and choose music in relation to that.
There are a variety of apps that can aid music therapists in doing what they do best, whether they are in their office or not. Image courtesy of Unsplash.
There are a variety of music therapy apps out on the market right now. Many of them are made to support music therapists in their work, not to be used as an at home solution for people seeking out music therapy. These include apps that aid in music creation, instrumental apps, music streaming, and notes apps. There are different types out there, but many of those are free.
Rhymer’s Block is an app that helps you create rhymes for rap or poetry. This can be helpful for music therapists who are utilizing lyrics within their work to help with patient communication. This app is helpful for writing music or songs.
Groovepad– Music and Beat Maker allows musicians to pull from a variety of genres of music to create different beats and songs. This app is like a DJ booth right on your phone, where you can utilize sound effects, as well as loop music to create a full song. You are able to share your musical creation with others when you are finished, making this a great tool to create a song with and then send it to the patient.
Noteflight is a great app that is used by music therapists and music students alike. This app can be accessed through their website, and used to write your own music. This is helpful for music therapists who are teaching music writing as a form of therapy, or those who are creating songs to be used for their therapy sessions.
The Piano Free is a great option for music therapists who travel often, or those who cannot bring their piano with them to their therapy sessions. The piano can be a very important part of a music therapist’s practice, and a huge part in many patient’s music therapy journeys. So, this app is handy for music therapists and patients alike.
Music therapy apps can work when they are used properly. Image courtesy of Unsplash.
Yes, music therapy apps can work when they are used properly. When guided by a licensed music therapist, the at-home apps can be a great tool used as an addition to in-office therapy, or when used as instructed, as a replacement. The do-it-yourself apps are not so much a replacement for a music therapist as they are a tool to mimic what you may find in a music therapist's office without having to travel far for a licensed therapist. All of these things can be extremely helpful to people experiencing mental, emotional, and physical disabilities or disorders, when used properly.
Always consult your physician before trying any music therapy on your own, as it may differ from their treatments and practices. We encourage you to reach out to your doctor first to find a music therapist near you to give you a more hands-on approach to music therapy apps if that is something you are looking for.
