Origins and Development of Music Therapy

Hardly anyone can imagine a life without music.

Music accompanies people from the prenatal stage right up to their deathbed. There have never been any cultures without music. Archaeological finds from prehistory and early history—such as rattles, drums, or flutes—demonstrate that music was created even then, certainly for healing purposes as well.

Music in Healthcare

Until the mid-20th century, historical sources described two aspects: the effects of consciously listening to music and those of making music, whether alone or in a group. A third element—the conversation between therapist and patient regarding the emotions evoked by the music—did not appear in the German-speaking world until the late 1950s. It was at that time that the subject of "music therapy" was established at the University of Music in Vienna.

Music Therapy Through the Ages

In the 1950s, Fengler classified music therapy as a field of remedial education; in contrast to the otherwise exclusive practice of listening to music, he emphasized the creative aspect of making music—specifically playing an instrument and singing.

Distinction between Music Therapy and Music Education

In the early 1980s, a broad debate emerged regarding the clear distinction between music therapy and music education. The shared roots of their artistic training had created a forced kinship between music educators and music therapists. There was also an overlap in the target groups of socio-educational work—often the same populations requiring therapy, such as individuals with disabilities, those with behavioral or upbringing-related difficulties, and drug addicts. The inclusion of a medical component was considered particularly important in this debate on demarcation, as this element was absent from music education, and a clear separation was only possible by taking this factor into account.