Origins and Development of Music Therapy

Music Therapy in Pediatrics

Throughout previous centuries, music therapy for children occupied a position very much on the fringes of the medical field. This is linked to the subordinate status held by both pediatrics and music therapy within the history of medicine; pediatrics, for instance, did not become established until the late 19th century. Furthermore, this reflects the prevailing view of childhood—a stage of life that was only truly recognized as distinct during the 20th century, leading to children being viewed not merely as adults-in-the-making, but as "individuals in their own right."

Music Therapy in Child Psychotherapy

Empirical research in modern child psychology began towards the end of the 19th century; however, it was not until the turn of the century—influenced by experimental psychology and pedagogy—that scientific interest in the lived world of children truly emerged. This was reflected, for instance, in the proclamation of the "Century of the Child." This shift led to an increase in sociological, psychological, and pedagogical knowledge regarding the developmental conditions that foster children's growth, while simultaneously fostering a growing appreciation for children's play and creativity.

Forms of Music Therapy for Children

Over the past 40 years, various forms or approaches within music therapy for children have emerged; Mahns (1998) classifies them as follows:

    Medical approaches (e.g., work with premature infants; prenatal and perinatal psychology and its relevance to music therapy)
    Behavioral approaches (e.g., Hanser, 1999)
    Creative music therapy (e.g., Nordoff-Robbins music therapy)
    Psychoanalytic music therapy (e.g., Priestley, 1982)
    Anthroposophic music therapy
    Morphological music therapy (e.g., Tüpker)
    Integrative music therapy
    Regulative music therapy (Schwabe)
    etc.

(You can find further details on this in the course "Active Music Therapy – Forms of Music Therapy")

Current Forms of Child Music Therapy

Studies from inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry indicate that the majority of music therapists in this field align themselves with a psychoanalytic or depth-psychology-based approach; this is followed by systemic and Gestalt-oriented approaches—often applied in combination, depending on the therapist's personal training background—as well as regulative music therapy (Schwabe music therapy).

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