How do music therapists select music for individual patients?

In music therapy, therapists select music based on a patient’s specific clinical needs and personal preferences. Because music is a versatile tool, the choice of genre or technique is tailored to the intended therapeutic goal.1

For example, therapists may select music based on the following criteria:

• Physical Rehabilitation: If a patient has a movement disorder, such as those resulting from a stroke or Parkinson disease, therapists often employ rhythmically driven music to facilitate motor movement.1
• Emotional and Physiological Regulation: Sedative music may be chosen to help patients achieve deep relaxation before medical procedures like surgery or childbirth, or to reduce reactivity to daily stressors.1
• Memory and Cognition: When working with patients who have dementia, therapists often use music from the patient’s youth, as these memories are deeply embedded in the brain and can provide comfort and motivation.1
• Psychotherapeutic Insight: In practices like Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), therapists select specific music to accompany a patient’s state of relaxation, helping them explore mental imagery and personal memories.1

Ultimately, the music serves as a medium to address nonmusical goals in areas such as cognition, speech, and mental health.1