Music Therapy at Children's Hospital Colorado

In-depth research has concluded that music is a powerful tool that can positively affect people's lives. Research also shows that music can help to calm, soothe, comfort and heal — which is why music therapy as an integral part of the Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program at Children's Hospital Colorado.

How does music therapy help kids?

A music therapist works with a patient in her
hospital room at Children's. During the
therapy session they sing, listen to song
lyrics, and play music to help her relax and
express her feelings.

Music stimulates all of the senses. It can be highly motivating, yet also have a calming and relaxing effect. When used as a form of therapy, music can help kids by encouraging socialization, self-expression, communication and motor development. Because the brain processes music in both hemispheres, music can also stimulate cognitive functioning and may be used for remediation of some speech/language skills.

What do music therapists do?

Music therapists involve children in singing, listening, playing and creative activities. These activities can help develop a child's self-awareness, confidence, coping skills, social behavior and pain-management techniques. Our music therapists explore which styles of music, techniques and instruments are most effective or motivating for each individual child.

Some components of music therapy include:

• Listening to music
• Playing instruments
• Music improvisation
• Singing
• Writing songs
• Discussing lyrics

One family's experience with music therapy

In one family's music therapy session, a child was asked to give each member of her family an instrument that stood for how they communicated at home. She gave everyone loud percussion instruments except for herself; she took the smallest instrument in the room, which was barely heard when the whole family played together. The child's perspective of being unheard in her family might have eventually come out through traditional therapy, but music therapy provided an immediate way to communicate that feeling. This is just one of many successful music therapy stories at Children's Hospital Colorado.

How can my child get started in the program?

Music therapy could be an integral part of your child's visit to Children's Hospital Colorado. To get started, please contact the Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program by calling (720) 777-4360.