By, Kate Motherway, UVM Nursing Student, Medical Assistant at Lakeside Pediatrics

Music therapy is an incredibly influential tool when it comes to your child’s mental and
physical well being. The soothing qualities of music activate the body’s relaxation response,
reducing the production of stress hormones and promoting a sense of tranquility. Music can aid
in pain management, emotional support, self-expression, improve speech and language skills,
improve neurological functioning, and improve coping skills. Incorporating music therapy into
nursing practice exemplifies a holistic approach to patient care, emphasizing the significance of
mental health alongside physical health.

Why Music Therapy Works:
Lorrie Kubicek from Harvard Health Publishing describes that “our relationship with
music can be a very beautiful, vulnerable, and often complicated dance that shifts from moment
to moment based on our mood, preferences, social situation, and previous experiences.” Music
reduces anxiety, blood pressure, and pain by activating the release of endorphins and dopamine.
It makes us feel safe. Kubicek recommends that you discover what form of music therapy works
best for you: listening, learning/playing an instrument, or singing. Singing in particular has
shown to release oxytocin, a hormone that promotes bonding and feelings of connection.

“Music Therapy can make the difference between withdrawal and awareness, between
isolation and interaction, between chronic pain and comfort, between demoralization and
dignity.” – music therapist Barbara Crowe from Intermountain Healthcare.

Music Therapy for Babies:
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) highlights the benefits of music therapy in the
neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to aid premature babies’ development. Music therapists work
with infants, creating customized musical interventions to promote growth, reduce stress, and
enhance neurological development. Parents of NICU babies found that “music therapy helped
them enjoy a cherished moment of relaxation and connection with their infant in the midst of an otherwise difficult time” (Erdei et. al, 2024). Lullabies in particular helped to soothe infants
struggling to sleep.

Music Therapy for Children:
Behavioral scientists from Essen, Germany conducted a study on “Parents’ Perceptions of
the Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Their Chronically Ill Children.” They found that 98% of
participants’ parents were appreciative of their child’s music therapy treatment. They believed it
to be extremely beneficial to their children. It was also easy to integrate into the treatment of
their child both during hospitalization and at home.

The NLM also found that music therapy is beneficial for those with autism spectrum
disorder. It can help improve their social skills, emotional communication, and has a positive
effect on language ability. It is most useful in addition to other social skill therapies. Music is
closely related to culture, making language an important factor in music selection for
communication therapy, in addition to melody and rhythm.

Music Therapy for Young Adults:
Occupational Therapy International conducted a study on “The Effect of Music Therapy
Interventions on College Students with Excessive Anxiety.” They found that music therapy
significantly reduced anxiety in college students. The type of music, gender, major, grade, origin,
and therapy type impacted the effectiveness. Music therapy also had a positive effect on the
students’ social anxiety and romantic relationships. As a college student myself, I have found
music remains a form of comfort and familiarity to me during times of transition and hardship. It
is a constant in life that I can always count on. My parents shared love with me through music;
now the sound of Pearl Jam, The Clash, and the Smashing Pumpkins reminds me of home,
alleviating homesickness. The power of music and love is deeply intertwined.

Next time your child is anxious about going to the doctor’s office or getting a vaccine,
put on their favorite song!

Reference

Erdei, C., Schlesinger, K., Pizzi, M. R., & Inder, T. E. (2024). Music Therapy in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit: A Center’s Experience with Program Development, Implementation,
and Preliminary Outcomes. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 11(5), 533.
https://doi.org/10.3390/children11050533

Kobus, Susann, et al. “Parents’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Their
Chronically Ill Children.” Behavioral Sciences (2076-328X), vol. 13, no. 5, May 2023, p. 409. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050409.

Kubicek, Lorrie. “Can Music Improve Our Health and Quality of Life?” Harvard Health, 25 July
2022,
www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-music-improve-our-health-and-quality-of-life-2022072
52786.

Liu, Sha, and Genqiang Li. “Analysis of the Effect of Music Therapy Interventions on College
Students with Excessive Anxiety.” Occupational Therapy International, Mar. 2023, pp.
1–11. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3351918.

Zhou, Z., Zhao, X., Yang, Q., Zhou, T., Feng, Y., Chen, Y., Chen, Z., & Deng, C. (2025). A
randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of music therapy on the social skills of
children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 158, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2025.104942