音樂治療是…
~ 輔助醫療（如：言語治療及物理治療）中的一個專業項目，必須由註冊音樂治療師主理進行。現時在英、美、澳等國家已有註冊制度確保音樂治療師之專業資格。
~ 有計劃及有創意地使用音樂，以達到特定的治療目標，其中包括個人之生理、心理、情緒、認知、社交及溝通等方面的需要，促進、改善或維持個人之身心健康及生活質素。
~ 適合任何年齡的人士，不論是否具備音樂知識或演奏樂器技能，均可從參加音樂治療中得益。現時音樂治療師的服務範疇主要在學前教育、特殊教育、醫療體系、精神健康、身體康復、寧養及老人服務等方面。
其他音樂治療組織對音樂治療的定義
American Music Therapy Association
“Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.
Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people’s motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.”
(Retrieved from http://www.musictherapy.org/about/musictherapy/ on 16 Dec 2011.)
Australian Music Therapy Association
“Music therapy is a research-based practice and profession in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing.
Music therapy is the intentional use of music by a university trained professional who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. Registered music therapists draw on an extensive body of research and are bound by a code of ethics that informs their practice.
Music therapists incorporate a range of music making methods within and through a therapeutic relationship. They are employed in a variety of sectors including health, community, aged care, disability, early childhood, and private practice. Music therapy is different from music education and entertainment as it focuses on health, functioning and wellbeing.
Music therapists are committed to supporting people of any age and ability regardless of musical skill, culture or background.”
(Retrieved from http://www.austmta.org.au/content/what-music-therapy on 25 February 2014.)
British Association for Music Therapy
“Music plays an important role in our everyday lives. It can be exciting or calming, joyful or poignant, can stir memories and powerfully resonate with our feelings, helping us to express them and to communicate with others.
Music therapy uses these qualities and the musical components of rhythm, melody and tonality to provide a means of relating within a therapeutic relationship. In music therapy, people work with a wide range of accessible instruments and their voices to create a musical language which reflects their emotional and physical condition; this enables them to build connections with their inner selves and with others around them.
Music therapists support the client’s communications with a bespoke combination of improvised or pre-composed instrumental music and voice, either sung or spoken. Individual and group sessions are provided in many settings such as hospitals, schools, hospices and care homes, and the therapist’s approach is informed by different theoretical frameworks, depending on their training and the health needs which are to be met.”
(Retrieved from http://www.bamt.org/music-therapy.html on 25 February 2014)
World Federation of Music Therapy (2011)
“Music therapy is the professional use of music and its elements as an intervention in medical, educational, and everyday environments with individuals, groups, families, or communities who seek to optimize their quality of life and improve their physical, social, communicative, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health and wellbeing. Research, practice, education, and clinical training in music therapy are based on professional standards according to cultural, social, and political contexts.”
(Retrieved from http://www.musictherapyworld.net/WFMT/About_WFMT.html on 25 February 2014.)