What Is Individual Music Therapy?
Individual music therapy is a one-on-one therapeutic service led by a board-certified music therapist. Sessions are tailored to each client’s unique strengths, needs, interests, and goals.
At Harmony Music Therapy, music is not a reward or background tool—it is the primary way we connect, communicate, regulate, and grow together.
Sessions may look playful, calm, energetic, structured, or exploratory—because we follow the client’s lead and adapt in the moment.
Who Individual Music Therapy Is For
We support children, teens, and adults of all abilities, including those who:
- Are autistic or have developmental or attention differences
- Struggle with communication, emotional regulation, or social connection
- Are minimally verbal, nonverbal, or use supported communication
- Experience anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or behavioral challenges
- Learn best through music, movement, and relationship
Our approach is adapted for each stage of life and centered on joy, respect, and meaningful engagement.
Benefits of Individual Music Therapy
Develop Social Skills
Social skills are often lacking or under developed for those with special needs, and music is a fantastic setting in which to develop them. Playing together as a group, waiting turns to play, engaging in group games, increasing awareness of others (including parents and the therapist), and simple give and take are all skills that are naturally embedded in music experiences. The music therapist can address basic social skills in the 1:1 setting, then recommend groups for practical application.
Increase Attention Span
Most children attend to music and musical toys more than other sources (such as books, toys, etc.). In music therapy we use this to the child’s advantage by designing interventions to help them lengthen their attention span during the session. As their brain becomes accustomed to longer focus, they will be able to attend better in other areas.
Improve Communication
Music Therapy targets communication goals in a fun and motivating way. Through playing voice/wind instruments (such as the kazoo or recorder), singing, and communicating during sessions, your child may improve articulation, breath control/support, vocabulary, and overall language development. He or she may also learn to use adapted communication systems such as picture schedules, PECS, or increase verbal communication with music as a natural motivator.
Increase Confidence and Self Esteem
Your child will feel a sense of accomplishment as he or she experiences successes in the music therapy setting. Learning to play a drum, creating his or her own unique sounds, singing without restraint, or feeling a connection with a parent or therapist can all help your child feel confident and successful.
Regulate Emotions
Music accesses all of the emotion centers in the brain, and can therefore help to develop skills in managing those emotions. This may manifest itself in using songs for relaxation/cool down, expressing feelings of frustration on a drum, or even writing songs (with or without words) to express emotions. The music therapist can also help develop your child develop positive coping skills such as counting to 10 or taking a break by putting the skill into a song.
Improve Fine & Gross Motor Skills
Holding a mallet to play a drum, stomping feet or jumping along to music, or extending a finger to stroke the guitar strings are just a few examples of how music therapy can help develop motor skills. Because music is inherently motivating, addressing physical needs often becomes like a game and the child doesn’t even realize how hard he or she is working!
What Parents Are Saying
We have been extremely happy with his therapy so far. He is leaps and bounds above anything we have ever had before. Thank you so much.
Leaps and Bounds Above Anything We Have Ever Had Before
I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are truly blessed by your gift. The music therapy [my daughter] received was hands down the most positive, empowering and effective influence she has ever had in treating her anxiety. It has changed both of our lives for the best forever!
The work Cassie did for her was miraculous. [My daughter] loves her her for getting her out of her comfort zone. She actually sang a duet at a school concert one week ago! She never could have done it without Cassie…never.
Most Positive, Empowering, and Effective Influence
She really is a different kid in such a short time. She never really had friends but now…she went every day this last week and cried today because she will miss so many friends. It is absolutely miraculous!
Absolutely Miraculous!
My son who has speech Apraxia was not speaking any words at 3 1/2 years old. The best treatment for this condition is repetition and intensive speech therapy. My son had no speech, a very difficult temperament and behavioral problems. He had been in early intervention, early preschool and individual speech, but he was not making progress. During the summer I decided to have him do music therapy with his friend who had similar speech and developmental delays. I was hopeful that music therapy would open his mind in a new way to help his language progress.
It wasn’t until he started music therapy that he began making progress
Immediately after beginning music therapy I noticed a change in my son. He started music therapy in June and by the beginning of September he was speaking words that I could understand. From June 2017 to February 2018, my son went from having no speech to now speaking full sentences that are understandable. He is now happy and does not have behavioral problems. I have been so thrilled with his teachers and his progress from music therapy, and while I know that my son was involved in other therapies and interventions, it wasn’t until he started music therapy that began making progress and I noticed his behavioral changes. I’m so happy we chose to utilize this amazing resource.
It wasn’t until he started music therapy that he began making progress [Part 2]
I contribute music therapy to have impacted my son’s growth cognitively, speech, and socially. He is able to do higher level thinking tasks (ex. puzzles). He is more verbal and although he doesn’t perform signs by himself he does understand them when shown to him. Music therapy has given him other peers to watch and learn alongside with who have become friends. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have access to this resource.
So Thankful
Absolutely Incredible
“We are so fortunate to have found Harmony Music Therapy for our six year old son, Max. After a detailed assessment of Max’s interests and needs, his team put together a wonderful program for him where he learns, listens, participates and reaches set goals. Coupled with his other therapies, we find music therapy to be a vital and necessary part of meeting Max’s sensory needs and his overall love of music. We adore his therapists, they’re personable, professional and fill our home with wonderful music and singing. We are incredibly grateful to Jaycie and her amazing therapists!”
Vital and Necessary
Our experience with Harmony Music Therapy has exceeded expectations! Surprisingly, he is 4 years old, Autistic and cannot stay engaged longer than 2 minutes with any activity. However, his 30 minute session/weekly, is engaged from start until the end. He didn’t waste anytime to participate either! I am understanding my child’s world through music. Every week, he becomes more engaged and I see something new from him. Music encourages learning, motivation and achieving milestones in development! Thank you!!!
Exceeded Expectations!
One of the best part of my week is listening to Cassie and my daughter working in the living room. My daughter loves the singing and using the different instruments that Cassie brings. She doesn’t even realize that she is working. She also enjoys bringing the little bag of instrument that she has chosen to the lesson.